THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

RECAPTURE OF CERNAVODA. THE STRUGGLE PROCEEDING. ' Received Nov. 14, 11 p.m. London, Nov. 14, The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondent states there are no details officially of the Dobrudja fighting. The Hermans appear to have crossed the Danube near Ceniavoda. The combined Russo-Eoumanians have stopped their westward progress. A struggle is now proceeding for the recapture of Cernavoda, which would bring the RussoRoumanian progress in the Dobrudja southwards, or compel tile enemy to biiug up larger forces. In view of tile approaching winter, this operation must be regarded as of local importance. The original plan of campaign fell through when the Salonika army was unable to advance owing to Greece's attitude. Roumania's intervention was too late. Greece had been allowed to prevent the fruition of the Aliies' scheme of cutting off German supplies.

. VIOLENT FIGHTING. ROUMANIAN SUCCESSES. London, Nov, 4 Roumanian communique says: We repulsed two attacks nor<h-wes£ of Busteni.- There was a battle ail day long in the region of Dragoslavele: We ma'ntained our positions and also repulsed all attacks on the left bank of the Alt river, but yielded ground in the region of Saragibite, on the right bank Enemy pressure continues very strong in the Jiul- valley, and there is violent fiffhting south-east of Orsors IN THE DOBRUDJA. .tIACKENSEN STILL REELING. London, No#. 13. A Petrograd wireless message states that General von Mackenson continues his retreat in disastrous conditions. His ai'my is demoralised by disease and failures. The reinforcements sought were not provided. Von Mackensens army has lost one-third of its effectives. The Russians have pnssed the Danube at two points south of Cernavoda, and the fleet has renewed the bombardment ot Constanza.

BULGARS DRIVEN BACK. BRILLIANT SERBIAN ADVANCE. London. Nov. ]3. 'Die Athens correspondent of the Daily Chronicle details the brilliant Serbian advance. Since. September 30 the Bulgars had ample time to fortify the network of precipitous mountains northward of the Macedonian armies. At dawn on Friday. French and Serbian artillery began shelling the front, leading the Bulgars to expect an attack on the whole sector. Instead the Serbians' object was to drive the Bulgars from the formidable Chuke heights, a diflicult undertaking, which was completely successful. The batteries concentrated on the heights, and the Serbians commenced a converging attack, advancing on a two-mile front from the south, and on a two-mile front from the east. The Bulgars ■ made a stout and prolonged resistance, beating back the longer distance, beating back the first assaults. The Serbians at seven o'clock in the evening captured the last topmost height of 1400 feet, and inflicted sanguinary losses. The survivors fled in disorder. _ . . Paris, Nov. 13.

Supported by intense fire from the French artillery, the Serbians, in the loon of the Cerna, after sanguinary fighting, compelled the Germans and Bulgarians to abandon the village of Iven and fall back two miles northward. Five enemy counter-attacks' were repulsed in disorder and with considerable loss. The Serbians, assisted by the French, alfo made further progress north of Velisel. Hitherto more than 10C0 prisoners Lave been counted. The Allies have taken COOO prisoners and captured 72 gut's and 50 machine-guns since the offensive began. London, Nov. 13. A Serbian communique says-:—We not only broke the counter-attack against Chuke, but continued our victorious advance northward, pursuing the beaten enemy. Polog is entirely in our hands. We have captured 57 guns, exclusive of trench ordnance, since September 14. EFFECT OF AIR RAID Salonika, Nov. 1". Two Greek and two Allied aeroplanes destroyed the bridge over the Augusta near Boya. A trainload of soldiers was unable to pull up. It was l.urled into the river and entirely destroyed.

BULGARS LOSING GROUND. London, Nov. 13. The Daily Chronicle's Salonika correspondent gays that twice on Friday night the Bulgars unsuccessfully attempted to regain the lost ground on the Palog slopes. An order found on a dead officer, signed by General von Winckler, commanding Germano-Bulgars, wariu the Bulgars not to expect reinforcements anil declares that the French will not push the ittack with infantry; therefore. if the Bulgars dig in deeply there is no fear of defeat, even if the odds arc agoinst them. Upon the Serbian sector the Bulgarians are numerically equal to their opponents, and ought to be able to maintain the defensive without assistance. TURKS FREELY SACRIFICED. Received Nov. 14, S p.m. Berne, Nov. 14. Telegrams from Constantinople allege that General von Mackensen has freely sacrificed the Turkish troops at the Dobrudia. an entire division being wiped o"t.