New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-12
Serbs Continue Advance,
Capture Positions
Near Monastir
Sarrail Aims to Cut
Oriental Railroad
London Critics Believe the
Teutons Strongly Pre-
pared for Blow

London, May ll-Despite German
clsims Of complete repulse OF the En-
tcnte forces over the whole Macedonian
front. the Allied troops under General
Sarrail continue 90 attack and advance.
According to the night official bulletin
from Paris. French troops have stormed
the village OF Srka d Legen, west of
the Vardar River. and maintained 1t
against vigorous Bulgar counter
thruSts.
The Serbs who are operating in the
Monastir region have taken two enemy
posts. British headquarters in Salonica
reports that Bulgsrians. charging on
the new positions won southwest OF
Lake Dorian, gained temporary grip
on advanced trench elements. but we're
thrown back again by a promptly or
canized counter attack. A second as
sault here Thursday met a similar fate.
In the battle Of Yesterday and the
day before, which Berlin describes as
definitely lost 20 the Allies. Sarralis
troops took 800 prisoners, including
seven officers, and three machine guns
The enemy's losses are said to have
been particularly heavy.
Front Adapted to Defence
The Paris communique notes me az
fcultv Of the ground over when ne
Allied troops arc moving ne WhoIe
Balkan front is the least adapted 10 me
offensive and the best adapted 10 de-
fence OF any region M which the AIIleS
are fighting So difficult is TINS lE'tI
twisted maze Of mountains that me
o,,es,ion ia raised rs 10 whether Sarrall
contemplateS an extensive advance 10
cut the Orient railroad and thus 800
ate Bulgaria and Turkey. or expects 10
vert such pressure that the Germf ms
must reinforce the Macedonian Lines
from other fronts. or. al least Keep
what contingents are already there IN
constant action.
Roughly. the Allied line now runs
straight across the Thraclan peninsula,
from the Adriatic 70 the Hgean sea
Starting on the west al Naiona, the Al
bAnian seaport held by the ltahah :. IL
runs Nd 10 Lake Presba and Monastr,
Inc onlv important centre in Serbia
still held By the Entente armies. Thence
working eastward. 10 crosses the famous
"Cerna bend" sharp, halrpln-hke
loop in the Cerna River and the water
shed between the Cerna and Mogllehca
10 Dorian. at about the level OF Monas-
tir. Thence il follows the Nelas Noun
tains eastward 10 the Struma River
down which il winds 10 the Gull OF VI
fana. in the Hgean.
The hghting front. however. only
comprehends about a hundred miles OF
this distance and lies around Monastir'
the Nardar Valley. the Dorian country
and the region OF Demlr Hlssar. EN-
merits here believe there is little chance
of the Allies forcing their way very far
forward unless the Bulgars are utterly
war weary. or unless their ranks have
been thinned by heavy German with
drawals.
Teutonic Communications
The three principal routes northward
all wind between mountain strongholds
and are powerfully defended. Two
roads lead north from NonaStir, one a
mere track and the other a fairly good
metaled road TO the Babuna Pass
Along this the 1eutons have rail com
munication. which the Allies lack. Up
the valley Of the Nardar runs the mann
railroad to Belgrade, but steep heights
rise from either side. Up the Struma.
on the cast Of the Allied front and
north toward Demir Hissar, is the road
10 Sofia. the Bulgarian capital, along
which King Constantine led the VIC
torious Greek forces IN the second Bal
kan war. There is still another north
ern route through Albania. but If the
Italians use IS they must force the
Austrians out Of line Of linked hill
posts.
The war I'm Macedonia has now been
latent so long that German engineers
have had every opportunity TO build
complete and scientific fortihcations at
every threatened point. 1t IS also 10 be
noted that the Bulgsrs have suffered
fewer losses propOrtiOnately than any
Of the bellgcrents. and that their army
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