Roumania

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 4 December 1916, Page 5

Roumania

ATTACK ON BUCHAREST. POSITION IN WALLACHIA. ROUMANtA CONCENTRATION. Press Association—Copyright. Renter's Telegrams Loudon, December :'. ■ Ii is reported thai General von Falkenhayii is diivci Iv attacking the city from the nortli-wesl and southeast, in co-operation with General von Mackensen. French experts opine that if the Roumanians are defeated, they will retire to a prepared line on the SerethArgeres, where tho Russians are in strong force. It is reported from Zurich that tiu civilian population have evacuated Bucharest. The converging German movement greatly endangers Bucharest. A elos;i:v:stment is threatened if General |von Mackensen crosses A-rgesu River cast of Komana. The success of the Russians near Kirlibaba may result'in the capture of Jacabein, on the Dorna Watra, enabling them to cross the Carpathians, and descend on the Transylvania.]) plains through the Syamas valley, thus helping to re-establish the situation, even if the capital is lost. M. Marcel Ilulm, the French military expert, thinks it is difficult to avert the fate of Bucharest.

The Daily Telegraph's Petrograd correspondent states that when the situation in Roumania was desperate, Russia intervened with an offensive over a 200-mile front, retarding haikenhayn's and Mackeiison's operations. The terrain was most difficult, being densely wooded mountains, ,7000 feet high, thinly populated, and devoid of means of communication. The movement began favorably. Details of the operations in lßouinania are chiefly from em my sources. Berlin's latest claims are that the Germans captured 701)0 prisoners and 83 guns in the last two days. " According to Paris reports, the Roumanians are holding up the enemy west of Bucharest. A most violent battle is proceeding on a considerable front, showing a complete volte face by the Roumanians, who have concentrated west and south-west of the belt of forts around the capital. The Roumanian army is still intact.. with its heavy artillery and guns..

The Russian offensive from the Moldavian border cannot immediately affect the Wallachian position.

The Germans state that the RussoRoumanians are using British armored cars at the Dobrudja. and that two have been destroyed.

The latest news is to the effect that the Germans are ten miles from the Bucharest forts, and are approaching the city's last river-line, six miles from the forts. Palkenhayn's troops are very near the oilfield. The Daily Mail fears that the enemy has captured vast herds of sheep'and cattle, thereby greatly increasing his supply of fats.

ROUMANIANS RETIRE SLOWLY.

London, December 3

A Roumanian communique states :- In the Damovitza valley we retired southwards. Gar troops violently attacked in the Piestci region, and retired slowly. We fiercely attacked enemy positions in the Dobrudja, ami passed the entanglements at some points.

ON HUNGARIAN FRONTIER,

MIGHTY RUSSIAN EFFORT.

ENEMY LEADER ALARMED

Berne, December 2

News from a German source states that there is great, concern in,Berlin over the incredible violence of the Russian attacks on the ■ north-west frontier of Hungary. General brusiloff is employing fresh troops and countless guns, defying the season and snow. It is evident that his intention is to penetrate Hungary, and get behind General von Kalkonhayn and las armv in the Wallachians.

Archduke Joseph is demanding large reinforcements, fearing that he cannot longer resist the Russian pressure. THE RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. VALUE TO THE ROUMANIANS. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Petrograd, December 3. The Russian success in the wooded Carpathians has caused General Falkeuhayn to delay his advance, fearing that his rear will be endangered. Moreover, the Roumanians, encouraged by the Russian attack, have assumed a resolute offensive in the Betizu Valley and threaten to descend ion Brasso.

'liie Russian advance on the iron tier of Bukovina and Hungary is de

velupiug with the utmost energy, and the road to Marmarssziget is now under the lire of the Russian guns. The Russians overcame desperate German resistance at Kirlibaha, and also seized the Ruriukala Height,

near the rear of the enemy's position. The Geimauo-Bulgarian reverse ai Komana momentarily arrested the attept to reach Bucharest in that direction; nevertheless, a fresh crossing of the Danube at Turtukai is threatened. Meanwhile the Rnsso-Roumanians regard the preservation of the Roumanian Army as essential, oven if it is found necessary to temporarily abandon Bucharest. ENEMY ON THE DEFENSIVE. WINTER CONDITIONS PREVAIL. Press Association—Copyrig&t. Renter's Telegrams (Received 8.55 a.m.) Rome, December 3. La Corriere's Petrograd correspondent states: General Falkenhayn's forces in the mountains between Transylvania and Moldavia have been obliged to assume the defensive owing to the despatch of several divisions thence to assist the advance through Wallachia. Operations on a great scale are no longer possible in the Transylvanian Alps owing to the winter conditions.

RUSSIAN CONCENTRATED. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Paris, December 2. An important Russian army, under the Grand Duke Nicholas, has been concentrated, in order to aid the Roumanians. THE ENEMY'S INTENTIONS. Rotterdam, December 2. General van Bluner, writing to the Kolnische Yolk eitung, says the Central Powers intend to permanently annex parts of Roumania, with the object of protecting the Bagdad route, and securing a permanent additional corn supply. TURKS CRY ENOUGH. Zurich, December 2. It is "reported from Constantinople that the Turks have refused to send additional troops to Europe, because of being unduly exposed to slaughter in the Dobrudja and elsewhere. THE GERMAN REPORTS. London, December 1. A German commuique states: The Russians on the south wing of the Roumanians continue their relief offensive on a front of over three hundred kilometres, between Wablonica Pass and the heights east of the basin of Keydwasarhely. The fierce fighting, with a high expenditure of blood and munitions, brought the Russians only a few advantages.

The Roumanians in western Kcimania, who were cut off from their army, are endeavoring to escape by striking off in various directions. The enemy resisted our forces advancing from -the Alt at various river sectors, but we repulsed the enemy here and also took the offensive. The enemy could not stay our advance. The Danube army crossed the Nealov valley and is approaching by the lower course of the Drgeeu in the direction of Bucharest. We have taken rich booty in "Vyallachia.