THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

! ROUMANIAN DIVISION SURRENDERS. ! i j GERMAN DISPATCHES. London, Doc. S. A Gorman communique statos that a Ronmanion division was caught on tlie Alt River on December C and forced to surrender with 8000 men and twenty-six guns. London, Djc. S. An Austrian omclal dispatch states that the Russian pressure in the Carpathians has considerably diminished. Weak attacks in the Trotus Valley were repulsed. December 0 was a day of revenge for Roumania's base treason, when the enemy capital was captured. SERBIAN ACTIVITY. 1 ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS. London, Dect S. A Serbian communique states that there is hard fighting on the whole front. The reinforced enemy made several attempts to recapture lost positions north of Grunista, but all attacks were repulsed with heavy enemy losses. The fighting continues. Paris, Dec. B.' A French communique says:— The Serbians completely repulsed three violent German-Buigar counter-attacks in the region of Stavina. Bad weather is preventing operations. Paris, Dec. 8. Le Petit Parisien says the enemy activity on the M6nastir front may be a prelude to violent attacks, especially since from a neutral source there is a re. port that General von Falkenhayn com mands the troops opposing General Sarrail. The enemy is apparently being strongly reinforced. BUCHAREST GUNS SAVED. A DEFENSIVE VICTORY. j Received Dec. 10, 8.25 p.m. London, Dec. 9. The division that surrendered at Alt is the remnant of the Roumanian rearguard at Orsova, which has been fighting for three weeks in the rear of the Germans. ! IFetrograd reports that all guns from i the forts at Bucharest were saved. The Roumanian army retired in an orderly manner. A RUSSIAN SUCCESS. ENEMY DISLODGED. Received Dec. 10, 11.50 p.m. London, Dee. 10. A Russian communique states that the Russians captured 500 prisoners, six ma-chine-guns, and three cannon in an engagement west and south of Vallcputntt, on the Roumanian front, where the enemy were dislodged from two heights WHAT ROUMANIAN' CORN ; REPRESENTS. Received Dee. 10, 5.50 p.m. London, Dec. 9. The Spectator states that, experts have calculated that, even if the Germans got the whole of the Roumanian mxt, and overcame the transport difficulties, it would only suffice for three weeks' rationing of the Cenrtal Powers. ROUMANIANS DEFEAT GERMANS. Received Dec. 10, 5.50 p.m. London, Dee. !). A correspondent with the Roumanian army states that four Roumanian divisions defeated a German, Turkish, and two Bulgarian divisions south-west of Bucharest, capturing 23 cannon. The battle was indecisive. GERMAN CLAIMS. v Received Dec. 10, 5:50 p.m. London, Dec, 9. A German official communique states: —The rapidity of the Austiro-German advance across tlie Bucharest-Ploesti line resulted in the cutting off and prisonering of most of the Roumanian troops in the Predeal and Alts-Chaus region. Pursuit is proceeding between the mountain range and the Danube. The Ninth Army alone yesterday .prisonered 10,000. GERMAN REJOICINGS DEPRECATED. Amsterdam, Dec. 9. Tlie Vorwaerts deprecates bell-ringing and beflagging over the fall of Bucharest. It says that the victory in Roumania is a defensive victory. Our enemies a;re still strong and unconquered, and confident of ultimate Victory, hence M von Stunners was replaced by M. Trepoff, and Mr. Asquith has yielded to a stronger man. We must still shout if we desire peace. The Rheinsch Westeraelisch Zeitung warns that the war may last a long time. It says that the .Ministerial changes in England mean a victory for the party determined on war to the knife. ROUMANIANS STRONGLY ENTRENCHED. London, Dec. 9. Speculation is rife in European capitals concerning Germany's plans. M. Marcel Hutin states that the Roumanian First and Second Armies reached the Brizen line, also the Sereth line, where they are strongly entrenched, therefore von Mackensen's advance in Moldavia was. unexpected. Berlin boasts that it is General Sarrail's turn next. ITALY'S TURN NEXT. The Italian Press insists that the Central Powers intend to launch an offensive