World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Balkan Peninsula
prisoners of the 256th Reserve Regiment, a unit now identified for the
first time in Macedonia, and which was believed to be in Roumania.
This and other information concerning German movements led to the
belief that an attack was being threatened against the right flank of
the Armée d’Orient, which was held only by Greek troops without heavy
artillery, and therefore regarded as the weakest sector. For a moment
the Staff of the C.A.A. contemplated the possibility of suspending
the offensive, and even of recalling the more advanced troops, but
after short reflection, and in consequence of the earnest insistence
of the Serbian Command, General Franchet d’Espérey decided to stick
to his original plan. The advance thus continued; the Morava Division
occupied Mount Chaterna, and crossed the Belasnitza torrent, the
Yugoslav Division occupied Mount Rozden and advanced on the village of
Mrzetzko; the Timok Division, after a lively engagement, captured the
Studena Voda and the Blatetz; the I Group of Divisions, having overcome
the enemy’s resistance at Zborsko, captured all the positions in that
area and occupied Nonte and Mount Preslap. On the 19th, the line
attained was the following: North of Nonte, north of Mount Blatetz,
north of Rozden, Mrzetzko, course of the Belsnitza (which had been
crossed at various points), Vrbetzko, course of the Cerna, passing
by Vprchani, the bridge head of Razim Bey, then in a south-westerly
direction towards the front of the 11th Colonial Division on the left
of the Cerna. But the Serbian Cavalry Division had pushed ahead a great
deal further towards Kavadar with such rapidity that the C.A.A. could
no longer follow its operations. On the 20th the Danube Division was
deployed along the left bank of the Cerna from Razim Bey to Godiak,
the Morava Division from Godiak to Polosko, the Yugoslav Division on
the Drachevatzko Brdo and on the heights north of Brusani, the Timok
Division to the north-west of Radina and at the village of Bohila,
while its divisional cavalry (not to be confused with the Cavalry
Division) was descending into the valley of Boshava. News was received
that the Cavalry Division was already in Kavadar, and had reached
Marena and Sopot; soon afterwards it reached the Vardar at Negotin, and
cut the Uskub-Ghevgheli railway. The I Group continued to advance, and
on the 21st detachments of the 16th Colonial, the Greek Archipelago and
4th Divisions captured Mounts Dzena and Yarena, the chief points of the
Eastern Moglena; there only remained Mount Porta, obstinately held by
a Bulgarian detachment. But even this position fell soon after. The I
Group now descended from a height of 2,000 m. to 100 m., reaching the
Vardar and Demir Kapu. The same day the river was reached by troops of
the II Serbian Army between Demir Kapu and Krivolak. The 122nd Division
and all the heavy artillery was now being transferred towards the Cerna
loop, with a view to new operations in that area. The speed of the
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