Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-19
BALKANS ARE
AGAIN Center
OF INTEREST
Developments Indicate Advance
Of Large Expedition Up
the Vardar Valley
from Macedonia.
ASSOCIATED Press War Summary

following the abdication OF King Con-
stantine, by reports today of with
drawal by the British without pres
sure of their advanced positions east
OF the Struma river on the extreme
easterly end of the front and pro-
nounced accommodating activity by
the allies forces along the Vardar.
1t has been frequently pointed out
by military observers that virtually
the only practicable route for a sue
cessfhl advance TO cut the lines OF
the central powers in the Balkans and
reclaim Serbia is up the Nardar val.
Icy, along the railway line there. The
present activities seem to point to
the probability that all offensive BY
General Sarrail in the only likely Sec
tor-that embracing the Vardar area
lis imminent.
Strengthen Right Flank.
Had this been decided upon it
would be natural move for the Brit
ish to relinquish the advanced ground
they held along the Struma and with
draw as they have done to the bridge
head near the river, thereby strength
cnmg the allies right flank for de-
fcnsive purposes, while the offensive
stroke waSdelivered by the center.
An aggressive move, it would seem,
has now been made possible by the re-
moval OF the menace TO the allies
from the rear which existed as long
as Constantine was on the Greek
throne and his pro-German political
advisers in control OF the Greek mill
tary. situation.
Both the Russian army and the
Russian navy are giving more eyi-
denee OF aggressive intent. Recent
German andsAustrian statements have
instanced increasing activities by the
Russian military forces in various sec
tors, notably Volhynia and Galicia,
where the, great Brussiloff offensive
was IN full swing at this time a year
ago.
Russians Get Busy.
The Russian naval arm also has
been so largely in evidence in Baltic
waters that Berlin announces it has
been found necessary TO carry out
extensive air raiding operations on
Russian bases in this area,
In the Arras battle area the British
were subjected to heavy counter at
tack on the new position they won
last Thursday east of Monchy Il
Preux. They held fast to the main
point, the important Infantry hill,
but had TO fall back from some posi-
tons they had established farther in
advance.
Bulgarian Official Report.
Sofia, June lS.--(Via London.)-A
general retirement Of British forces
along the Struma front is reported as
follows by the war office today:
Macedonian front In the sector
between Lakes Butkovo and Tshinos
the British abandoned the advanced
position they had hitherto occupied
and returned to the bridgehead posi.
ton on tie left bank OF the river.
Our troops occupy Ormanli, Barakli,
Juma kumli, keupri, Prosenik, Beg
likmah, Salmah and Kakarasha."
Britons Falling Back.
London, June 8,--The British have
iallen back from some of their ad-
vanced posts in northern France, ac-
cording TO an official statement is
sued by the war Office this morning.
The main new positions are still
held.
Paris, June S.-"Intermittent can.
nonadng occurred at various points
on the front last night" says todays
offlclal statement. Our reconnoiter.
ing parties penetrated the enemy
lines near Leintrey and southwest OF
oenones, bringing back prisoners"
Germans Destroy Russ Base.
Berlin. June lS.-(Via London.)--
German airplanes on Friday effected
a landing on all island in the Bay OF
Riga and destroyed a Russian base
there, it is announced officially. The
statement follows:
Greater activity by Russian naval
forces in submarine and mine-war
fare made necessary defensive meas
ures on the German side, which had
the following results:
"On June l3 our airplaues dropped
explosive and incendiary bombs in
large quantities on Russian bases, OBJ
tanning good results. On June IA the
military station on the Island of Ru-
neo. in the Bay Of Riga, was bombed
with visible success. On June IS our
airplanes landed on the island and
destroyed the remaining portions of
the base. All OF our airplanes re-