The sun., 1918-10-05
ITALIANS SPEED ON
THROUGH ALBANIA
Troops Advancing on Front of
Fifty Miles After Fleeing
.. Austrians.
ADRIATIC IS MADE SAFER
Naval Attack on DurazzO
Likely to Lead to Bottling
Up of Enemy.

ROME, Oct. 4.-The Italian offensive
In Albania. which is progressing in a
most satisfactory manner. promises to
develop into one OF the most important
features OF the Allies campaign to clear
the occupied territory in the Balkans.
Italian troops are moving forward on a
front of nifty miles, and after occupying
Berat on Wednesday they advanced
northward IN the direction OF FL Basan
and In the Devoli Valley. At the same
time another Italian column has crossed
the Semeni River, which, coming from
southeast stern Albania. discharges into
the Adristic west Of Berat. and has
pushed across the plain OF Mazukja, on
the Lyushna River. where the Austrians
had an important supply centre.
The Austrlans are in full flight in an
effort to escape from Albania before all
methods of egress are closed to them,
with Italian cavalry In pursuit close be-
hind them.
The attack yesterday against the
Austrian naval base at Durazzo was part
of the general movement. American
submarine chasers participated in this
and destroyed two enemy submarines.
The chasers are part of the fleet engaged
in patrol and escort work in connection
ships in this region.
Army Supplies Destroyed.
Much material destined for the Aus
trian army In Albania was destroyed
The material loss of the Aussrians will
| be very large, for in their flight. which
has become disorderly. they are blowing
| up their depots and burning their stores
| II is believed here that the Allies are
putting into effect plans which will re-
| suit in closing the Adriatic to Austrian
| and German submarines, perhaps In
the same way that similar result was
| accomplished a long time ago in the
Strait of Dover so as to confine these
sub-sea craft to the northern part OF
the Adriatic and open n safe way for
| transports to cross between Italy and
| Albania
with a naval base on the Albanian
coast and the Austrian submarines bot
| tied up In the Adriatic an enormous
saving In shipping now necessary to
| supply the allied armies In the Balkans
| would be effected. and also a great saw
| ing in time. At present all such sup
piles and reenforcements must pas,
| through the greater part OF the Med!'
terranean for delivery at Salonica. ex
cept the comparatively small amour,
4 GEocoSS tiiC -hu'Aoe tAN'i 'hh'y'
| Greeks Occupying Sores.
| In Macedonia Greek troops are fol.
| lowing closely after the Bulgarians as
! the latter retire from the country In
compliance with the terms OF the
arm!stice The Greeks entered Seres
J this morning and have occupied the
Demir- H!ssar pass.
| The population Of Sores had been re
duced from $4,000 to 5000. those re
naming being mostly old men ant
women and children. The Bulgarians, ir
violation of their agreement. removed al
| grain and cattle. and even the furniture
| from the houses. The people of Seret
were suffering from hunger and wer'
/ clad in rags.
| Burning villages marked the trail o.
the retreating Bulgar ian army. according
to kilograms received here from thu
| front Bodies OF slain civilians wer'
found In the smoking ruins at rany
places by the advancing Allies. Ad
vices state that this work Of destruction
surpassed even that which has been re
ported from districts in France and Bel
GUM from which the Germans have beer
driven.
VIENNA, via London. Oct. 4.-Th,
| town and harbor OF Durazzo, Albania
! were bombarded for two hours Wednes
day by allied naval and air forces, bu
no material damage was done, accord
ing to an official communication ISSUED
to-day as follows:
In Albania the withdrawal of the
fighting front Is taking place accord
ing to plans. undisturbed by the for
ward pressing enemy.
Thirty enemy naval units and
large number of airmen bombarded
the town and harbor OF Durazzo for
two hours Wednesday. The material
damage was not important.
i An attempt to penetrate tho harbor
with torpedo boats and gliding boats
} failed. one gliding boat was sunk.