BEGINNING OF BIG EVENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2634, 3 December 1915, Page 5

BEGINNING OF BIG EVENTS

RUSSIANS STRIKE AT BUKOWINA GERMANS FORCED TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM THE BALKANS • Bt Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' • •• •. : , (Rec. December 2, 8.10 p.m.) '• N ' , Rome, December 2. The Italian journal "Corriere Delia Sera" states that Russians have invaded 1 Bukowina, and captured Hadngora and Mashala. The Russian concentration oil the Danube continues. > The Rumanians are concentrating more troops on the Austrian frontier. (Rec. December 2, 11.15 p.m.) Rome, December 2. Reports from Bucharest state that the 1 Germans have withdrawn large forces from Bulgaria and Serbia to'm'eet the Russian offensive in Galicia and Bukowina. Several battalions of Bulgarians have been sent to Gallipoli, instead of Germans, as had originally been planned. GREAT ACTIVITY ON GERMAN RAILWAYS. (Rec. December 2, 5.5 p.m.) Rotterdam, December 1. The railways of west and south Germany are congested, and the Swiss frontier has been closed. It is believed that a concentration of German troops for eastward movement is proceeding. Even Germans are not permitted to enter the ■ Fatherland. CONFLICTING NEWS FROM RUMANIA M. BRATIANO AND HIS TEUTON CORRUPTERS. (Rec. December 2, 7.30 p'.m.) Athens, December 1. Mr. Martin Donohoe (the "Daily Cnroniqle's" correspondent) says that despite M. Bratiano's reiteration of the neutrality of Rumania, it. is believed that the renewed Auatro-German influences will in some degree be successful, as the result of the tempting territorial offers which have been dangled before M. Bratiano. I ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, December 1, The Paris Press states that from Salonika German aviation stations have been organised along the Bulgarian coast. It is authoritatively stated that 120,000 Turks will be sent to assist in the defence of Bulgaria. Fifty thousand Austro-German troops are arriving at Rustchuk (the Bulgarian port on the Danube), where their concentration is intended to impress Rumania, who has closed the Danube as far as the Bulgar- frontier, claiming her right to police the river. The "Times" correspondent at Bucharest states that large supplies of munitions have arrived at Rustchuk, with seven locomotives, and that' quarters have been prepared for the Austro-Germans in the schools and public buildings. Rumania insists on Rumanian pilots boarding all vessels. Conflicting messages are arriving from Bucharest. 1 The Danish Press asserts that Rumania has notified Russia of her earnest wish to remain neutral, and consequently will not allow the Russian navy to enter the Danube, emphasising the dangers from mines. Pro-Germans in Rumania are forming a so-called Patriotic League, their programme including the conquest of Bessarabia and joining the Central Powers. ' M. Maghiloman and other ex-Ministers have joined the league. The Paris Press asserts that there is every reason for optimism, and that the entry, of Rumania on the side of tho Allies is assured. Tho • "Temps" correspondent at Bucharest states that the German Minister at the capital recently remarked: "lam less considered here than the representative of Montenegro 1" Other telegrams announce that Port Kola is being enlarged for tne shipment of munitions, and that Rumania has arranged for the transportation of Russian munitions and goods across her railways. London regards the Danish. P: ess aB being "the victims of the despairing efforts of German agents." \ ' RUMANIA'S HOUR OF DECISION OPPOSITION CLAMOUR IN PARLIAMENT. __~ „ ~ . ~ Buoharost, December 1. . While reading his speech to Parliament, the King was obliged to pause owing to the Oppositionists orying, ''Down with Germany and Hungary! Lead us to Transylvania!" The Ministerialists tried to drown the scouts with cheers. RUMANIAN MINES IN THE .DANUBE. . . . ~ . „ . , Bucharest, Decemberl. Mines are being laid m Rumanian waters on the Lower Danube. GREECE AND THE ALLIES'DEMANDS DISAGREEMENT ON IMPORTANT POINTS. (Rec. December 2, 7.20 p.m.) London, December 1. Tho "Daily News's" Romo correspondent states that Greece has notified tho Allies that their demands that Greece should evacuate Salonika, and that the Allies should assume the surveillance of the coast are not accept--L'«. »» t.base would uract'icallv amount-to a violation »f Greene's neutraiifcj!. li

The correspondent adds: "This .hesitation is due to an Austro-German threat that territory occupied by the Anglo-French troops would be considered as enemy territory if Greece acceded to the Allies' demands." GREEK SOCIALISTS AND THE ELECTIONS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, December 1. The Greek Socialists are' not participating in the elections, on the grounds that the Government policy is undermining the Constitution. FIERCEST BATTLE OF THE CAMPAIGN THE GREAT FIGHT AT PRISHTINA. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, December 1. The "Berliner Tageblatt" describes the battle of Prishtina as the fiercest of the Balkans campaign. "The enemy lost twenty thousand men. The retreating Serbs destroyed the railways which pass over the defiles and mountain streams, the mountain peaks giving continuous opportunities of damage by Serbian mountain-dwellers. It will probably be months before rail connection, between Vienna and Constantinople is repaired." An Amsterdam message reports that several trainloads of labourers have left Cologne to repair the Serbian lines. •BULGARS CLAIM LARGE CAPTURES REMAINDER OF THE SERBS AND THEIR WAR MATERIAL. (Rec. Deoember 2, 6.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, December 1. A Bulgarian official communique states; —"We h'kve captured seventeen thousand men, the remains of the Serbian army, at Prizrend, with fifty field guns, howitzers, and much material. This is probably the end of the campaign against Serbia." AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. December 2, 11.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, December 2. : An Austrian' communique states: —"We are attacking Gradina ou a height south-east of the Metaika Ridge. Our column stormed the border of the plateau ten kilometres north of Plevlie, which tlie Montenegrins stubbornly defended." TWO DAYS IN THE DARDANELLES FIGHT IN A MINE GALLERY (Rec. December 2, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, December 1. A French official communique states Saturday's and Sunday's operations at the Dardanelles consisted of the usual activity on'both sides. One of our mine galleries penetrated a Turkish gallery, and our sappers put the occupants to flight with revolvers and hand erenades. AUSTRALIANS' CHRISTMAS MAILS IN FOUNDERED STEAMER. (Rec. December 2, 8.10 p.m.) \ Sydney, December 2. Captain Bean (Offioial Correspondent with the Australian Forces in the Dardanelles), cabling on November 18, mentions that a vessel carrying 'a large portion of the Australian soldiers' Christmas mails has foundered, 168 bags of mails being lost. The weather is chilly, but the troops are exceedingly confident, and cheerfully endure all hardships. "Nevertheless, we must face the fact that winter is here, and that it will be one of severe hardship. The Australian Third Brigade, the first troops to land on Gallipoli, are still in the trenches t'hey have occupied' contiguously since the landing. It is only now being found possible to relieve part of this brigade." GERMAN STAFF OFFICERS FOR EGYPT * ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, December 1. One hundred and forty-five German officers, destined for the Turkish army in Egypt, passed through Sofia. It is stated that no Germans are to be employed in the Egyptian expedition except officers commanding. • \ i ■ , GERMAN INTRIGUES IN PERSIA MILITARY SUPPLIES BEING ACCUMULATED. Petrograd, December 1. ' The "Novoe Vrcmya's" Tiflis correspondent states that the Germans have transported a large quantity of bombs,-Maxims, rifles, and other military supplies from Teheran to.lspahan,and Hamadan. , Members of the Persian Government palpably sympathise with the foes of the Entente, and the Shah is powerless. 1. RUSSIANS DEFEAT THE TURKS IN ARMENIA V ROUTED OUT OF FORTIFIED POSITIONS. (Rec. December 2, 10.15 p.m.) . , Petrograd, December 2. A Russian, official communique states: —"South' of Lake Van, after two days' fighting in the region of Varkunis,, the Turks were driven out of two fortified positions, and are how in full flight westward." —_____. ' ■'