ROMANIA'S PLIGHT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15772, 13 December 1916, Page 9

ROMANIA'S PLIGHT.

HEAVY RESISTANCE. TO THE ENEMY'S PURSUIT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Ranter's Telegrams.) LONDON, December 11. A German communique states: — "The Russians again strongly attacked in the wooded Carpathians and both 6ides of tho Trotus Pass without success. "General von Mackensen's pursuing army i's finding resistance at some points." Tho communique speaks of heavy rain soaking the ground, and also states that the Roumanians have destroyed several bridges. A BULGARIAN CLAIM. LONDON, December 11. A Bulgarian communique states: — "We captured the town of Ivalarash, a bridgehead on the left bank of the Danube opposite Cernavoda." THE RUSSIAN ASSAULT. LONDON, December 11. A Russian communique states: — "Tho enemy pressed back the Roumanians beyoud Ploesci, but tho Roumanians counter-attacked and regained the positions. "Ino battle is proceeding. "An enemy attack at Kirlibaba failed. "Tho enemy is stubbornly resisting in tho Valeoutna region, and in the Trotus Valley. "There is deep snow and frost on the whole mountain front." A VIGOROUS PURSUIT. OIL WELLS DESTROYED. (Aaitr&lian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December 12th, 5.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 11. The 'Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Petrograd states that the Germans continue to pursue the Roumanians strongly, in order to prevent them reconcentrating and attempting to recover Bucharest. The Germans arc already detaching troops from 'Macedonia, to which point tho new Bulgarian levies aro being despatched . The oil wells at Ploesci were so thoroughly destroyed that it will tako at least a year to put them in working order. THE ENEMY 7*?" STRENGTH. PETROGRAD, December 11. In order to prosecute the Roumanian campaign, the Germans withdrew 15 divisions from the West front, and one from Macedonia. General von Mackensen's and General von Falkenheyn's armies consisted of at least twenty army corps. CRUSHING- LEVIES. ("The Time*.") (Received December 12th, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 12. "The Times" correspondent in the Balkans states that Germany is beginning to impo6o crushing levies upon tho" captured Roumanian towns. The tax on Craiova amounts to £2,000,000, or over £'38 per head of the population. The tax on Bucharest is double this amount.