THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

CROSSING THE DANUBE. ROUMANIAN STRATEGIC MOVE. PLACES MACKENSEN IX DIRE PERIL. Paris, net. 3. French exports state that the Roumanians, under General Zetton. crossed tile Danube thirty miles south of Buc-'ha rest, and are now solidly entrenched in new positions. The operations are of great tactical importance, and the strategic consequences have been elaborated in perfect agreement by the head quarters stall's of the Allies. 'Petrograd, Oct. 3. A wireless message states that, following the Roumanian crossing of the Danube at Rustchuk, causing danger of envelopment of the Germans and Eul'gare, General Maekensen has ordered the evacuation of Silistria and Turhikai. Received Oct. 4, 10 p.m. London, Oct. 4. British and French war critics attribute great importance to Roumania's crossing the Danube, and opin« that the move places General Maekensen in dire peril. M. Marcel Hutin, correspondent of the Echo de 'Paris, states that the crossing took place thirty-two miles south of Bucharest. Tho Roumanians annihilated and put to flight the Bulgarians' advanced troops. Artillery was brought up and protected the communications on both banks and enabled the passage of troops, with supply convoys. Allied airmen continue to zealously preserve, communication between Generals Sarrail and Zetton. Received Oct. 4, 10 p.m. Bucharest, Oct. 3. A communique states: Fighting continues at Qnirghiol and the Haghitzco mountain. We took many prisoners and captured much material during the enemy retreat towards Caulai. y Our counter-attacks in the mountains and on the right bank of the Alula are progressing. The enemy is making isolated attacks in the dusil valley and violently attacking in the Montabrola ami Petrosey region. We repulsed an attack at Orsova. Our attacks in the Dobrudja continue violently along the whole front, the enemy stubbornly resisting. CROSSING THE STRUMA. BRITISH SPLENDID SUCCESS. (Received Oct. 4, 10 p.m. London, Oct. 4. Mr. Ward Price, wiring from Salonika, states that on Saturday the British crossed the Struma in strong force, their immediate objective being the twin villager of Karadjabala and Karadjagir. The first was surprised and captured in two hours with few casualties, but the other required a furious assault. Our success was followed 'by a series of desperate counter-attacks. We took 300 prisoners and killed and wounded -2000. The Britishers went into action carrying 2s! ; 0 rounds of ammunition and two days' rations, together with pick and shovel. It was a most difficult task to cross the mile of shell-pounded country between Bala and Zir, enfiladed as they were from both side's by machine-gun lire. The Bulgarians in the trenches fired desperately until the attackers were upon them. They then flung down theii rifles and scrambled to the parapets a:;d met the attackers with raised hands. The Britishers dashed through the burning villages and seized trenches beyond, where they beat off counterattacks for two days. _ v < ! BULGARIANS COMPLETELY ROUTED. FRAKCO-SERB successes, London, Oct. 5. x'ne War office, reporting on Salonika, states: The Bulgarians on Monday counter-attacked with three battalions against our new positions on the east bank of the Struma. Our fire broke the attack. One of our battalions then charged with the bayonet and completely routed the enemy. The Royal Flying Corps successfully bombed troops and transport at'Prosenik, and a railway train between Prosenik and Seres. London, Oct. 3. 'A Freweli communique states: On the left bank of the Struma we repulsed two further counter-attacks', inflicting heavy losses. The Serbians in the Dcrna region continue to progress on the ?!opes westward and north-westward of Kajmackian. The Serbians captured the front enemy trenches on the heights of Starkovgrob. Bad weather continues, GREAT BATTLE.. ON THE DOBRUDJA, *i ENEMY ATTACKED ON ALL SIDES Received Oct. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct, 3. The Mawohester Guardian says that when the Bulgarian advance on the Dobrudja was made, it was assumed that the crossing of the Danube by the Roumanians was impossible, except at Silis-; tria and Tutrakan. ' It is reported at Petrograd that a great battle is proceeding on the Dobrudja, tho enemy army being attacked on the west, north', and southwest, and 'by the fleet on the east. The enemy would have commenced a general retreat to the Rustchuk-Varna line, but the country has been transformed into an immense swamp by the rains. ENEMY CLAIMS SUCCESSES. Received Oct. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 3. A German communique states: We withdrew before the Roumanians north o_f> Forgaras and west of the Rotentfunn Pass. Austro-Hungarian monitors destroyed pontoons thrown across the 'Danube south of Bucharest. Repeated enemy attacks from the Toprisiar-Tugla line failed. We .progressed against the English nc-rth-west of Tabinqs Lake.