CAPTURE OF MONASTIR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14160, 30 November 1916, Page 8

CAPTURE OF MONASTIR.

HEAVY BLOW TO BULGARIANS.

TRIUMPH FOE SERBIANS. Reuter's Paris correspondent says that while there is great satisfaction at -the fall of Monastir, some;, experts strike a rjQto of warning against excessive jubilation, owing to the immense difficulties confronting any. further substantial iAI-< lied advance. , ' '." ' ■

The success is the topic of the clubs; and newspapers. Jt ig, a heavy .blow to the Bulgarians, representing, tjie defeat of their main, ambition to Macedonia., The failure. o| the' Central Empire to support ; them marks, perhaps, the beginning of the^nd of th« GermanBulgarian coalition. It; should relieve Falkenhayn's pressure on Kumania. . The extvaordinary , bravery and skill of the Serbians is warmly appreciated. On 'the Monastir plain th© Allied cavalry is probably now able to operate. The fall«of the town will seriously menace Ochrida, 20 miles northwards, to which the. Bulgarians attach extraordinary rimportaj»ce. They will probably reinforce the garrison by weakening' the forces operating aeainst the Rumanians. It- is now* more difficult for the Greeks .to molest the

Allies' communications. TJie Allies are •now able, thefefcfce, ,to-, carry on a more iwsoluto offensive on the -main railway asceridinjr the; Va?dar, thoiigh the ..lo c s m the •isce.nt desperate... lighting mjay nocossitate a' rest. ,!' <■ | . A CALAIS .FOR^ THE ENEMY. | ■ In a leading 1 arliele; tlm Tinfe3* says!— "Tfe rocapUire of Mdnastii 1 ai'fer.tp flhe Bnlgars as the friJi nf Calais Wotilb! lisfve affected the Allies after Ypres. A Serbiah adyanco via Prilep and the . Babijna Pass might outflank tho Billgarß: facuig tli© British' at- ••Doiraiif -hutT; -Weather cpnfljtiions.ir« adverse arid the country most difficnlt. The- captur p.,- though bri«g|ng no relipf m tho Itumanians, will hearten them, ,nnd deprosn and .injure the.Germans." - ■ i■ . I-."-

Mr. Ward' Price, official press rep^negent^tivn' m -the Balkans, .says that when tho French entered Monastir they scareid the inhabitants,, who soon flocked put ar.d offered flowers to the French ffnd Russftyi troops. The last /German battalion niarchpd- out at. 8.15,- and -the l^st battery "was limbered up.and .galloped[off 15 miputes -later. The -Allied tvopps followed m almost immediately, butj it was a Serbian victory, and tho centre of Monastir was for a>;-trium-phal Serbian entry.' - i •

OPERATIONS IN MOUNTAINS.' _ Mr. Je^.'ie»;.- :cprresponderit of fhe. Daily Mail' at Athens, describes the (re--: capture of Monastir as an artillery triumph. -Tho enemy; set frrp to ithe 1 town : at . many ; poirits,<:: and then fled m! disorder as the Serbians entered. ■••G.en;. eral Miashitoh, the Serbian commander, planned to reduce Monastic by-, lateral mountain operations , which . w«er e? Carried out despitfe; contrary , opinions.- Each commanding height was captured, compelling the enemy to -evacuate positions on, the plains. Meanwhile General Step^ anovitch, who was operating m the lena- Alountajns. 30 miles we3tof Mo^aatir, prevented flank attacks on General Misshitch.. by % taking important height^. General MisshitcTi's final attack ,was supported by marvellous artillery wbrk. The .Serbians captured positions which the Giermans spent a. year m stvengtheningi , Heavy artillery fire enabled |the infantry to turn the- positions .easily. The Serbians have now won back. on<athird of ' the locality taken from ithe Turks m the Balkan war. Thef prospects are everywhere favora,ble, the . country making ib, difficult iqr ..the enemy' toi retreat. „;-.■, -„;-'. ,f .'-••'• ARDUOUS CQNDITIONS.

In a despatch dated) November 17, 'Reuter's correspondent "at Ex'ench headj quarters m Macedonia, stated that fighting had proceeded m rain, sleet, and mud on; the plains, and <m iloety snow and • slush; on the mountains.,! Ev<-

'where wag a bittes, damp.' nunibings cold. 'Nevertheless, {hf Allies were most dashing, and had driven the enemy.. back ; six unites. :■■., The Seriiian&v -supported (by French gur^ and-infantry, carried ,out;.a ■ highly successful' nd' unceasing offensive for 10 flays, dislodging the Bulgarians from a series of positions. •the eneniy, who was considerably reinforced, counter-attacked, but only obtained momentary relief- • Tlio Serbians wevo ;most resqluto,: and allowed the ■enemy w rest once he-was I'nnninj?. ' It wasthft French and .'-Scrliinn silccasses on th(y left of the Tserna that made Kenali tintenable.- Ifc- \vas l invilhierablo ■tea- frontal attack, * anil ; was, protected with entanglements concealed m giiliie.s/ ;lWep, .narrow 1 trenches a.nd elaborate' dug duts froiit'ed, extensive boggy ground. ■ ■ Mr. ■ Gal Vert. l)ime^ ■ cbrVesporident; m . the ' # Balkans, ii> -ii l niieissage , from Macedonia,- .states that German, officers' ,\Vho been captui'^d complain that tho ' tHilgarian troops are selNwllled, *d unreliable, not '• WQi'tinp for o'rderi. either to attack or retirfc. Tliey are 'being stiffeiiied with,,Crerniari troop's wherever poaBiblo.