In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 98, 22 November 1916, Page 5

In the Balkans

FIGHTING ABOVE MONASTIR. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Athens, November 21. Violent fighting continues north oh Monastir. ‘ 1 ’ '{Ci! ! ’ . o ;• ON THE ENEMY’S REARGUARD. ITALIANS REPULSE ATTACKS. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. The High Commissioner reports,. London, November 21.* (2.50 p.m.) A French official message states that northward of Monastir the enemy rearguard, supported by powerful artillery, is being strongly pressed by the Allies. To the westward, the Italians repulsed violent enemy coun-ter-attacks. In the region pf the Montagneuse and Dumuza rivers, eastward, of Lake Prespa, we occupied Krani.

■ :I mb if FREED FROM THE ENEMY. ONE-THIRD NEW SERVIA RETAKEN. /: ■ T THE RETREAT AFTER MONASTIR BABUNA PASS THREATENED. FEW HOURS’ MARCH FROM PRILEP.

Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.45' a.m.) London, November 21. The Chronicle’s Athens correspondent, referring to the far-reaching effects of the capture of Monastlr, states; Already more than one-third of New Servia has been freed from Germans and Bulgars. Seven thousand wore taken prisoners in eight days, fifteen hundred of whom were Germans. Nearly 100 cannon have been taken since the beginning. In the attack on Kajmackalan, heavy losses vere inflicted on the enemy, hut comparatively light were the Allied losses. The Servians fired one million shells in ten days. The Keuali lines were frontally impregnable, but Monastir was won up in tbe bleak mountains by the iplendid Servian artillery and infanry. When Hill 1212 fell, the enemy ,vas compelled to abandon Monastir, •etreating in disorder on the whoio if the left front, abandoning dead, wounded, and booty. Beyond the Coma, on the right bank, the veteran, General Stephano/ich, captured several heights, and is io\v driving the demoralised enemy vithont halt towards the river. He night in a few hours to threaten the >xits from Babuna Pass. His left ring carried Grondpsta, and is advan•ing along the lulls on the right bank if the Cerna. Statarovina has also fallen, while bis centre, which is advancing along die road from’ Yetorinik, should now be before Yerbsko, near the Cerna and inside the Cerna loop. General Marsh itch’s first army is sweeping on, having taken Pernik, north of Iveu. and Jarotak. The finest triumph was the capture T Hill 1378, in the upper Morichovo Mountains, giving command of the* ■onto towards Prilep. On the left, General Vassitch’s Third Servian army is clearing out the foe c rom mountains oast of Monastir with ho aid of the Frauco-Russians, and he advanced Servians are now a few hours’ march from Prilep.

SERBIANS ADVANCE CONTINUED

THE ENEMY REINFORCED. Press Association -Copyright, Anstr:* linn and N r .Z. Cabin ANRoeiutmu (Received 10.30 a.m.) London, November 21. A Serbian communique states:— We continued pursuit of tbe enemy from Monastir and captured more villages. The enemy who lias been reinforced is offering serious resistance. MOST ASTIR WELCOMES ALLIED. SMASHED WITH A MILLION PROJECTILES. BATTLEFEILO COVERED WITH ENEMY DEAD. NEW LINE OF DEFENCE. Press Association —Copyright, Aim-a. lian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received 11.9 a.m.) London, November 21. When the Allies entered Monastir the inhabitants flung wreaths of flowers at the horses’ necks of the French cavalry, and garlanded the Russian infantrymen. The enemy during the night sot lire to the barracks. The first act ol the Allies was to extinguish the lives and arrest spies who were hidden in houses.

The battlefield is covered with enemy dead and shattered guns. It is estimated that the Allies’ artillery lived a million projectiles of all calibres, destroying the enemy’s defences As the Gormans and Bulgars retreated they sot fire to villages. I lie enemy’s now lino of defence had been prepared for over a month, and is a regular line of double trenches nilb wire entanglements. The GermanBulgars are still holding on firmly to rearguard positions on the Coma loop. The Bulgars at noon on Sunday hold a firing line 2.) miles from Monastir.