New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-12
Seize Four Villages
in Drive Against
Sofia Road.
RUSSIANS CUT
VARNA RAILWAY
Rumanians Continue Their
Advance in Transy1-
Vania.
fRr Cshin 70 u. Trfhrna


London, Sept 1.-THE British
Joined in the Balkan offensive to-
day. Forcing their way over the
Struma River, they engaged the
Bulgarians in a heavy battle. Four
villages in Macedonia already have
been wrested from Gar Ferdinand's
troops.
Thus. while the Russians, pushing
forward from the Dobrudja. arc
ready 20 strike heavily in Northern
Bulgaria, Sarrail has opened the of
fensive which purposes an invasion
Of Southern Bulgaria. The two jaws
of the trap set for Gar Ferdinand's
army are in motion.
Sarrail is prepared TO strike still
heavier blow before long. The Rus
slams who had been fighting in
France all have been transferred to
Salonica. The Serbs, on the extreme
western flank, are shelling the Bull
gar lines, seeking a vulnerable point
at which 70 lunge. And the Anglo
French forces are maSsing for a
stroke up the Vardar Valley
Russians Cut varns Railway.
Along the Black Sea coast furi-
Gus battle is still raging between the
Russians and Rumanians and the
Bulgarians. The Cars troops, ac-
cording to reports which reached
London to-day, have cut the Varna'
Dobrudja railway, while the Russian
fleet is shelling Narna.
On the decision of this battle in the
Dobrudia depends the future steps Of
the whole southeastern campaign.
Mackensen's advance TO Silistria, while
unimportant as a move toward Bucha-
rest. will embarrass the Allied forces
operating against Bulgaria unless 1T IS
checked soon.
Mackensen is employing the same
methods he has used in the past. The
capture Of the Silistria forts followed
a bombardment Of few hours by big
German guns similar TO those used at
Liege and Verdun.
Rumanians Continue Drive.
The Tcuton advance along the Dan
ube has not interfered in the least
with the Rumanian invasion Of Tran
sylvania. Along the whole front from
Orsova to the Bukowina the battle Is
still in progress, with tide continuing
to Aow with the invader.
King Ferdinand's forces occupied
another village in northern Transyl-
vania to-day. Vienna admits that the
Austrian front has been withdrawn
still further behind the Gyergo range.
Apparently the Teuton command has
decided that the Austrian forces must
retire to the mountain line separating
Hungary from Transylvanla.
On the southern front, where Orsova
has been won, the Rumdnlans are hght-
ing valiantly to advance their line
still further westward, and thus threat
an on the flank the second Austrian
defence line. They attacked several
times in this sector to-day, but made
no progress. The struggle continues.
Wider Attack Promised.
The fighting on the southern Bull
garian front is of the greatest interest.
The whole frontier from the west of
Lake Ostrovo, where the Serbs hold the
Inc. TO the positions east of the
Struma, where the British are sta
toned. is being hammered by the Al
lied guns. This presagcs a wider at
tack without delay.
When the Bulgsrs pushed into Mace
donia and drove the Allied forces back
Of the Struma line they succeeded in
safeguarding the road TO Sofia. The
Continued on page 4. column