THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

RUSSIANS CAPTURE HEIGHTS. HERMAN AIR RAID. Received Dec. Ii). 5.0 p.m. . London, Dec. IS. A Russian communique states: We captured a munliei of heights in the Carpathians. Wo repulsed coiinler-aUaeks there and in Hie regions of Filifeski, JJisbatogu, jukl Kounuuiiu. A German communique states: Our air squadrons attacked the enemy while refloating towards Brailia, with visible eflcct. ESCAPING THE GERMAN PINCERS. ROUMANIANS REORGANISING AND RE-FITTIXG. THEIR LINE SHORTENED. Received Dee. 1,15 a.m. Petrograd, Dec. 1!). The Roumanians have definitely escaped the German pincers and fallen back upon the 1 rotus-Sereth line, shortening' their front to about two hundred kilometres. The line commences at Dorbana and follows the Sereth mid Danube to the sea.

.1 he Roumanian army i:_ now reorganising' and re-fitting in Bessarabia, behind the Russians, who are temporarilv holding the line across Roumania to the sea. NEW RUSSO-ROUMANIAN LINE. ■Received Dee. 1!), 5.10 p.m. London, Dec. 18. French experts state that the Russians are now holding ;t line on the river Bken, from Rnrat, north of Hirsova, to Paramanchio. The Russo-lloumanians are fortifying the line south of the Sereth. SERBIAN PRISONERS STARVED. London, Dec. 18. The Serbian Legation reports that an escaped Russian priest describes the Sirbian prisoners in Austria as weal: and emaciated. They search for roots, and he never saw a more wretched sefc of men. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS. London, Dee. 18. A British oflicial message from Salonika reports two successful raids on the Struma front at Lake Doiran. ROUMANIAN ARih' RE-GROUPING. Paris, Dec. IS. The Rosso-Roumanian retreat continues. After the loss of the BucharrstPloesti lines the Russians .-cut infantry and cavalry to support, the retreat, enabling the Roumanian army to remain intact and progress rapidly to the Sereth, where now it is re-grouping and fortifying a new Tine.