THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

. i ENEMY ADVANCING. BUCHAREST'S FATE SEALED. RUSSIAN FORCES TOO LATE. Received Dec. 5, !) p.m. London, Dec. 5. r i)ie Horning Post's Peirograd correspondent, wiring on Sunday, states that lighting continues along the Arges river on a thirty miles' front from Pitesti, in the enemy's favor. The Germain are advancing from the wes-.t, coming up in the rear of the Roumanians and threatening their complete envftapment. 'ihe approach of the German cavalry compelled the Roumanians to retreat so-.ith-east upon Bucharest. The arrival of the Russians south and sov;tii-\vest of Bucharest temporarily changed the aspect, but the fate of Bucharest is merely a matter of time. It is. questioned whether the Russians can bniij' sufficient troops in time to assist the Roumanians to use the Bucharest forts a? support against the attacking armies, HUGE RUSSIAN ARMY. TO ASSIST THE ROUMANIANS. GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS IN COMMAND. Received Dec. 5, 9 p.m. Zurich, Dec. 5. L'ldea Nazitonale states that the Grand Duke Nicholas is in supreme command of the Russo-Roumanian armies in the new war theatre. He was hurriedly summoned to the Czar's headquarters to lective the appointment. The Russian section eonsistu of thirteen army corps, with four hundred thousand effectives. DEFEAT OF ROUMANIANS. A GERMAN ACCOUNT. Received Dec. 5, 8 p.m. London, Dec. 5. A Berlin official communique states: The remainder of the Roumanian First Armj was driren across the Titu junction into the arms of the German infantry division. The enemy was defeated north-west and south of Bucharest. An additional eight thousand were taken prisoners, and enormous booty, including thirty-live guns, secured. The Russians somewhat progressed in the Trotusol Valley. The communique declares that the Serbian capture of the height east of C'crnp. does not influence the Roumanian ovulations. AN AUSTRIAN REPORT. ROUMANIANS SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED Received Dec. 6, 12.10 a.tt London, Dec. 5. An Austrian official message states: The Roumanian units previously cut off in Lesser Wallachia are being systematically destroyed in continuous battles. The Danube is open to as. The booty captured is extraordinarily rich. The Russians in the Carpathians are exhausted, and their attacks have slackened. AMERICAN JOURNAL'S STATEMENT. ROUMAXIA ENTERED WAR PREMATURELY. POSITION NOW MORE HOPEFUL. Received Dec. 6, 1.45 a.m. New York, Dee. 5. The Providence Journal asserts that it has information that the Roumanians w«ic forced into the war prematurely by Germany's ultimatum. Roumania did not intend to enter until March, 1917, bu took part when the majority of her guns were of German and Austrian manufacture. The position is now more hopeful, as the Russians are able, to give valuable assistance, and Roumania is receiving equipment from the Allies. SERBIANS' FURTHER SUCCESS. Received Dec. 5, 8.5 p.m. London, Nov. 5. A Serbian official statement records that in the course of the success mentioned in the French oflicial communique they took five field guns and large booty. The prisoners are uncounted. The total gunr. captured are seventy-nine