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Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 867, 20 November 1916, Page 6

ll is officially reported to-day that the Allies itave re-oeeupied Monastic. This is a piece of welcome news which in pari compensates for the discouraging reports concerning the Rumanian position in Wallachia, where the enemy is approaching the Wallaehian plain. The over-night cable messages suggested that Monastic was likely to fall, and its recapture represents a peculiarly gratifying success for General Sarrail’s forces. The town was very stoutly defended hy the Bulgars and Germans, but the encircling movement was not to be denied, and it is reported that the enemy has suffered i heavy losses in endeavouring to hold on. It is difficult to see just what strategic plan was in General Sar-i-ail’s mind when he attacked through Fiorina and across the Malareka ridge, as Monastic is only a road centre with difficult and rugged country to the north, while an advance towards Nish up the Vardar Valley with the object of culling the express line via Sofia to Constantinople would have offered an easier terrain and a more important (strategically speaking) objective. However, the moral and political effect of the taking of Monastic will he 'very considerable, for, as Hilaire 'Belloc poinls mil, politically Monastic represents the chief object of Bulgarian ambition, and it was to | establish themselves there lhal Ihe | Bulgarian Government decided lo I slab Serbia in the hack. It must he I added that, apart from the Monastic ! plain, there is no other district upon II he Salonica front where large forces j could deploy with ease. Whatever : its immediate strategic consequences ! may be, the capture of Monastic is a Helling blow to Bulgar hopes and 'confidence, and ils influence is bound to be fell through the Balkans, though it will probably affect the Wallachian situation least of all.