RAPID AND SUCCESSFUL ADVANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1916, Page 5

RAPID AND SUCCESSFUL ADVANCE.

IMPORTANT PASSES TAKEN. ALLIES' MASTERY OF DANUBE COMPLETE. AUSTRIAN* UNABLE TO HOLD FRONTIER. Received Sept. 1, 11.45 p.m. m London, Sept. 1. Though Rome and Bucharest telegrams are much delayed, Rome and Petrograd messages insist that splendid results have been obtained by the Roumanian attacks. Bucharest bulletins show that the army is already in possession of every important pass leading to Transylvania. The Roumanians are hastily descending the Carpathians in the direction of Brasso. They seized two tunnels before ■the surprised Austrjans had time to destroy them. Their rapid advance was aided hy magnificent aeroplane recon•naisances, despite the mountainous conditions, while Austria is poorly supplied ivh'i aeroplanes. The Allies' mastery of the Danube is now complete, Lustclmk and other Bulgarian towns being exposed to lestnietion. The. Austrian* claim that they are defending the road from the Danube, near Orsova, and the passes leading to Temesvar, where the Magyars are hastily fortifying the approaches, Elsewhere the Austrians admit they are 'Withdrawing, their righting units being evidently unable to hold the frontier, because all their troops are engaged in the Trentino, on the Isonzo, and in Galicia. Experts point out that the natural place- to defend Transylvania ip the frontier. No line further back gives better advantages. It is believed tliat no extensive effort will be made to construct defences in the interior of Transylvania. INITIAL. STEP-S EASTER THAN EXPECTED. It is evident tliat the initial steps of Roumania's enterprise were easier than expected, but they must beware of drawing sweeping conclusions, for the greater part ot Transylvania i 3 a tangle of hills and woods, and is therefore unfavorable to the passage of armies. '• RUSSIANS WELCOMED It is officially announced at Bucharest that the Russian allies are passing through Dobrudja, where the population enthusiastically welcomed them. The Russian Black Sea fleet is assisting in the defence of Roumanian sea ports. FLIGHT OF INHABITANT? Twelve thousand inhabitants hurriedly left Brasso, carrying their valuables, when the Roumanians approached, hut the greater part of the population remained. Elsewhere, on a large part of tlie frontier, the population are flying into the interior of Hungary. RUSSIANS MARCH TO BULGARIA. The Russian pontoons have already allowed many thousands of Russians to commence their march towards Bulgaria. The latter, hy delaying the declaration of war, will gain as much time as possible in -which to move troops to the northern frontier, possibly in the hope of a separate peace being nrrangcablc by means of the good offices of the Roumanian Government.

BULGARIA'S POSITION IN . DOUBT. RUSSIANS AND ROUMANIANS IN , TOUCH. AUSTRIA'S PUG [IT. Reuter Service. Received Sept. 2, 12.55 a.ru. London, Sept. 1, Bulgaria's position towards Rou'mania is not clear. Yesterday's Constantinople message indicate,) an arrangement whereby Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria had jointly declared war on Roumania. Though Turkey has complied, there has been nothing from Sofia or elsewhere to show that Bulgaria has taken such a dangerous step. Now, a Berlin telegram assorts that the Roumanian Minister at Sofia asked for his passpotrs on Wednesday, evening, and add*: "Therefore Roumania has severed diplomatic relations.''

Berlin newspapers announce that the Roumanians are advancing on Hermannstadt in order to effect a junction with the troops from Brnsso. The Russians and -Roumanians are also in touch in Bukovina. where heavy lighting is taking place in the Cjvcrgyocr mountains. (ierman correspondents at the Austrian headquarters urge the public not to be alarmed at further retirements. They admit that the Austrians are not now in a condition to hold a long new front, and that further retirements will ■be inevitable. The Vossiche Zeitung states that the Bulgarian Minister at Bncluuest has left, and that. Bulgaria's declaration of war is expected immediately.

LAN AUSTRIAN REPORT. Received Sept. 1, 6.10 p.m. London, August 31. An Austrian communique reports: On the heights eastward if Merkulestfuerool the Roumanians were repulsed. We occupied our neiv positions on the heights eastward of OziUscreda. The enemy has developed increased artillery activity at numerous points on the Russian frontier. NINE GERMAN DIVISIONS/' . DESPATCHED. Received Sept. 1, 9.50 p.m. Paris, Sept. 1 Mr. Warner Allen states that (lermany lias despatched Russiawards nine divisions from France, although the Germans are now greatly outnumbered on the Somme. TURKISH HELP VALUELESS. Received Sept. 'l, 9.5 p.m. * Budapest, Sept. I. Newspapers declare that the invading forces outnumber the Hungarians four, fold.' Turkish help is practically valueless.