RUMANIA'S PERIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3163, 15 August 1917, Page 5

RUMANIA'S PERIL

DESPERATE FIGHT TO HOLD THE ENEMY

VON MACKENSEN HEAVILY REINFORCED " STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE -7" MR. HENDERSON'S SPEECH IN DEFENCE The news from llumania to-day is no worse. The Russians and Rumanians, acting in conjunction, are engaged in a desperate fight to hold the enemy, who has been heavily reinforced to 'the extent of several fresh divisions. Tho morale of the Russitui Armies continues to improve, but ill - . AViltou, tlie British correspondent, who notes tho improvement, says that it is rather early yet to describe Russia's offensive potentiality as other than an uncertain quantity: A stupendous bombardment is in progress on tho Flanders front, but'of this Sir Douglas Haig says little. Tho Stato Department at Washington, convinced that a strict embargo on exports to neutrals is the only secure guarantee that supplies will not reach Germany, has indicated that tho embargo will bo continued. Mr. Arthur Henderson, who is figuring unpleasantly in tho glaro of public opinion on account of his connection with the Stockholm Conference, has mado a long speech in defenco of hla actions, and incidentally attacked Mr. Lloyd George for his treatment of him.

RESOLUTE COUNTER-ATTACKS ON THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONT

!, ENEMY DRIVEN BACK CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN RUSSIAN" MORALE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). (Ecc. August 14, 7.15 p.m.) London, August 13. A Russian official report states : "Our forces supporting tho Rumanians drove the enemy back in tho Okna-Grozecliti rogion, and captured a sories of heights. Wo repulsed counter-attacks in tho Sloni ku Valley. Tho Rumanians aro obstinately attacking in tho direction of Ti'old our positions westward of the Focsani-Jud railway."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rcc. August 14, 9.30 p.m.) , London, August 13. : A German official report states: "Wo extended our gains southward of tho Trotus Valley, and captured Panciu, overcoming a desperate defence. Wo ;-cpulsed ,attackß between Buzcu and the Danube."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-E«uter.

YON MACKENSEN HEAVILY REINFORCED (Roc. August 14, 9.30 p.m.) ' , London, August 13. M. Marcel Hutin states that fourteen, new German divisions, nine Austro-Hun-garian divisions, and four Turco-Bulgarlan divisions have Teinforced Von Mackensen, who intends to deliver an overwhelming battonng-ram Wow.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . , MORE HOPEFUL REPORTS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMIES (Rec. August 14, 7.15 p.m.) London, August 13. Mr. Wilton-sends more optimistic reports concerning tho Russian armies. Their morale is improving with tho cessation of tho wholesale retreat. He admits that the fighting efficiency of the armies is still an uncertain quantity, but optimism is spreading.—United Service. TINANIC ARTILLERY DUEL IN FLANDERS WHOLE LINE VEILED IN SMOKE BIGGEST CONCENTRATION OF MEN AND GUNS ON RECORD ' . , . , . ~ London, August 13. Tho whole lid,o in Flanders is wrapped in tho smoke of British and Gorman shells. The communiques give only a very vague impression of the awful and ceaseless contest of artillery. The concentrations of guns far outweigh those of Vardun' and tho Somme; and the numbers of troops are tho greatest ever gathered in any battlefield. The enemy's artillery tortures our army; but ours 13 infinitely worse. Mr. Philip Gibbs says that the enemy apparently wishes to mako this the decisive battle of tho war. "One cannot seo how ho hopes to decide it in his own favour after the loss of Pilken and the Westlioek Ridge, but he is out to kill regardless of his own losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ( TRAINLOADS OF GERMAN WOUNDED. ; , Amsterdam, August 13. Tho British firo was intense during the week-end, and windows rattled day and night in South Holland. Trainloads of wounded aro fa-avowing Belgium, and the hospitals in Ghent, Bruges, and Brussels are full. Roinforcements of youths of eighteen aro arriving to fill tlio gaps. A regiment of Bavarians quartered at Blanlenberghc, suffered grievously at Wcsthoek. One battalion had only eighty men unwoundod.—"Tho Times." SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS \ . London, August 13. Sir Douglas. Haig states that, thero is nothing special io ' report.—Aus.-N.Z. Oable Assn.-Reuter. >. (Rec. August 14, 0.30 p.m.) . . London, August 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports increased hostile artillery firing southward of tho Arras-Cimbrai road, and, al6o on tho Nicuport sector. _ Tho enemy's aircraft is aggressive! We brought down seventeen German machines. Seven of ours are miss-ing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, August 13. , A French communique 6tates: "The artillery is active betweon Corny and Craonne, notably in tho sector, south of Allies, whore a German attack on the trenches we captured on August 11 was repulsed with, heavy losses and without result Two enemy surprise attacks at the Bois-de-Caurieres and Bezonvaux (Verdun front) failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. August 14, 9.30 p.m.) London, August 13. ' A French official communique states: "lively/artillery duels continue. Attempts to eject us from the trenches wo captured south of Ailles were repulsed. Wo havo made'appreciablo progress eastward."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. August 14, 9.30 p.m.) , London, August 13. A German official report states: "We repulsed strong French attacks northward of tho laon-Soissons road, and south-west of Ailles."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.

ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE DARDANELLES RUMOUR CAUSES PANIC IN CONSTANTINOPLE (Roc. August 15, 0.5 a.m.) Rome, August 1-1. Tho "Idea Nazionale" states that a lively panic ensued at Constantinople on tho receipt of reports that a British Fleet, supported by land forces and powerful air squadrons, is about to resumo operations to force tho passago of the Dar-danelles.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.