Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-26
TROOPS
CHECK BULGARS
Force From saloniki Joins
Serbians and Invaders
Retire
TEUTONS ADVANCING.
Russians Fighting Pitched Battles
With Austro- Germans in Riga and
Dv.nsk Regions.

London, oct. ZO-NHlle Ihe
German and Bulgarian campaigns IN
Northern and Eastern Serbia are pe-
ing carried out according 20 plan, des-
nite fierce Serbian resistance, and the
Pulpars who crossed the Timok and
hold the town of Prahovo are separat-
ed from the Germans who crossed tne
Danube near Orscva by only a few
miles in the south, things are not
roirg so well for the invaders. In the
latter region the French troops nave
; ioined hands with the Serbs and, ac-
cording to French accounts, have IN
hicted severe defeat on the Bull
rarians at krivolak, 40 miles north
of the point where the SalGnlkl-NlSh
railway crosses the Serbo-Greek from
tier.
This success places the Bulgarlans
who reached Istip, Veles and uskup
n rather an awkward position, for
= further advance Of the allied army
would seriously threaten their flank.
, IN fact. unofficial reports state that
: The advance of the French, who are
being closely followed by the British.
has caused already the retirement OF
I The BuIgars toward Strumltza.
The first desire of the Germans.
however, is to open a route through
Northeastern Serbia and Bulgaria to
Turkey, and this is on the eve Of be-
y: accomplished.
! On the other hand, military writer's
here do not believe that the position
of Serbia IS so desperate as has heen
; painted. 1t is serious, OF course. hut
they point out that the Scrhians have
many natural defensive positions l"
the mountains. in which they can hold
cut for weeks; that. with the BrItls,
.nd French and other members of the
quadruple powers carrying out then
determination to help Serbia by crush
ing reinforcements to Saloniil and
other. points, the Bulgars will have an
extremely warm reception, and tina;
the Germans and Turks, being fully
occupied elsewhere, will not be able -
send them much help.
British correspondents in France
have Just disclosed the fact made
known to them by the British staff.
that even after the Anglo-French OF
fensive in September the German;
had the greatest difficulty in secur-
ing new reinforcementS to meet that
adventure and had to call upon men
lust returned from Russia for rest
to fill the gaps in the western lines.
From this it is argued that the Ger
mans cannot spare a great many mer
for the Balkans, especially as the Rus
slams are keeping them fairly busy
from the Baltic to the Roumanian Dor
der.
The Italians, by their offensive, arr
compelling the Austrians to streng
then their lines, and the French. b!
the capture yesterday of strong
fortified salient north of lie Mesnil
in Champagne, have shown that the.
have not yet finished their efforts t.
break through. The French success
is considered important because tn
d capture of this fortified area clear
the ground for another general of
fensive in Champagne.
For the same reason the BIRTHS
! are trying to force the Germans ou
;, of their redoubts and from the sla;
heaps to the south of La Basset
These. however. are only preparator
operations, while the Italians are i
- the midst of great offensive whic
;, has already gained for them man
:, valuable vantage points, and, accorc
: ing to Rome dispatches, may any da
- place them in possession Of the for
At ress of Corr.
,e The Russians are fghing pitche
10 battles in the Riga and Dvinsk r,
N gions in an effort to retake the groW
won from them by Field Marsh;
- Won Hindenburg last week. The Ru
20 slams attacks southeast Of Riga hay
w been repulsed. according to the &c
rs man. as were those undertaken mort
west of Dvinsk. The German force