THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

FORCING BACK' THE ROUMANIANS. GERMANS CLAIM DOMINANCE. IMPORTANT STRATEGIC POSITIONS CAPTURED. OPERATIONS DETAILED. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 25. Tlie German Government's wireless news from Berlin states that the AustroGermans dominate the situation in the western part of Roumania, called Small U allaehia. The Roumanians endeavored by every means to impede the irruption of this section of the Wallachi.m plain, as is proved by the great efforts made near Orsova, and the extraordinarily stubborn resistance in the Jiul Valley.

Falkenhayn's army, after conquering the Szurduk avid Vulcan Passes, made a new thrust on November 12 southward of the frontier and pushed back the enemy to a strongly fortified position near Dusteni. They again pushed him on the 14th. defeating him decisively on the ISth, near Targujui, together with all his reserves. The Orsova-l'raiova railroad was in our hands on. the 20th. Craiova was entered on the 21st. This means the conquest of 11.00!) square kilometres of wheat soil.

The occupation of Craiova is of high strategic importance, two Danubian ran roads converging there. The communications of alf the Roumanian troops westward of Craiova have been cut, whil-t the Central Powers' reinforcements are advancing on all sides, being easily transportable by networks of roads which radiate irom Craiova. These are most important, as the chief strategic railroads from the Rotenturm Pass to the Danube are only forty miles distant. Finally, Craiova being the key to western Roumania, forms an excellent base for fresh operations eastvard.

GERMAN CONCENTRATION HURRIED. /EXGEAXCE OX ROyiiANIA. AX OBJECT LESSON TO NEUTRALS. EOTJMANIA THREATENED WITH BELGIUM'S FATE. IMPORTANCE Of MACKEXSEN'S - MOVE.

Received Xov. 28. 5.5 p.m. London, Xov. 2.">. Messages via Amsterdam show that plans for an increased concentration »f troops against Rouinania are being hurried forward, Germany being determined the campaign shall serve as an object lesson to the neutral world of her invincibility. Germany calculates on being able to transform Roumania into a second Belgium. The new industrial conscription, whereby the Germans hope to obtain millions of men for the Roumanian campaign, continues throughout the winter. London newspapers insist on the import of the news that von Maekensen has crossed the Danube at several points, whereof one is clearly Zimnitzn, Apparently Mackensen's troops have been brought from Ccrnavoda, and the effect of the invasion, if unchecked, will be to turn the line at the Alt.

LARGE GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. SERBIANS' SUCCESS. DETERMINED ENEMY RESISTANCE. Australian Cablo Association. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 25.

The Daily Telegraph's Athens correspondent states that large German reinforcements assisted in the determined Buigar attack from Budimitizc against the Serb centre, threatening to recapture Kajmackalan. The Serbs took the offensive and occupied Budimitizi, taking 500 prisoners. Fighting continues on the heights foulmiles northward of Monastir, the Ger-mano-Bulgars determinedly resisting the advance to Prilep. French reinforcements carried southern Macedonia.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. ROUMANIANS RETIRE IN WALLACHIA. RUSSO-KOUMANIAN ADVANCE OS DOBRUDJA. „ ENEMY CLAIMS. Received Nov. 26, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 25. A Roumanian communique states: The enemy made attempts to disembark troops near Zimnitea, on the Danube, 45 miles south of Bucharest. In western Wallacliia we further retired before superior forces. At the Dobrudja we advanced on the whole front, especially the centre and left wing. A Russian communique states: At the Dobrudja our troops further advanced to the south, their left flank reaching Tashul. while in places they crossed the river lvartal. A German communique states: At the Dobrudja the Bulgars attacked and drove back the Russians. Mackensen's army was likewise engaged at other points. We captured Orsova and Turnuseverin. An Austrian communique states: Our vanguard forces, advancing beyond Craiova, reached the Alt river. The enemy is tenaciously resisting in the Rimnii: v Secto' "^

ROUMANIANS PRESSED BACK,

GERMANS CROSS THE DANUBE. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. ''London, Nov. 25. A Russian communique states: In the Ait valley the enemy energetically attacked and pressed back the Roumanians towards tlie south at Kalimanesht and Moldarosh. The enemy, from Craiova, compelled tlie Roumanians to retire behind the river Olteuz. The Germans crossed the Danube near Zimnitza,

A Roumanian communique states: The enemy landed troops at Eslaz and Zininitza, north of which their advance was arrested.

A German e\ening communique states that a force of Maekensen't, army crossed the Danube at several points. A Bulgar communique states: Near Ghigzhen, Grehovo, Lom, and Vidin we occupied islands in the Danube. MORE HOPEFUL NEWS, Renter Service. Received Nov. 25, 5.40 p.m. London, Nov, 24. Three belated Roumanian communiques do not refer to the fall of Krajova, but admit a retirement east of the town. Apparently the Roumanians from the Jiul Valley are making a stand at Olquie. between Krajova and Slatina. .

Reference to the fierce enemy attacks upon the Cerna proves that the Roumanians are still operating in the Orsova region. The occupation of Tasaul and Tatarpalas, in the Dobrudja, reveals the extent of the Allies' south west advance. Both villages are on the Black Sea, eighteen miles north of Constan/a. Experts point out that General von Falkenhayn failed to cut of! Roumania from Russia in the Moldavia defiles, and was then compelled to abandon the march on Bucharest through the Prcdeal Pass, while unexpectedly forced to march upon Krajova. The latter is probably merely a raid intended to create alarm, as the enemy base is too remote to enable him to crush Roumania. The military experts urge the. public to await developments before jumping to the conclusion that the Roumanian defence is a failure

ROUMANIANS SAVE THEMSELVES DESTRUCTION OF CEREALS. Received Nov. 26, 11.43 p.m. ■Petrograd, Nov. 2fi. The Roumanians, by an operation .in tlieV extreme i left, saved themselves, after destroy*' a million cwt. of cereals. THE STRUGGLE NEAR MONASTIR. ALLIES ADVANCING.

Beeeived Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m London, Nov. 25. A Paris communique states: Violent enemy counter-attacks on the right bank of the Cerna were a complete failure. A stubborn struggle continues jiort-h and east of Monastir. where the Allies progressed. inflicting heavy losses on the GeVmano-Bulgars. The Italians, advancing west of Monastir, reached Nizopoli, taking prisoners.

ALBANIANS ATTACK ITALIANS. THEIR EFFORTS FAIL. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. Milan, Nov. 25. Albanian freebooters actively attacked the Italians nortli ol' Epirus, but the Italians, who were stronger than anticipated, and were well equipped with artillery, foiled the attempt to prevent the Italians co-operating in the Monastir adVance. The Italians have completed the link ing up of Valona with the Cerna sector. Fine roads have been constructed, with the co-operation of the south Albanians.

THE ROUMANIAN FORCES. VON HINDENBURG'S CHANCES. ~ London, Nor. 9A. The Times' military correspondent points out that the Roumanians at Orsova have a week wherein to retreat 90 miles in order to avoid being cut off Try the Germans at Craiova. Probably the Orsova army will be successful, though tlm division forming the rearguard may be caught. Von Hindenburg's chance of a great coup depended upon forcing the passes between Bude.it and Torzburg in order tu deploy on the plain southwards. This might have involved two Roumanian armies in disaster, but the Rouinan ians held firm in the central passees and the Austro-Gernians are now obliged to attack from the west and cross rivers in flood flowing from north to south and soi.tli• east. If the Roumanians hold firm the enemy will have to attack constantly at a disadvantage and fight ordinary battles instead of throwing for a great coup. Von Falkenhayn at the present moment has only his western columns available for action on the plains, the others being hung up in the hills Though the loss of western Roumania is a bad blow, the situation may be much less black than it appears on the surface. Concerning the Bucharest reports that the enemy is attempting to cross the Danube at Zimnicea a Rome wireless states all the Danube bridges have been destroyed, including that at Cernavoda. The Danube is flooded and the Dobrudja population are without food.

ITALIANS ADVANCE WEST OF MONASTIR. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.iL. London, Nov. 25. The Italians continue to advance west of Monastir. A GERMAN REPORT., A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 25. A German communique states: The Roumanian resistance in the lower Alt has been broken. Wc crossed the river there, the Roumanian battalions cut off from the main army stubbornly resisting north-east of Turnuseveriji. The forces of the Central Powers, after crossing the Danube, gained a footing on Roumanian territory """ ~