BALKANS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1916, Page 5

BALKANS

• ROUMANIAN PRO-ALLY/ ', MAKING A HOVE. ] , I London, Feb. R. ] Importance is attached in some (]iuir- ' tors to Roumanian now Bill authorising a supplementary military credit of 'Sight millions sterling. ; Messages received by the Rome press issert that feeling in Roumania is optimistic about the position in Galieia ami at Salonika. This is restoring conlidence, anil Roumania lias now ninetentlis of her mobilised forces disposed on the Bulgarian and Hungarian frontiers and none on the Russian front. Tne entire Austro-German press fear that Roumania is only awaiting a favorable moment to strike on the side of the Entente. They admit that England's purchase of 80,000 wagons of Roumanian grain was a great stroke of practical diplomacy. A Budapest message states that Aiis-tro-Ormany is seeking to place an order for 100,000 wagons of grain.

THE MARCH OF EVENTS. , A DETERMINED LITTLE NATION. Received Feb. 7, 10.23 p.m. London, Feb. B. The outlook in Roumania has taken sudden importance. Milan reports tha't 11 Seeolos correspondent says that (he Roumania representative telegraphed on Wednesday that Austro-Uerniany had formally notified Roumania (1) that they regard the eventual election of two Translyvanian IrrideiWist parliamentary candidates at Galatz and Caracl, and (21 the sale to England of over eighty thousand wagon loads of grain, as acts of hositility to the Central Powers, which will take measures accordingly. Roumania immediately replied ' ithat her Constitution did not permit the Goverment to thwart the election of Irv'dentists, which it was only possible for Parliament 'to nullify hy declaring the elections illegal; secondly, that the grain was purely an economic question, and the Government would necessarily safeguard its economic interests, as the country cannot be deprived of its of gain. The latest message from Rome states i'lat the. Bulgars and Turks are moving towards the Roumanian frontier

A message from a German source alleges that Romnnnia Ims offered a compromise by supplying Auatro-Ger-Imony with an extra consignment of one jlmndred thousand truckloads of cereals. A PRESSMAN'S NARRATIVE. Confirmation of the presentation of an ultimatum, is lacking, but the correspondent of the Chicago Daily News, on the Roumanian frontier, declares that Germany's latest demands to Roumania include the most complete written guarantees of neutrality, that shall be favorable to (he Central Powers, and the demobilisation of the army, which is entrenched on the Transylvanian frontier, scarcely fifty yards distant from "the Austrian Landsturm.

RUSSIANS ADVANCING. The fact that the new Russian guns arc churning the Austro-German trenches lias fortified M. Bratiano in rejecting die demands. The German Minister is beseiging 31. Bratiano with propositions and menaces regarding the sale of grain to England, whose cheque for [ten mililon pounds has profoundly impressed the Roumanians. The Russian successes are also a source of gratificai tion. I The pro-German clique in Roumania .seems permanently discredited. Th« German election intrigues aroused the (most violent resentment, and the mighty destinies of civilisation revolving round the righting at Czernovitz. which, for a moment, was the capital of Europe, may shortly be decided by the right ito dominate the Balkans_ ON TO CZERNOVITZ. The Russians are steadily advancing, and their shells are daily coming nearer Czernovitz. The enemy are receiving reinforcements from every available source, including two Bavarian army corps from the 'West front, and also General Mackensen's army from Serbia. The correspondent concludes: The Kaiser presided at a council at Nish. Generals Maekensen and .Tekoff attending it. It was decided that the Bulgars should forthwith advance towards Salonika, but Bulgaria was newly embarrassed regarding the concession of territory by Turkey. Bulgaria also requires explicit guarantees of Roumanian nentality before embarking on the Salonika adventure. GERMANS MASSING AT MONASTIR. Salonika, Feb. 8. Important Bulgarian forces have been withdrawn from the front and sent towards Rustchuk, on the Roumanian frontier. Austrians and Germans are replacing them. There are indications that new units, exclusively German, are being massed at Monastir, where the uniiy totals 80,000. ROUMANIAN FRONTIER CLOSED. RUSSIA MOVING TROOPS Paris, February o. Russia has closed the Russo-Rouman-ian frontier, owing to a concentration l movement of troops.

SHARP FIGHTING IN ALBANIA. ITALIANS AND SERBS FALL BACK. : Received Feb. 7, 5.5 p.m. Athens, Feb. C. Sharp fighting with superior AnstroBulgarian forces in the vicinity of Alessio compelled the Italians and Serbians to fall back. It is reported that the Bulgarians have occupied El Bassan. It is also stated that a French detachment has commenced fighting the Bulgarians, but it is not known whether i this preface? an offensive or is mere)" t> reeounalsanw