BUCHAREST’S PERIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10527, 4 December 1916, Page 2

BUCHAREST’S PERIL.

IS RUSSIA STRIKING IN TIME. (Per Press Association.) (By Elkctrio Tklboraph—Copt right. t’> uitecl Service.) LONDON, Dec. 1. The converging German movement grcatb endangers Bucharest. A close investment is threatened if Mackonsen crosses the Ar gesu river east of Komanli. r . The success of the Russians near Kit’ll baba may result in the capture of Jacabein and DoruawaL.i, enubling them to cross tin Carpathians, and to descend into the Trail sylvanian plains through the Syamas val ley, tipis helping to re-establish the situation even if the capital is lost. Marcel Hutin thinks that it will be difh cult to avert the fate of Bucharest. (Router’s Telegram.) There arc no details of the battles believed to bo raging round Bucharest. It is report ed that Falkcnhayn is directly attacking the city from the north-west and south-east, in co-operation with Mackenscn. French experts opine that if the Roumanians are clc feated they will retire to the prepared line, of the Scrcth-Argros, where the Russian? are in strong force. It is reported fron Zurich that the civilian population havi evacuated Bucharest. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Dec. 2. The latest news states that the Germans are ten miles from the Bucharest forts, and are approaching the city's last river line, six miles from the forts - . Falkonhayn’s troops are very near the oilfield. The Daily Mail (oars that the enemy has captured vast herds of sheep and cattle, thereby greatly increasing hie supply ol fats. Details of the operations in Roumania are chiefly from enemy sources. Berlin’s latest message claims that the Germans have captured 7000 prisoners and 83 gun? in the last two days. According to Paris reports, the Rouman iaus arc holding up tne enemy west ol Bucharest. A most violent battle is proceeding on a considerable front, showing a complete volte face by the Roumanians, who are concentrated west and south-west of the belt of forts around the capital. Experts emphasise that the operations of the Roumanians are not bound up with the fab 1 of the capital. j (London Times Telegrams.) I The' Roumanian army is still intact with heavy artillery and guns. The Russian uU'ensivc from the .Moldavian border cannot immediately have ofloct on the )Vallachiar. position. i The Germans •state that the Russo- Ron ■Haitians arc using British armoured cars it: the Uobmdja. Two were destroyed. „ PARIS, Dec. 3. ! An important Russian tinny under tin Giand Duke Nicholas has been concentrated to aid the Roumanians. 1 ROTTERDAM, Dec. 2. j General ven .Blunor, writing in the Kol nische Volks Zoitung, says that the Central Powers intend to annex permanently parts of Roumania, with the object of protecting the Baghdad railway route and securing a permanent additional corn supply. | ROME. Dec. 3. 1 it is believed to be unlikely that the Ron nianians will be able to carry off large quantitles of wheat, including some of that pur--1 chased In Britain, and will probably destroy 1 hem. ZERKTI. Dec. 1. 1 It is reported from Constantinople that the Tniks refused to send additional troop: to Europe, because they were unduly ex posed to slaughter in the Dobrudja am elsewhere.

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

LONDON. Dec. 2. j A Russian communique states South I of Bucharest enemy attacks were repulsed. | The enemy were driven from t’ornana and ! Goslinaris. which we captured yesterday. 1 In (lie Dobrudja we gained possession of the western part of (i. • Ceruavoda bridge. 1 A Roumanian communique stales: —In ine Damovit/.a valley we retired south wards j Our troops were violently attached in tin ■ Pilesti region and retired slowly. W. fiercely attacked enemy positions in thi Dobrudja and passed entanglements ai some points. i LONDON. Dec. 1. I A Gei man communique states ; —The Rus [■■iaus on their south wing and the Rouinanij ans continue their relief offensive on a ! front of over 300 kilometres between Jabj louiea pass and the heights east of the basin j of Kezdi Vasarbloy. 1 The report claims that fierce fighting and a high expenditure of blood and munitions brought the Russians onlv a few advantages. The Roumanians in Western Roumania, who are cut oil from their army, are endeavouring by striking in various directions to escape. The enemy resisted our forces advancing from the Alt at various river sectors, but was repulsed. The i enemy hero also took the offensive, but could not stay our advance. Our Danube army crossed The f.ealov valley, approaching 'the lower course of the Drgreen in the direction of Bucharest. We captured rich booty in Wallachia. An Austrian communique claims to have broken Roumanian resistance south-east of Petesci and south and oast of Kimpolnng. It states : —Wc captured many thousands of men and large quantities of guns and war material. The Russians continue to exert all their efforts iu Moldavia. A very fierce battle is raging east of Kez-de-Vasarhely, where the Austrians have gained further successes.