Middletown transcript., 1918-09-28
Reorqanized Serbian Army Starts
an important Offensive on
the SaIoniki Front.
BUlGARIANS ARE IN FLIGHT
Franco-British Forces Closing Down
on St. Quentin Despite Strong Re-
sistance-Americans Smelling
Metz-Austria's Peace Suu.
gestion Promptly Re-
jected.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

~ 60"UnO W. SISNNnOs
With a regenerated and recognized
army, Serbia took the lead last week
In smashing the Hun and his allies.
Aided by French and Greek cOntin-
gents, the hard-tighting Serbians struck
at the Saloniki front held by the Bull
garians and certain German units.
They struck hard, too, and within three
days had advanced II miles on 20
mile front, taking so towns, including
the strongest of the enemy positions.
At first the resistance was stubborn,
but by Thursday the Bulgarians were
reported in full retreat and the Ser
bians pursuing them day and night.
The enemy threw in fresh divisions
but in vain, for they too were COM
pletely defeated. So swift were the
flight and the pursuit that the Serbians
had not had time to count the great
number of prisoners taken or to esti-
luate the quantities of material that
fell into their hands.
This Serbian advance by the end of
the week was seriously menacing the
City of Prilip, one of the chief bases
Of the central powers in Macedonia. 1t
Is not beyond the bounds of POSSIBLE
ity that 1t may later be connected up
with the operations Of the allies in Al
bania, of which little has been heard
lately. A good many authorities long
have held the opinion that the war can
be brought to a successful end soonest
by a great offensive in the Balkan re-
gion, cutting off Turkey and Bulgaria
f,om their allies and threatening Aus
tria from the south.
With the Franco-British pincers
slowly but surely closing down on st.
Quentin, the French and Americans
In possession of the western end Of
the Chemin-des-D Danes and steadily
pushing toward Laon and the Yankees
Armly established on their new lines
In Lorraine. shelling Metz and threat
ening the great iron and coal fields of
the Briey basin, the German high COM
MGnd last week was still clinging to
the Hindenburg line through most of
Its length. The Huns had massed vast
numbers Of long-range guns and were
resisting desperately, but their increas-
Ing dearth Of man power was becom-
Ing more evident daily, and the pris-
Oners taken, though well fed and
clothed, were respondent and tired.
After several days of preparatory
operations Field Marshal Haig on We'd
nesday attacked on a 16-mile front
northwest Of St. Quentin, from Gou-
xeaucourt south of Holnon Wood. Be
tore nightfall the British had smashed
ahead to depth of three miles, taking
Peiziere. La Verguiere, Epehy, Rons-
soy, Villeret and other towns and bag
ging more than 5000 prisoners. The
primary object Of the drive, which was
made in hard rainst0rm, was to gain
possession of the old British trench
system of last March, running along
IN important ridge. Many Of the best
lighting units in the German army were
opposed to Haig's men, but the latter at
tained their object in the main and at
some points went further than had
been expected. The artillery work Of
the Germans, especially with high We
l0city guns massed behind the st.
Quentin canal, was more severe than
Tor a long time before.
~
simultaneously with Haig's attack,
the French hit the BOches on q ten
mile front south of st. Quentin, advanc-
Ing more than a mile and taking four
villages and hundreds of prisoners.
Military critics express no doubt Of
the ultimate fall of St. Quentin, but
tho enemy is sure to put up a long.