RUMANIA’S WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17263, 2 September 1916, Page 9

RUMANIA’S WAR.

AUSTRIA’S LINE. EVACUATION OF TERRITORY DISCUSSED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association WASHINGTON, August 31. Vienna newspapers announce that tho General Staff is considering tbe evacuation of all south-eastern Transylvania for tho purpose of shortening tho line. New York military circles estimate that if tho line is shortened it must mean tho abandonment of at least 10,000 square miles to tho Rumanians. , THE CAMPAIGN. HOW THE OFFENSIVE BEGAN. EVERYTHING KEPT SECRET. LONDON, August 31. Only meagre accounts of tho early Rumanian successes have reached London, and so far tho city has not even received a Rumanian account of the capture of Brasso, which an Austrian communique admits. Sovero fighting extended from Tolgyes. Pass to Mount • Vulcan, where Uie Rumanians forced the' mountain passes in order to attack Potrozseny, which is eight miles north of tho frontier. Ivezdy-V asa r holy, . norh-eas ot Brasso, and eighteen miles from the frontier, has been evacuated. The fighting is chiefly among hills 1500 to 3000 metres high. The Hungarian battalions fiercely attacked in the Turnu-Sevorin region with the evident intention of crossing the mountains and cutting the Rumanian communications. However, they were repulsed with, heavy losses. • GERMANS RUSH UP.

It is reported that several German divisions under. Field-Marshal von Mackensen hnvo arrived in Hermannstadt. , This is apparently the first result of Field Marshal von Hindenburg’s determination to rush reinforcements eastward to counter tho Russo-Ru-mauiari danger. Field Marshal von Mackensen is hurriedly organising the defence of Hermamistndt, where guns are plainly audible.

Many buildings have been converted into hospitals. COMPLETE PREPARATION.

The Rumanian advance was assisted wonderfully by tho complete preparation of .the military machine. The bulk of the troops were not only mobilised, but in position. Tho railways were under military control, and tho rolling stock was distributed, all being done without alarming the German and Austrian spies, who were unaware of tho crisis until the declaration. AT A CASINO.

Tho Casino at. Sinaia, a popular resort in the Carpathians, was crowded on Sunday evening, the gambling rooms and theatre being crowded with Rumanians, Germans and Hungarians. Suddenly tho thunder of big gunsafid the sound, of rifles stopped tho gay. laughter. In a moment, thore was consternation anti incredulity. Then the Rumanians instinctively drew away from tho Gorin i» ns and Hungarians, and the casino

1 was emptied except for the nurses, who were transforming the halls into hospital wards. Meanwhile the guards hurried to the oilfields and other danger points. Enemy spies were arrested and aliens hurried into internment camps. UPSET HIS PLANS. The “.Daily Telegraph's ” Petrograd correspondent says that it is believed that Field Marshal von Ilindenbnrg lias lately beu preparing for an offensive and brought up available reserves, including six divisions of Turks, to Galicia and Translyvania. The intervention of Rumania upset the plans. RUMANIA’S ADVANCE. THE PASSES FORCED. . , (Received September 1, 6.10 p.m.) ROME, August 31. “ Mossagero’s ” Petrograd correspondent says that the initial Ruman-inn-Huugarian fighting in Southern Transylvania frontier was rapid for fifty flours on a .wide front. The right wing easily occupied Brasso, but the centre left wing was stubbornly re l sisted, especially at Vaillemcnto. TLio Rumanians have forced all the. passes and have advanced ' to Verestorony. I'he Hungarians violently attacked in the Iron Unto region but were driven back with many losses. (Vescstorony is south of Herniannsstadt.) ENEMY RESISTANCE SHATTERED. (Received September 1, 9.5 p.m.) ROME, September 1. The Rumanian Legation states that the resistance of the enemy everywhere has been shattered, and the army has penetrated deeply into Hungarian territory. Reports regarding the concentration of large enemy armies in 'Translyvania wero more bluff. Budapest newspapers declare that, the invading forces outnumber the Hungarians four times. The Turkish help is practically valueless. A Bucharest message states that the Hungarians are fleeing before the Rumanian avalanche. The Hungarians are clamouring for concentrations of Hungarian troops to defend Hungary, The relations with Austria are approaching a crisis. RAPID RUMANIAN ADVANCE. AUSTRIANS SURPRISED. RUSSIANS CROSSING DOBRUDJA. (Received September 1, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. Though Bucharest telegrams are much delayed, Rome and Petrograd messages "insist on the splondid results of the Rumanian attacks. Bucharest bulletins show that the army is already in possession of every important "pass leading into Transylvania. The Rumanians, hastily descending from the Carpathians in the direction of Brasso, seized two tunnels before the surprised Austrians were able to destroy them. Their rapid advance was aided by magnificent aeroplane reconnaissances, despite _ the mountainous conditions. Austria is poorly supplied with aeroplanes. The Allies’ mastery of the Danube is now complcto. Rustchuk and otlior Bulgarian towns are exposed to destruction. Austrians claim to bo defending the road from the Danube near Grunya, and the passes leading to To.

mesvar, whore tho Magyars are hastily fortifying the approaches. Elsewhere the Austrians admit withdrawing their fighting units. It is evident that they are unable to hold the frontier, because all tlieir troops are engaged in the Trentino. on the Isonzo and in Galicia.

Experts point out that the natural place to defend Transylvania is the frontier, as no lino further back gives bettor advantages. It is believed that no extensive effort will be made to construct defences in the interior of Transylvania. It is evident that the initial steps of Hu mania’s enterprise were easier than was expected, but one must bewaro of drawing sweeping conclusions. The greater part of Transylvania is a tangle of hills and woods, Unfavourable to tho passage of armies. It is officially announced from Bucharest that the Russians are passing through Dobrudja, where the population enthusiastically welcomed them. The Russian Black Sea fleot is assisting in the defence of the Rumanian seaports. Twelve thousand inhabitants hurriedly left Brasso, carrying valuables, when tho Rumanians approached. The greater part of the population, however, remained. Elsewhere _ a large part of the frontier population is flying to the interior of Hungary. ' Russian pontoons have already allowed many thousand Russians to commence thoir march towards Bulgaria. The latter is delaying her declaration of war to gain as much time as possible to place more troops on the northern frontier, possibly with the hope that a separate peace is arrangeable by means of tho good offices of the Rumanian Government.

RUSSIAN AND RUMANIANS IN BUKOWINA.

Reuter's Telegrams. (Received September 2, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. Berlin newspapers announce that the Rumanians advancing on Hermannstadt have functioned with troops from Brasso and that the Russians and Rumanians are also in touch in the Bukowina, where there is heavy fighting in the Gvergyger mountains. RUSSIAN WAR SHIPS. ARRIVE ON DOBRUDJA COAST. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received September 1, 10.45 p.m.) PETROGRAD, September 1. Russian war vessels have arrived at Constanza, on the coast of Dobrudja. AUSTRIAN REPORT. SUCCESSES CLAIMED. (Received September 1, 6.10 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, August 31. An Austrian communique says:— On the heights eastward of Herkules Eurdo the Rumanians were repulsed. We occupied new positions ou the heights eastward of Czik Szeredii. (Czik Szereda is about fifteen - miles from the frontier on the Hungarian side. . Herkules Eurdo is about fifteen miles north of tho Iron Gate close to the Austrian frontier.) . FURTHER RETIREMENTS INEVITABLE. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received September 2, 12.55 a-m.) - LONDON, September 1. German correspondents at the Austrian headquarters urge the public not to be alarmed by further retirements. They admit that the Austrians are not now in a condition to hold tho long new front, and that a further retirement is inevitable. BULGARIA’S FATE. HESITATES OVER DECLARATION. VIENNA ALARMED. * (Received September 1, 6.10 p.m.) ROME, August 31. Newspapers state that Austria invited Bulgaria- to declare war on Rumania but Bulgaria' lias not replied. Her attitude ,is causing alarm in Vienna. The Austro-German Governments have expressed surprise at Bui-, gavia’s hesitation. BULGARIA’S NEED. TURK ARMY ASKED FOR. ROME, August 31. A wireless message says that Bulgaria asks for the assistance of 200,000 Turkish troops as a condition of her declaring w Hr upon Rumania. BERLIN EXPECTS DECLARATION. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received September 2, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON. September-1. The Bulgarians’ position towards Rumania is not clear. Yesterday’s Constantinople message indicated an arrangement whereby Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria jointly declared war on Rumania. Though Turkey has complied nothing has been seen from Sofia or elsewhere to show that Bulgaria, has taken such dangerous steps. Now a Berlin telegram asserts that tho Rumanian Minister in Sofia asked for his passports on Wednesday evening, and adds: Therefore Rumania lias severed diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 2, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. Tho u Vossiscbe Zeitung” says that tho Bulgarian Minister at Bucharest has left and that .Bulgaria’s declaration of war is expected immediately.