New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-17


The Bulgarisns were, however. mucn
more successful ia the direction OF
Florina. They were able 20 seize tnal
town as we'll as the important position
Of Molka Nidge. which lies behind ~.
Florins was only occupied by weak
Serbian advance guard, which was un-
able to resist the onslaught OF the
Bulgarian main body. A Serbian a.
vision. sent 10 the assistance OF the
troops holding Florina, for several
DAYS resisted the attack OF two ana
half Bulgarian division
Finally the Serbian troops were
forced TO fall back on the country pe-
tween the Lake OF Petroko ana the
Lake Of Ostrovo. The intention OF tne
Bulgarians was 10 prevent the serbs
establishing their position at TINS poinI
and to drive them to the opposite SIDE
of the Lake Of Ostrovo.
Bulgars Lost 10000
Blu, as soon as they came IN contact
with the Serbian main forces, the bul-
garians met with such resistance that
they were brought to standstiil. lhey
had. therefore. TO content themselves
with their partial successes at Florina
and Malka Nidge. But as they lost
10000 20 1900 men in the operations
their successes were dearly bought
The Serbs also lost heavily IN TINS
desperate struggle, having about o'V"V
men hors de combat. But their partial
success at Florina did not justify the
Bulgarians in taking single DattailOh
from the Macedonian front to AID the
troops facing the Rumanians IN the
Dobrudia. This marked the end OF the
second phase in the operations on the
Macedonian front.
The third phase was entered on sep
TENDER l.. On that date the Serbian
left wing. reinforced BY French and
Russian troops, undertook strong Of
fensive toward Florina. AT the same
time Serbian attack on the Moglene
trent was begun. but this was merely
demonstrat ton. the real attack being on
the Fiorina line. After two days OF
artillery preparation the Serbs, ny
vigorous attack, carried the Bulgarian
positions not only at Malka Nidge hut
at Mola Reka.
Positions Were Strong
The position mt Malka Nidge had
been strongly fortified by the Bulga-
rians on plans made by German staff
officers. There was a succession oil
trenches. with redoubts for the guns,
dugouts and lines Of bsrbed wire. The
assault of the Serbs was made with
such irresistible force and the surprise
Of 'he Bulgarians was so great that the
latter were hurled back in disorder.
Abandoning forty guns and large
quantity Of material Of all kinds. The
losses Of the Bulgarians at this point
are estimated al about 1000 men.
Ii was not a mere check entailing the
L. ID. hot . he 4af anf
and destruction of a portion of the Bull
garian army.
Driven back from Malka Nidge. the
Bulgarians retired on the line Kruso-
grad Sovie-Starkov- G rob Kaimakcalan,
which lies for the most part along the
GrBco-Serbian frontier line. But the
Serbs did not give the Bulgarian army
rest even on this new line On Sep
TENDER II they gained footing on the
Kaimakcalan. and on the 18th they oc-
cupied the highest crest. IL was ther
that the long and bloody struggle for
the possession of the mountain began.
The Bulgarians had always attached
great importance TO this position. Dur
ing the whole Of the summer they
worked on its fertilization till il
bristled with lines OF trenches and
barbed wire entanglements, 80 that the
position. naturally extremely strong-at
its highest point reaching 5000 feet
and on the eastern slope almost pre-
cipitous--was made seemingly impreg-
nable.
The struggle began on September %
and reached It's hercest phase on Sep
TENDER 90. This was the bloodiest bat
tie of the whole campaign. The result
Of the Bulgarian effort was. however.
small. The enemy only succeeded IN
getting a footing in the Serbian ad-
vanced trenches.
Bulgars Are Exhausted
They were completely exhausted by
their vain attacks on the Serbian posi-
tions. Their companies of $50 men had
shrunk to ninety bayOnets. and Of ff-
teen officers per battalion onlY four or
five were lee. The ID Bulgarian Regi-
ment had 73 officers and 5000 men
placed hors de combat.
In addition TO being exhausted the
Bulgarians were demoralized. The sol
diers refused to make further assaults.
which they saw could only end by their
being annihilated. II is known posi-
lively that the LIST Battalion of the 45th
Bulgarian Regiment refused to obey
when ordered 10 attack the Serbian 20
sitions.
Reach Monastir Lines
On October 3 they voluntarily aban.
doned the positions of Starkov-G rob,
Soviet and Krusograd. The Serbian
troops. which were following close on
their heels. crossed the Greek frontier,
passed on to Serbian territory and de
bouched on the Cerna Reka. which they
traversed at various points. reaching
the Bulgarian lines which directly de-
fend Monastir.
The French and Russians advanced
successfully to the north of Florina,
and soon after the whole OF Greek
Macedonia on the right bank Of the
Nardar was completely cleared OF Bull
garians. The Serbian troops descended
on TO the plain of Monastir and began
the struggle for the possession Of shat
town.
The Malka Nudge and the Kaimakca-
Ian positions were so fortified that
they could, without eXsggeration, be
described as natural fortresses. IL il
true that the Serbian attacks were
powerfully supported by the artillery,
but to the fact that they were not e.
tirely artillery battles the Serbian
losses bear eloquent testimony.
The list Of these losses has not yet
been completely drawn up, but up TO
September %, that is 10 say. before
the last effort Of the Bulgarians TO re-
capture the kaimakcalan, they reachcl j
10 600 killed and wounded