The line held by our troops was an exceedingly good one for defence, for the hills on our side approached very closely to the river and there was a broad, level plain on the other, so that it was difficult for the enemy to manœuvre unwatched and unnoted. The last day of August brought the welcome news that at last Roumania had made up her mind and had declared war on Austria. In announcing this important event to his troops the G.O.C. stated a hope that all ranks would realize that one of the most important aims in the military policy adopted in this region had been attained and he congratulated all ranks on the part they had played in achieving this object.
Passive defence by an enterprising army is only resorted to on very rare occasions, in the presence at some particular point of an overwhelming force, and the 10th September showed a renewal of activity on the English part. On this day detachments crossed the river at five several points. The villages of Oraoman and Kato Gudeli were occupied and Nevoljen gallantly stormed by the Northumberland Fusiliers. On the 15th six small columns crossed between Lake Tahinos and Orljak and burnt the riparian villages, the enemy’s counter-attacks being defeated by our artillery on the hither side, but the Buffs appear to have been too weak to take part in these minor operations.
II. Action of Karajakoi
But when October came, General Milne determined on a continuous offensive on the Struma front, with a view to preventing the enemy from withdrawing any of his troops from this direction to oppose the advance of our French allies towards Monastir. Therefore matters became more active along the river banks and operations commenced by our seizing and holding certain villages on the left side of the river in the neighbourhood of the bridgehead opposite Orljak, so that a further movement on Seres or Demirhissar could be facilitated. The high ground on our side of the stream again came in very useful, for it enabled the artillery very materially to assist in these operations. Bridges were constructed by the engineers, and during the night of the 29th/30th September the attacking infantry crossed and formed up on the left bank. Strong counter-attacks were made by the enemy, but, by the evening of the 2nd October, our positions were consolidated and preparations made to extend them by capturing Jenikoj on the road to Seres. This was done on the morning of the 3rd, but the troops that took the village were three times resolutely counter-attacked and very heavily bombarded, and there ensued some very strenuous fighting. On the 5th October Nevoljen was occupied, and on the 8th our troops had reached a still further extended line with mounted men between Kispeki and Kalendra.
In connection with all this business the Buffs on the 2nd October were attached to the 84th Brigade as divisional reserve and proceeded to a camp in the vicinity of Orljak, and on the next day B and C Companies under Captain Vertue moved off and reported to the officer commanding the Welch Regiment, who directed B Company, less fifty men, to line the right bank of the river from the new pontoon bridge to the left of the 23rd Welch Pioneers. The remaining fifty, under 2nd Lieut. Steven, carried R.E. stores to the Suffolk Regiment in Mazirko village. C Company crossed Orljak bridge and took up a position in the bridgehead works under the Suffolk Regiment and were employed in carrying up rations and stores. These two companies came under both shell and rifle fire.
On the 4th October C Company took over part of the front-line trench from A Company of the Suffolks, and it was soon after joined by B, and later in the day the whole battalion was collected in the forward trenches in relief of the Suffolks and occupied a position along the Seres road on the south side of it. On the Buffs’ left was the 1st Welch Regiment, and on its right the 10th Division, which held Jenikoj.
The 5th was a fairly quiet day, and on the 6th, as it appeared that the Bulgars had withdrawn their position some distance, the Buffs sent out three patrols under 2nd Lieut. Abbot-Smith, 2nd Lieut. Asprey and Lieut. Bremner in the directions of Nevoljen, Papolova and Kalendra respectively. These patrols did their work well, and indeed Bremner and Asprey’s reports were both commended by the brigadier: they all succeeded in locating the enemy, and after that they retired correctly, having first exchanged a few shots. It was now clear that the enemy’s forward line was still about Nevoljen and Kalendra.
The next few days were quiet enough; much reconnaissance work was carried out, and on the 10th the Buffs re-crossed the river to their old camp, on being relieved by Northumberland Fusiliers. After some days’ training, the battalion commenced, on the 24th, to furnish large parties, each under an officer, in connection with the making and defending the several bridges which now spanned the Struma. The river was at this time considerably swollen, and the bridges, which were a necessary adjunct to the commander’s contemplated further offensive, were consequently difficult to construct; indeed, the work reflected the greatest credit on the Royal Engineers.
III. Barakli Dzuma
Constant reconnaissance, chiefly by aeroplane and armoured cars, had revealed the fact that the enemy had constructed a defensive line along the foothills on the left side of the river as far as Savjak and from there across the low ground to Lake Butkova. This line passed through the large village of Barakli Dzuma, and this village it was determined to capture.