Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-13
ALLIES CONTINUE
ALBANIAN DRIVE
Advance Rapidly as Enemy
Resistance Turns to Rear
guard Actions
FRENCH PRESS NORTH
Offensive Aimed to Strengthen
Line From Lake Ochrida
to the Adriatic
FRENCH PRESS NORTH
By the United Press


London, July a.
French forces in Albania are now
driving northward with apparently the
same speed that characterized the Ital-
ian advance in the first days of the Of
fensive.
Latest reports from the battlefront
indicate that the italians have slack
ened their progress to permit the
French, on their right to bring their
lines forward and maintain a virtually
straight front from Lake Ochrida to
the Adriatic
The Italians. except on their right
flank. were aided in their advance by
the comparatively level terrain border
ing the sea, while the French have been
forced to move forward over an ex-
tremely difficult mountainous country.
That the Austrians are availing them
selves of the defensive possibilities Of
this sector Is shown by their resistance
on the heights dominating the con-
huence of the Devoli and Morico Rivers,
where they have temporarily checked
the French center. on both sides of
these heights the French continue to
progress.
In Macedonia the Bulgarians are be-
coming increasingly restve. following
up their intensive bombardment of sew
eral sectors by an attack on the Ser
bian positions near Varamina. AL
though they gained temporary success,
they were Immediately driven back
Cnofficial advices pace the number
or Allied troops at close to million,
including Italians. French. British, Ser
bians and Greeks. There are signs of
activity along the whole front of near
ly 800 miles from the Adriatic to the
mouth of the Struma River. but there
are yet no indications that general
Al led offensive is contemplated
Rome, July l3.
The Albanian advance is continuing
rapidly" semiofficial statement declar
ed today.
The enemy 10 making only sporadic
rear guard resistance. He has abandonet
and failed to destroy abundant war ma
terial. which has been captured by oul
forces.
The population of Berat hailed oul
troops as liberators."
Washington. July -.
Durazzo. one of the two Austro- Ger.
man submarine bases on the Adriati,
Sea. Is endangered with the fall o
Bcrat. according to Italian military au
thorities here.
The retreating Austrians already hav.
established defensive lines not far soutl
of the SkEumbi River. If these line.
are broken and the Italians cross tn,
Skhumbi they will be within an easy
striking distance Of Durayzo. 1t is
pointed out that Elbasan the KEY tc
Durazzo. is only twenty-five miles nortl
of Berat and connected with Berat b,
excellent natural lines of communication
Elbasan also Is threatened by tn,
French, who are advancing nOrshwart
along the Devoli River. 1t is believed
that the Germans will rush re-enforce
ments to Albania if they believe TIA
Durazzo is in danger and it is held tina
the loss of the port would not onl.
affect the Austro-German submarin,
campaign in the Mediterranean. bu
would he a blow to Austrian militar.
and naval prestige. An advance upol
Durazzo would drive the Austrian flee
into the Adriatic for battle with th
Italian, French, British and American
forces
Cables from Rome reported all Ital.
enthusias site over the fall Of Berat. Tn
Italian supreme command holds that tn
victory was of the greatest strategic i'm
portanCe because II removed any pos
sble danger of an Austrian coun.er
attack on Nalona. TIE chief advantag
OF the Albanian advance is declared T.
be the fact that the Italian line has beel
shortened by more than fifty kilometers
! The high command praises the Italian
I troops for their valor and states tha
! "alI operations We're carried out unde
! the most difficult conditions due to i'm
mensity of territory. natural obstacle
and stubborn resistance OF the enemy.
The cavalry Is given credit for heroi
attacks on the Fieri plains. The hig
efficiency of the infantry Is given credi
for the successful assaults on the Mala
castra and Tomorica positions. Italia
attacks against these dominating height
in 1915 proved fruitless on account @
! the effectiveness of the Austrian arti
lery.
Rome. July 13.
General Diaz is reported TO have re