ENEMY'S ATTACKS REPULSED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2940, 28 November 1916, Page 5

ENEMY'S ATTACKS REPULSED

LATEST NEWS FROM RUMANIA FIGHTING,.ALONG THE DANUBE (By Telegraph— Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Ecc. November 27, 9.30 p.m.) . ■, • London, November 26, A Rumanian official communique states: "The enemy's attaoks at Oituz, Dragoslavcla and Ourtes were repulsed. There has been no change in the Zuzan Valley. Mutual artillery fighting has occurred at Branocea, Prededus, and the Prahova Valley. The enemy heavily bombarded the troops which were occupying the left bank as far south as Slavina. More to the southward! we fought successfully a Gorman column that was marching on Pontori. The enemy's troops which crossedthe Danube at Zimnitza have advanced couth' of Soimul station. Our artillery and iufantry are firing all along the Danube. "We bombarded the enemy's position in the Dobrudja." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Aust.—JT.Z. Oablo Assn. and Eeuter.l Amsterdam,, November 26. A German official communique states: "We have captured Bamnicu Valcea (Rimnik) in the Alt Valley. The Rumanians are still stubbornly resisting, but the roads eastwards of the Alt are crowded with fleeing baggage wagons. We are in touch with the forces, which orossed the Danube. The latter are now before Alexandria (25 miles north of the Danube, south-west of Bucharest)." BULGARIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ' (Aust—N.Z., Cable Absii. and Koutcr.) Amsterdam, November 26. A Bulgarian official communique states: "The enemy has placed larger forces than hitherto against our positions in the Dodrudja." WEST WALLACHIAN TROOPS INTACT. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. November 28, 0.10 a.m.) Rome, November 27. Information from Rumania slates that the West Wallachiain troops esoaiped, except for a few battalions, which continue to fight independently. COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION ' ' ■ GLEAMS OF HOPE REVEALED. London, November 26. Colonel Feyler, the distinguished Swiss authority, says that with the frost the Russians will move again, while the Allies on the Somme may, if the ground becomes hard, compel a draft ou Von Falienhayn's armies. The Rumanians are nowise crushed, and may hold Falkenhayn indefinitely in front of Bucharest, thus depriving Germany of a swift triumph, the prospect of which alone tempted her into the Rumanian adventure in order to retrieve the defeats on other fronts. The military correspondent of the "Sunday Times" states: "The situation in Rumania turns on the basic fact that the enemy has not been able to detach more than thirty divisions against Rumania, and the Rumanians can outnumber their opponents by two to one, while the Russians in the North are only awaiting tbe psychological moment to strike the German invaders at their most .vulnerable point." The "Weekly Dispatch" publishes a hopeful review of the situation in Rumania. It says that while a further Rumanian retreat is possible, the Allies are not idle. The Rumanian air service is being augmented, and doubtless men and guns are reaching her. The communiques from Bucharest are likely to retain an anxious note until the veil is lifted on the happenings in the north. Movements calculated to have a vital influence on the Rumanian campaign are occurring in Russia. But it is not the Russians' habit to talk until they are ready, as the Austrians and Turks know to their sorrow. Von Falkenhayn's coup has not yielded him all the benefits he anticipated, and he may find sterner resistance ahead sooner than he expects. Conoentrate in the Near East! The "Observer" states that the employment of an additional quarter of a million British troops in the Near East will do miDrp to shorten the war than the employment of thrice their number in any other theatre. Victory lin the West would thus be more* certainly advauced than by any other method. Turkey was the most vulnerable member of the Central League, yet by her position and ber supplies she sustains the strength and cohesion of the whole. Even for the German Western armies Turkey is therefore a base, which is equally vital and assailable -by the Allies. Were tho Balkans once mastered and the Straitsand tlio Black Sea reopened, Russia, thanks to the more rapid mobilisation and munitionment of her man power, could subsequently assume the entire Balkan businoss, and, jointly with Italy, the whole of the war on the Eastern side of Europe. Austria would then he doomed. With the Berlin-Bagdad connection broken, Germany's staying power would be irretrievably shaken to its foundations, tho French and British armies could return to tho AVest, while tho relief to merchant shipping would be immense. The gain in connection with fond supplies would be proportionate, but a pre-requistte would bo the orcanisatiou of our whole resources, including the employment of black and yellow labour on a large male. THE PLIGHT OF WALLACHIAN CIVILIANS New York, November 26. Dispatches From the Berlin correspondent of the United Press, who is in the Transylvanian Alps, describe the great sufferings of the Rumanian women and children refugees. Airmen report that the roads are black with wagon-loads floeins from Little Wallachia towards the Alt River. Even Von Falkenhayn admits that it is terriblethat women and children should suffer such misery. Von Falkenhayn, in an interview, said he was not anxious lo take Bucharest, as il, would mean that he would be_ compelled lo feed the population as well as his soldiers. "Our task," be said, "is i to destroy the Rumanian Army." Von Falkenhayn is hurrying the operations, endeavourins; to prevent reinforcements arriving from Monastir and Russia. BAD WEATHER IN THE BALKANS ADVANCE OF THE ITALIANS. (Aust.—N.ij. Cable Assn. nnd Rcutor.) London, November '26. AFrenchofficialcommimiqiiestat.es: "A violent artillery duel is proceeding north and east of Monastir, but there is no infantry fichtina, owing to _ the bad weather. The Italians, on our left wing, made new progress in the direction of Tarnova. British aeroplajies bombarded the enemy camps in tho region of Nechori, at the mouth of the Struma."

GERMANS SHELLING MONASTIC, ("The Times.") (R-eo. November 27, 8.35 p.m.) , t London, November 26. Mr. Ward Price, from Salonika, reports: "The Germaus are shelling Manas tir, and may possibly attempt; to recapture it. This is unlikely, in vigw of our reinforcements, and tie steady progress by the Franco-Serbian, forces beyond the Cerna. Germany is drilling the peasants in Asia. Minor mid bringing Turkisli troops to the European fronts." GREECE AND THE ALLIES CONSTANTINE SHEDS A FEW MORE TEARS. " Australian-New Zealand. Cabla Astocialion. Rome, November 26. According to the "Idea. Nazioriale," the Austrian Minister stated that King Constantino wept when bidding him farewoll. The German Minister told the representative of the newspaper. "Outro" that King: Constantine greeted him'at the farewell audience with tho words: "Wo shall meet again soon."- The ejected Ministers were welcomed with great enthusiasm at Sofia. ROYALIST BODYGUARD TROOPS SECEDE. (Aust-.—N.Z. Oa.ble Asan. and Eeuter.) Athens, November 26. A istrong detachment of the Royal Bodyguard has left for Salonika, to join the Venizelists. Tho populace is deeply impressed. THE ARMS REQUISITION PRO-GERMAN PRESS MAKING TROUBLE. Australian-New Zealand Cable A6FOci«,t,ioii. (Rec. November 27, 10.45 p.m.) Athens, November 27. The Gounarist newspapers assert that whatever the Government's decision the military officers are pledged to resist tho surrender of their arms at. all costs. They assert that the Athens garrison will sympathise with their resistance, and the Military League will be reconstituted for tho same purpose. Some of the officers propose to lead troops to Thessaly to harass the Allies. All means will bo utilised to incite the garrisons, and another anti-Entents students' demonstration has been arranged.