RUMANIAN SITUATION NO WORSE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2941, 29 November 1916, Page 7

RUMANIAN SITUATION NO WORSE

A VICTORY IN THE BALKANS UGLY RUMOURS AT ATHENS (By Telegraph—Pxess Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, November 27. A Rumanian official communique states: "We retired from the Alt and Ihe Topolos, a little to the westward. There were violent engagements in the direction of Smerdoasa, south of Alexandria." ' RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. v London, November 27. A Russian, official communique states: "The retiring Rumanian detachments are utilising the natural features of the' country in resisting the enemies' advance in Western Wallachia. After crossing the Danube at Zimnitza, the enemy occupied a position on the River Vede, between Valens and Rosi-de-Vede." ADVANCE IN THE DOBRUDJA CONTINUES Rome, November 27. The Rumanian Legation at Rome states that the Rumanians continue fighting in the retirement on the new Wallachian front, where Russian reinforcements are 'concentrating.' Mood'sare hinderingtho passage of Von Mackenseh's troops. The Allies' advance in the Dobrudja continues. v GERMAN. OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Anrt.—N.Z. Cable Assn. and Heuter.) London, November 27. A German official communique states: "We have taken Alexandria, fifty miles south-west of Bucharest." NO BOOTY AT CRAJOVA. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Amsterdam, November 27. German correspondents admit that the Rumanians left no war material in Crajova. They removed all the guns, including the heaviest artillery. AN AUTHORITATIVE REVIEW OF THE SITUATION BY A CORRESPONDENT WITH RUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS. (Rec. November 2S, 9.50 p.m.) \ London, November 27. Tho "Daily Chronicle's correspondent with Russian Headquarters on the southern front, in an authoritative review of the Rumanian situation, saysi "When Rumania joined the Allies, tho Russian armies were attacking westward in the direction of Lemherg. It then seemed! reasonable to believe that a movement of tho Rumanians m Transylvania would secure tho left Russian wing, and allow the Russian offensive to be undertaken with more speed and determination. The Gormans, however, quickly concentrated forces and assumed a powerful offensive. _ It then became Russia's duty to throw important forces towards Rumania, and she unhesitatingly and radically transformed her own arrangement of troops. It is not explained why the Allies woro unable to hold the Cernavoda-Cou stanza. Tailway. Perhaps tho mines, woto not woll sprung, and failed! to properly destroy the bridge. The situation in Northern Dobrudja is now, however, perfectly secure. The Oernavoda bridge is under the fire of tho Russo-Rumanian batteries. A Bulgarian' force which tried to cross was immediately expelled. On tho left bank the Rumanians hold tho great dam, which is the continuation of tho bridge through the marshes. While putting tho situation right in the Dobrudja, Russia has considerably extended her front, taking over Moldavia, and rendering it impracticable for the Gorman plan to cut Kumauia in two by operating on the Fogsani Plain. The only region where some anxiety is felt is in Little Wallachia. The Bulgarians are fortifying their position in the Dodrudja with many lines of entrenchments parallel to the Cernavoda-Constanza railway, hoping thus to prevent the Russians from debouching." RUMANIA'S GRATITUDE TO RUSSIA ' ' Coponhagon, November 27. The Tsar has arrived at Kieff, en route to Reni, in Bessarabia, in order to confer with King Ferdinand of Rumania. Potrograd, November 27. The Rumanians are sending a. memorandum of gratitude to Russia for her loyal and invaluable aid in the terrible crisis. M. 'J'ako Jor.escu, in an interview, said: "We Rumanians are unreservedly grateful. Wo have heard suggestions that Russia did not como to our help sufficiently quickly; that Russia was to blame for the Dobrudja retreat, and had left Rumania during the first assaults to bear the brunt of tho enemy'H hatred. All these suggestions originate from poisoned German sources. Russia has loyally fulfilled every obligation without delay, and has generously done more than her duty. Russia's help exceeds what Rumania contemplated when she entered the war." RUMANIA'S FATE IS NOT SEALED A REPLY TO GERMAN BOASTS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, November 27. 'Ah Italian semi-official message declares that the Austrian and German newspapers are wrongly proclaiming that Rumania's fate is sealed. The present enemy plan was adopted after tho failure of the original scheme, which hoped to force a passage through the Transylvanian Alps and 1 along the Prahova and Buzen Valleys, so as to join up w jth Mackensen, who expected to cross the Danube from the Dobrudja. This, had it succeeded, would have separated Rumania from the remainder of Moldavia. The German effort was arreßted in the east and the centre, and was next directed against the most .westerly, point, .which the Rumanians wisely abandoned.

A" CAMPAIGN OF Australian-Now Zcflland Cabin Association. . Pctrograd, November 27. A wireless messago slates that, a German campaign of horror is in progress in Western Wallachia, pillaging and massacring being proniiuout. ~ ■ ~. ,„„, m . , London, November 27. Mr. Bourchier, writing to. "Jho limes" from Bucharest, states that the Germans havo launched punitive measures against the- unarmed Rumanian population. They aro shelling unfortified towns and villages and massacring defenceless peasants working in fields. Theso measures are largely due to the hostility of the German Press to the so-called treachery of Rumania. THE AUSTRIAN CAMPAIGN IN THE JIUL VALLEY (Rec. November 2D, 1.30 a.m.) , , r r, l n , „ London, November 28. It is reported from Budapest that General Arz. commanding the army group against the Rumanians in the Jiul Valley, is urging the Hungarian refugeos from Transylvania to return to their homes,•■which wero praotically uninjured by tho Rumanians during the recent invasion. Ho declares that the campaign in Rumania is proceeding with the utmost smoothness and effectiveness, in accordance with plans which were made before the Rumanian declaration of war. THE ADVANCE IN THE BALKANS j IMPORTANT POSITION CARRIED BY ASSAULT (Aust.—N.Z. Cable Assn. and R-outer.) (Rec. November 28, 8.55 p.m.) ...„,. '. , , , ,„, London, November 27. Aberbian official communique states: "Tho Franco-Serbian forces have carried by assault Hill 1050, which is a most important strategical point. The German elite trooDS who were defending the position had been instructed! to hold it 'at all costs.' Several counter-attacks were launched, regardless of losses, and repulsed at heavy cost to the enemy." An Italian Macedonian communique states: "Wo broke the enemy' 5 stubborn resistance and captured two heights south-east of Nizoiwle." BIG ARTILLERY FIGHT AT MONASTIR ,„.„,., . . , „ Paris, November 27. A f reach ofnoial communique states: "The Serbians repulsed a Bulgarian counter-attack on the Cerna front, with sanguinary losses. A viofent artillery duel is in progress north of Monastir. The Italians continue to advance in the hilly region of Tinovo, on our loft wing.'-'-MASSACRE PLOT AT ATHENS SINISTER RUMOURS OF SECOND ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S EVE . . Australian-New Zealand Oabla Association. (Rec. November 28, 10.50 p.m.) „, „_. ~ ml ~ „ .... , London, November 28. lhe | Daily Telegraphs" Athens correspondent says that at a Military Council, at whioh all trusted Royalist officers were present, a plant of action was decided upon. In the event of an attempt by the Allies to seize the arms, the Reservists, on a bugle call, will sack and burn all marked! Venizelist establishments, and use firearms where necessary—a modern Stfl Bartholomew's Eve, with Venizelist victims. A Foreign Office official states that when the French fire the first shot all prominent Venizelist homes will be blown up. The Government interpret Admiral du Foumet's time limit as marking the Allies' surrender. KING CONSTANTINE IMPLICATED, (Rec. November 29, 0.10 a.m.) at- .< lf -a >~ „ 1 . r-.„ November 28. IBS '.Morning Post's" correspondent at Athens states that the Government, the King, and his staff concur in the suggested armed resistance to Admiral du Foumet's demand for the surrender of the arms, by replying to the Reservists of the army_ and the now Military League, who subscribed to the declaration conffemning tho officers for joining the revolutionaries and agreeing never to' recognise them. The war material is Being scattered' and rifles distributed to the Reservists.Guns are concealed ortmried in places from where they can best be fired on the Allies. , :..:rA PRELIMINARY-RIOT AT LARISSA. (Roo, November 29, 0.10 a.m.)' m. t> • i 1: > • •, , „ , Athens, November 28. The Reservists at Wissa rioted on Sunday, armed with revolvers and rifles, breaking the windows of tho Venizelist establishments and firin" in the air. *■ ° The gendarmes and police made no effort to prevent the rioting. The Reservists held up a train-load of armaments for Peloponnesus, seized the rifles and guns, and paraded the streets. ("Tie Times.") (Rec. November 29, 1.35 a.m.) m_ x. j j to. 1. -1 i ,' , , London t November 28. Two hundred French sailors have landed. The Greek Ministers declare that the Government will reply in tho nogative to Admiral du Fournet's latest Note. Admiral du Fournet visited King Constantino and emphasised the gravity of the situation. Ho subsequently called upon several of tho threatened Venizelist merchants and promised them protection. BRITAIN AND M. VENIZELOS fßeutor's Telecram.i (Rec. November 28, 8.20 p.m.) , -rr C n , • ' . ... London i November 27. In the House of Commons, replying to criticisms of the British policy in Greece, and statements that insufficient support had been given. to M. Vanizelos, Lord RobertCccil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) urged tho necessity for studying the views of our allies in framing a policv. He declared that the Alliance had hitherto been conducted in unprecedented harmony and an amazing absence of friction. He denied that Britain was "bolstering up" Constantino for private or personal reasons. "We will never abandon 11. Venizelos."