BIG BATTLE IN RUMANIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2937, 24 November 1916, Page 5

BIG BATTLE IN RUMANIA

! THE ENEMY'S ADVANCE IN ALT AND JIUL VALLEYS STEADY PROGRESS BY THE ALLIES IN THE BALKANS (By Telegraph—Ptass Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association, Romo, November 23. A wireless. message states that a big battle has begun north 'of Crajova. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Ausl —N.Z. Ca,blo Assn. and Bculer.) London, November 22. A German communique states:—"North' of Campnlung t'lio Rumanians made repeated but fruitless attacks. At the Rotherthurm Pass and ,atSidi (? Sinaia) and in the valleys of tho Jiul and Alt we won ground." A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION Australian-New Zealand Cable Aseociatiou. London, November 22. Messages from Vienna, indicate that Crajova fell early on Tuesday. The English newspapers accept the news, especially as the Russians admit that the Rumanians retired east of the junction where the branch railway from Tergu Jiuliu meets the main line from Orsova. Nothing is known of the position of the Orsova garrison. If Orsova has been evacuated, it re-opens the Danube for Austrian and German transport to Bulgaria via Vidin, and givcß the enemy a new lino of invasion from Bulgaria. Tho population of Crajova is .12,000, and it is the centre of a grain growing and cattle_ district, though of minor importance compared with Central and Eastern Rumania. Apparently, von Mkenhayn pushed his big guns through the Vulkan Pass, and out-manoeuvred the Western Rumanian defence. The Germans throughout have shown skill in taking advantage of such collapses. Their immediate aim will probably be to secure tho line of the Alt, bringing the armies of von Falkenhayn and vo nMackensen in closer connection. Rumania, however, is a regular gridiron of valleys ' and mountain ranges, running north and south, making von Falkenhayn's advance eastward difficult. SITUATION "EVIDENTLY SERIOUS." (Rec. November 21, 0.35 a.m.) London, November 23. Tho "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Petrograd says that the situation in Rumania is evidently serious. The capture of Paliash, 50 miles south of the frontier, is important. Within three days the Rumanians have retired 35 miles. It is noteworthy that this success was acchieved in the Jiul Valley, where the Rumanians recently routed the Eleventh Bavarian Division. . No communique, has been issued from Bucharest since Sunday, nor any Rumanian information regarding the fall of Crajova or tho Western retreat. GERMAN EVACUATION OF THE DOBRUDJA FORESHADOWED ' Rome, November 22. The "MessageroV correspondent at Sofia states that the Bulgarian newspapers foreshadow the German evacuation of the Dobrudja. (United Service.) ■ (Roc. November 23, 7.20 p.m.) Paris, November 22. M. Marcel Hiitin, in the "Echo de Paris," says that a big blow is impending against von Mackensen. Ample snp plies are available. THE ADVANCE IN THE BALKANS FURTHER PROGRESS/ON THE NORTHWARD MARCH (Aust.-'N.Z. Cable Assn. and leuter.) ' London, November 22. A French official communique states:—"A thick fog in the region of Monastir hindered operations.- The enemy is strongly resisting on a line of heights from Snegovo, two and a half mile 3 north of Monastir, to Hill 1050, south-west of Makovo. Wo took five hundred more prisoners. Our troops on the west bank of Lake Presba are continuing to advancenorthward. SERBIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Austrp'ian-Np.w Zealand Oablo Association. - (Rec. November 23, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, November 22. A Serbian official communique states:—"Yesterday wo successfully pursued our attacks along the whole line, and captured the village of Budiniras and the surrounding heignts, inflicting heavy losses. Our Allies made progress."' i CONSTERNATION IN BULGARIA ■ London, November 22. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Milan states that Sofia Teports that the retreat from Monastir caused constornatiou there. It is admitted that the Germans and Bulgars lost 35,000 dead, wounded, and missing, many cannon, and huge supplies of ammunition. Tho newspapers blame the Germans for the defeat, in consequence of the withdrawal of troops for the Rumanian area, and express the fear that tho Allies' domination of Monastir, together with tho linking up of tho Italian army in Albania, will render the Allies' left wing invincible, and enable the contre and right wing to seize the Balkan railways and push forward towards Sofia A GERMAN BOAST: AFTER RU MANIA, THE BALKANS. London, November 22. The "Morning Post" states that military circles in Berlin declare that when Rumania is disposed of, Monastir and the whole of the Balkans will be cleared of General Sarrail's armies, HEAVY GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. (Rec. November 23, 7.20 p.m.) Paris, i November 22. At least twenty-four fresh German battalions reached tho Monastir front prior to November 15, and others havesince arrived. BUNDLED OUT OF GREECE DEPARTURE OF THE ENEMY'S MINISTERS ("Tho Times.") Athens, November 22. King Constantino presided over a protracted special meeting of the Privy Council to consider the demands for the expulsion of the German, Austrian, Turkish, and Bulgarian Ministers, when it was decided that it was impossible to resist them. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, Novembor 22. Tho "Daily Chronicle's' correspondent at Athens states that two of the expelled Ministers aro going to the Piraeus. Their departure from Plialerou Bay was witnessed by tho survivors and nurses from the Britannic. (Router's Tclojram.) Athens, Novembor 22. The enemy's Ministers and their staffs left for Kava.Ha aboard a Greek steamer, which wae flying all the onemy's flags, to obviate being torpedoed.

ALLEGED FORGERY, IN KAL-MASIOTIS SCANDAL, " (Boater's Telegram.) Athens, November 22. It is officially announced that the_ charges against tho Deputy Kalamasiotis have been proved false, tho incriminating letters being the work of a forger, who has confessed,