A NEW DEVELOPMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2911, 25 October 1916, Page 5

A NEW DEVELOPMENT

REPORTED CAPTURE OF CONSTANZA

ALLIES' PLANS FOR EASTERN ACTION

. FURIOUS BATTLE IN CARPATHIANS DESPERATE THROW BY THE ENEMY A BRITISH ADVANCE The news from Rumania to-day, regarded from Colonel Repington's point of view, is disquieting. The-wiemy has seized Constanza, which Repington says is "a disagreeable blow," on, several stated grounds. The Franco-British Conference at Boulogne is understood • to have considered the general situation in the East, and to have arrived at certain decisions for united action. But help for Rumania, says Colonel Repington, must come principally from Russia, whose capacity for the supply of reinforcements for the Rumanian theatre is now, he says, somewhat restricted by the loss ,of Con'stanza. Tlie untimely advent of bad weather, has rather robbed the Serbians of the full fruits of 'their recent successes, as the inevitable delay has given the enemy time to bring up reinforcements. In the Carpathians the Russians are busily engaged in warding off furious attacks on a big 6cale by the enemy in an attempt to cut the Russian line

at Kirlibaba, and swing round in rear of the Russian flank. There are no developments in Grecce, bnt tho Franco-Britisli Conferonco at Boulogne las decided upon, a progressive policy by which ic is hoped to convince King Constantino of tho earnestness of their purpose. Tho Allies in tho West have made further progress on the Somme battle front. Viscount Grey, British Foreign Minister, has delivered a tolling speech, for German and neutral consumption. ..There is to be no peace without aull guarantee for future peacc. "Lest we forget," he says, in oflect, ho reminds us of the Germans' truculent boasts in the early days of tire war.

RUMANIAN CRISIS AGAIN GRAVE ENEMY SEIZES CHIEF BLACK SEA PORT STUBBORN FIGHTING ON NORTHERN FRONTIER (By Telegraph—Pvess Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. New York, October 23. The Bulgarians have captured Constanza. [Constanza, or Kustendje, is the only important seaport in Rumania, and is about half-way between the Bulgarian frontier and the delta of-the Danube. It is the terminus of a railway from Bucharest, which runs practically due west, crossing the Danube at Chornavoda by tho only bridge below the Iron Gates.] - RUMANIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. London, October 23. A Rumanian official communique reports"There is violent fighting in the Dobrudja.' We have retired to immediately south of the ChernavodaConstanza railway. The enemy is retiring in the Trotns Valley." RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. . London, October 23. A Russian official communiquo states : "The Rumanians forced the enemy to retire in tho Trotus, Oituz, and Slanio Valleys. The Rumanian successes continue on the west front of Moldavia. The Russo-Ruinanians retire, stubbornly resisting, in the Dobrudja." • ' "A DISAGREEABLE BLOW" COLONEL EEPINGTON ON THE LOSS OF CONSTANZA. <"Th® Times."* (Rec. October 24, 9.50 p.m.) V London, October 24. Colonel Repin.gton says of the reported loss of Constanza: "This, if true, wwild be due to the reorganisation of the German man power by reducing the number of battalions in order to make from 20 to 30 new divisions, thus enabling Von Hindenburg to create new. anti-Rumanian armies. Von Mackensen's renewed advance indicates tho arrival of important reinforcements, possibly of Turks. The Dobrudja is not a. vital theatro, but the loss of Constanza is a disagreeable blow, a tactical defeat which limits the Russians' supply of reinforcements, ■ reduces Rumania's strength, and impairs Rumania's confidence. The Salonika offensive is only able to help Rumania indirectly. Russia alone can give . direct succour. General Alexieff will do his utmost to counteract Von Hindenburg's dangerous schemes." WHAT THE LOSS OF CONSTANZA MEANS • VON MACKENSEN'S UNEXPECTED THRUST. Australian.Now Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. October 24, 11.40 p.m.) London, October 24. The success of von Mackensen's unexpected attack has renewed public anxiety as to Rumania's ability to counter these fierce Austro-German assaults. It is unlerstood that von Mackcnsen now commands one-third of tlie Bulgarian army, with a considerable stiffening of Germans, together with many Turks, added since von Mackensen's reverse on September 20. After breaking the Russo-Rumanian left wing, and capturing the fortified centre of Topraisar, von Mackcnsen pushed on instantly a distance of fifteen miles, displaying that remarkable faculty of improving on a victory which is his chief military virtue. He was thus able to throw his army within twentyfour hours across tho railway cutting off Constanza, whore, it is feared, are large stores of petroleum and coreals. Tho Constanza Docks cover 150 acres, and are able to store 70,000 tons of grain. The port is also the headquarters of 757 Rumanian merchant ships. The capture of tho town means the loss of tho shortest line of communication between Bucharest and Odessa, via the Blank Sea, and increases the difficulty of preventing the enemy from crossing the Danube and cutting the Russians' land communication with Bucharest. Other Russo-Rumaman difficulties arise from the fact that they cannot retreat northward, because it is vital that they should keep in contaot witli tho Cernavoda Bridge, which is the sole means of communication across the Danube. If the Worst Should Befall. If Vou Mackensen hems the Russo-Rumanians into a small semi-circle of territory before Cernavod?,, the Rumanians will find the bridgehead very costly to flefend against the conditions of modern artillery, and if a retreat should eventually be necessary, the passage of the bridge will be an operation fraught with the utmost danger. The fact that Von Mackensen. claims no prisoners indicates that the Rumanians have retreated beyond the railway, in accordance with a plan. There is stubborn fighting on the other Rumanian fronts, but only on the northern sector is a, tendency to drive back tho enemy apparent. Von Falkenhayn' troops have_ obtained a footing on tho Rumanian side of at least fivo passes. It is estimated that Von Falkenhayn has fourteen, divisions in Transylvania. It is noteworthy that tho Austro-Hungarian war correspondents in Transylvania continually insist on tho difficulties which confront Von Kilkctibavn. They say: "Snowfalls may delay tho advanco into Rumania, and so enable the latter to draw on Russian reinforcements. The Central Powers must be satisfied if the enemy is kept out of Hungary."

IMPORTANT DECISIONS BY THE ALLIES. (Eeuter's Tolesram.) (Rcc. October 24, 9.50 p.m.) Paris, Oclobcr 24. It is reported, that tho Anglo-French conference .on Friday decided upon, a collective programme by tho Entente Powers on the Eastern front, and also discussed the Greek question, adopting a resolution in terms of which they will develop the situation progressively, in a manucr by which King Constantino will realise the Allies' unity of action and energy. RUSSIAN EX-WAR MINISTER, JOINS RUMANIAN STAFF. (Rec. October 24, 11.40 p.m.)' Bucharest, October 24. Goneral Polivanoff, formerly Russian War Minister, is joining the Rumanian Headquarters Staff. GERMAN VERSION OP THE ADVANCE Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, October 23. A German official communique states: "Wo captured 560 Rumanians in the Predeal Pass. We have crossed far beyond tho railway in tho Dobrudja, east of Nurfatlar, and our left wing is approaching Cheruavoda (on the Danube)." BULGARIAN OFFICIAL' COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, October 23. A Bulgarian official communique states: "We have completely broken the enemy's resistance in the Dobrudja." RUSH TACTICS BY VON WKENHAYN A RACE WITH THE WINTER SNOWS. New York, October 23. . The New York "World" publishes a dispatch from Herr Karl von Weigand, who is with the Germans on the Rumanian frontier. He says that Von Falkenliayn's army., on a front of two hundred miles in Transylvania, is striving to tighten its grip on the mountain passes into Rumania, and is advancing in three columns through the Torzburger, Tomoes, and Predeal Passes towards Bucharest, eighty miles distant; and also through tlio Ar_tschan Pass. Tho German left wing, sixty-five miles north of Kronstadt, is endeavouring to cut off the Russian support from the Rumanians in the Palanka or Gyimes Pass. General von Falkenhayn is forcing on "the troops, trying to' roach the eastern and southern slopes of the mountains beforo the snow makes operations impossible. Tho contrast with tho methods on the West front is striking. Whereas the artillery is screened on the West front, scores of batteries in the Predeal Valley are in full sight of the Rumanians, and the Rumaniarf lines aro also plainly visible to tho Germans. COMPLETE SUCCESS OF THE SERBIANS HEAVY BULGAR ATTACKS HURLED BACK. (Router's Telegram.) London, October 23. .A French official report from Salonika, states that largo forces of Billgars violently coimtor-attacked tho Serbs at tho loop of the Cerna on October 19. There was desperate fighting all day, and at the end complete success resulted for the Serbs, who drove back the enemy everywhere with heaviest losses'. A correspondent at Serbian headquarters states that tho Serb offensive lias been temporarily brought to a standstill by the weather and large Bulgar reinforcements. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. (Rec. October 24, 5.5 p.m.) October 23. Air. Ward Price, at Salonika, reports: "Tho break in the weather came unfortunately. Tho Serbians, after tho capturc of Brod and Veliselo, reached the crest of the hills a league from Cerna, capturing tho trenches on tho mountain side, and finally surrounded an important redoubt. Tho rain camo down in a deluge, preventing further attacks. Tho delay is rogrettablo for maaiy reasons. Tlio Serbians had begun to 'widen tho broach in tho enemy's line, and it will not bo difficult to send up supplies. This has given the onemy time tp bring up reinforcements." RAIDS BY THE BRITISH. London, October 23. A War Office report states :"Tho Franco-British forces rajded trenches at Baldjamali, on the Struma front, taking prisoners. We raided trenches near Dautli, on the Doir&n front." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. London, October 23. A German official communique states: "Tlio oueiny wns forccd to assume the defensivo in tho Cerna salient (Monastir sector)."