New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-14
British Forces Withdraw
from Across the Struma

London. Sent. i3.-The British forces
which crossed the Struma River. IN
Greek Macedonia. last Sunday. have
teen withdrawn, after having inflicted
heavy losses on the Bulgars, according
20 a report received here tonight from
the British press representative al Sa-
lcnica.
French and Serbian troops on the
western end Of the Macedonian front
have taken the offensive IN earnest.
Swinging forward along a thir'y-
mile front. With the Lake Ostrovo re-
gion as the pivotal point, the capt
ured the town of Sorovltz, near
Florina. overwhelmed an important
position northwest OF Kovcl and hung
The Bulgars back southwest OF Lake
Ostrovo and near Kaimakcalan, on me
Serbian frontier. twenty-five miles
southeast OF MOnastir.
At the same time the Italians, IN
their initial effort in Macedonia. met
the enemy's forces near Lake Butkova,
between the Struua and the Nardar
valleys. and n a sharp encounter drove
them back beyond tn, Demir-hissar-
Dorian railway line.
Sofia reports officially the advance OF
the Bulgar-German army invading
Rumania along the Danube is contlnu-
ing. though details Of the latest opera
lions are lacking. The escape OF VIZ
tuallv all of the garrison OF the fort
ress Of Slistria, seized by Won Mack
ensen last week, is indicated by the
Bulgarian communication of Monday,
received here to-day, which makes no
mention OF any captures.
Report BuIgars Across Danube.
This report does. however, suggest
that the Teutonic forces, after the IN
vestnent of SihStria. forced D. passage
of the Danube. The enemy troops re-
tired on both banks OF the Danube,
pursued by our cavalry the statement
reads Some observers here doubt That
the BulCar troops were able TO accom-
plish this difficult task, however, mas
much a the northern bank of the river
is heavily guarded and the Rumanian
guns command every possible crossing.
DESPITE the continued forward move
ment Of Won Mackensen's army in the
Dobrudia. critics here contend that the
German commander has in view only
a defensive operation designed to fore
stall an Allied drive along the Danube.
Further progress along the river Will
not bring the Bulgars any advantage
in prospective drive on Bucharest
which they do not already possess. And
added 10 this fact is the increasing
menace of an advance 10 which
their flank is exposed by the Russian
push TO the southwark.
The Cars troops apparently are pre-
paring for sudden thrust into Bull
garia along the Black Sea coast, with
Varna as the initial objective, but it
is not improbable that they will
attempt a quick diversion 70 the north
for the purpose of crushing Won Mack
ensen's army against the Rumanian
anvil along the Danube.
The Joint offensive movement 4 the
Serbs. French and Italians in Msce-
donia puts the Bulgars on the de-
fensive along the whole southern
Balkan front, from the kavala region
west 10 Avlona. For the first time the
Entente armies are moving forward in
a united operation that gives promise
OF fattening out the Teutonic forces
and retaining Serbia.
Methodically, the Rumsnians are
clearing all Pennsylvania. As soon as
this task has been accomplished the
troops Of the Gar and King Ferdinand
will be able 10 Join hands and start
the big push south into Bulgari- which
will enclose the enemy between the two
jaws Of the Allied pincers.