Evening star., 1918-07-11
ALLIES PRESS ON
THROUGH ALBANIA
Austrians Falling Back on
Skumbi River rs Miles
North of Berat.
FIGHTING is SPREADING
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Under Franco-Italian pressure the
Austrian troops in Albania have retired
beyond the Berat-Fierl line in the di-
rection of the Skumbi river and Elbasan,
the nearest natural defense northward.
The evacuation of Berat announced
from Vienna probably was due to the
Italian progress around Fieri and the
French advance between Lake ochrida
and the Tormorica valley. up which the
Austrians also are retreating. pursued
by the allied forces.
The fighting in the Macedonian thea
ter has spread eastward and the Bull
garians are making strong attacks north
Of Monastir. apparently to draw atten-
tion from Albania. The Bulgar attacks
| were repulsed with heavy losses by the
French. There is great danger that
the Bulgarian lines east Of Lake Och
lied forces reach the Skunbi at Elbasan.
italians Continue Advance.
| LONDON. July 11.-Italian troops on
their offensive in Albania continue 70
| advance. says a dispatch from Rome
| to the Central News Agency. The
Austro -Hungarians are falling back
! on the Skumbi river, twenty-five miles
north of Berat.
Add to Austria's Troubles.
By the British Wireless Service.
LONDON, July 10-Successes won
by the allied troops in Albania will
add seriously to the troubles Of the
Austrians. They were won by
fresh, determined action in the Balkan
area. where any military success must
always have immediate and valuable
political reaction.
The line on which fighting is going
on at present runs from the River De-
voli to the Adriatic. distance of more
than sixty miles. In addition to the
| French and Italian troops engaged IN
the battle, Albanian troops, under Es-
sad Pasha, are fighting against the
Austrians, and. because of their IA
miliarity with the country, are in
position to give valuable assistance.
Enemy Troops Nervous.
advance is seventy miles from the
| Saloniki front, there are already
| signs of nervousness among the enc
my troops in that area. The advance
in Albania is serious threat TO the
| right flank of the Bulgar armies in
the region of Monastir. This is eri-
IDENTIFY appreciated by the enemy, and.
too. il will have the effect of bringing
TO the side of the allies many from
| the hill tribes, which are among the
finest fighters in the world. Every
fresh success of the allies viii hearten
the south Slav races, who are already
in revolt against their Austrian
| rulers.
A further short advance will bring
the allies to Berat, the chief town -
1 southern Albania, and it is significant
that Austrian official statements ad-
nit the progress Of the French anu
Italians.
Paris Reports Gains.
PARIS, July l0.-An official state
Eastern theater. July 9-There was
artillery and patrol activity west OF
the Vardar- Notwithstanding the
costly checks of yesterday at the
Cerna bend. the enemy today again
launched his assault troops against
our positions north of Monastir and
was again repulsed with appreciable
losses. In the region south of the
Devoli river our troops continued
their advance in conjunction with the
Italian troops and occupied Gaia
Guriprere. the highest point of Bos-
Mica crest, which extends in a direc-
| tion northwest of that Bosnia The
Austrians, after having offered vigor-
Gus resistance in the course of the
preceding days, retired in disorder
into the Tormorica valley into which
we pursued them. We captured 20
Austrian prisoners and important ma
terial. Two enemy airplanes were
brought down."