THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

THE ROUMANIAN SITUATION. . A MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. Received Dec. 20, 8 p.m. Paris. Dec. ?S. f Tlie Petit Parisien's Petrosrad correspondent states that the situation in Roumania is improving. Tin- Russians tave gained advantages between the Carpathians and the Danube. The Russians have /alien back in the Donrsdja. contacting 'to the left bank- of the Panaube. The stretch provides natural defence for Galatz, but Braila is exposed. The enemy is coir Opting repairs to the Cernavoda bridge securing supplies from the Dobrudja. There is viplcnt fighting in the Upper Carpathian valleys. A Russian communique states:—The enemy repeatedly failed to recapture ft height on the Usa, on the Moldavian frontier The Roumanians were pushed back in places ".n the region of the Biverand tnc Vranchea Mountains. Ail the enemy attacks to the left of the Danube were repelled, except one height, which was lost. Our left abandoned (sakteha and Tulcea, .n the Dobrudj?.

- KOUMANIA'S CONFIDENCE ' IX FIXAL VICTORY. received Dec _3, 0 p.m. London, Dec iti. - A '.lassy correspondent reports tlat the. Roumanian Kinj- in r. =peech at the opening of Parliament, said: : 'Thean,iy has sustained the struggle according to the glorious traditions, of its ancestor In a manner justifying our looking forward to the future with absolute confidence. Roumania will bear her great hardships and sacrifices 01 tht war courageously, being absolutely conflder.t that victory would be on the Allies' aide, for which reason Roumania was determined to devote every energy till that end was achieved."

ROUMANIAN OIL W£LLS. (DOIUiJSTE DESTRUCTION. Amsterdam. Dec. 2(1. Krupp's organ, the Westfalisehe Zeilung, admits the complete destruction of tbe Roumanian oil wells, which Cierinanf found practically useless. -, fIAD WEATHER. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. . Received Dee. 20, 10.50 p.m Salonika, Dec 20. The weather prevents active oneiations on. the Serbian front. The Germans have brought up several regiments, also heavy guns and aerothe latter showing greater darjpg than during the Allied advance

OFFICIAL REPORTS. . RUSSIANS FALL BACK, Biriin, December Co. Official.—The Dobrudja has been ciearA of the enemy to the region bet'-voin Atacin and Isoccea. A Russian communique states:—The enemy drove back our advance guards to the\north-west, west and south-west of Ryrinitasrat. We continue to fall back northward of the"Dobrudja. FOUE THOUSAND BULGARIANS BROWNED. Rome, Dec. 25. 'A wireless Press advice from Petrograd states that 4000 Bulgarians were jirOWlied in Lake Babada. A TRENCH RAID. Received Dec. 26, 8 p.m. Salonika, Dec. 21. French, Official.—We successfully raided the main line of trenches between Lake Doiran and Doldzeli. We inflicted serious loss, and destroyed several giin emplacements.

GJSBMAX SUCCESS DUE TO HEAVY ARTILLERY. Received Dec. 20, (.3 p.m. London, Dec. -25. ■flr. Bourchier wires as follows:—The highest estimates of the whole ot the German forces in Roumania cannot excel those of Roumania. Their successes are due to superior heavy artillery, v- — ; A GERMAN CLAIM. London, December 24. A German communique claims the occupation of Tulcea, on the Lower Dan-