BALKANS AND NEAR EAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16888, 28 December 1916, Page 5

BALKANS AND NEAR EAST

THE GERMAN ADVANCE.

LOSING ITS MOMENTUM.

The Times.

LONDON, December 26. There are indications that the German advance north east of Bucharest is losing its momentum. Each day gained enables tho Russian reinforcements to coitio within striking distance and help to hold the present line north-west, and south-east of Filipeslti. Mr Bourchier reports that General Polson, hitherto commanding tho Fourth Rumanian Army, has been nominated as Chief of the General Staff.

RUMANIAN PEOPLE CALM

DESPITE GERMAN FRIGHTFULNESS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ■ PETROGRAD, December 26.

Despite the reverses of the Rumanian army, the people are calm. Stubborn rearguard actions resulted in the capture of 14,000 German prisoners.

The extent of tho booty captured disappointed the enemy, whose biggest haul ■consisted of 1500 wagons of grain at Crajova. The invaders showed no mercy to tho villagers. They seized their winter stores of wood .ind petrol, and sent all the ablebodied men to work in tho trenches. Before the arrival of the troops enemy aviators swooped down and turned their mach : -ie guns on the peasants at pointblank range.

BESSARABIA

THE SITUATION UNCERTAIN.

PARIS, December 26. Experts agree that, while Bessarabia is now somewhat seriously threatened, the situation is uncertain. There is a disposition to believe that Mackensen will endeavour to defeat the enemy opposed to him before seriously venturing on such a difficult operation as the invasion of Besa arabia, IN THE DOBRUDJA. SUPPOSED GERMAN INTENTIONS. Reuter's Telegrams. PETROGRAD, December 26. A considerable increase of the enemy forces in the Dobrudja suggests that the German commands intend to push along the Lower Danube with the idea of turning the flank of the Russo-Rumanians defending the Sereth front.

OPERATIONS IN-EGYPT.

THE EL ARISH SUCCESS,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.

LONDON, December 26.

Official: In the Maghdaba engagement the total of the Turks captured was including five officers, also seven guns (four mountain guns and three Rrupp guns. The total enemy force engaged was about 2000, therefore the whole force was practically destroyed. Further southwards our mobile troops penetrated the Mitla Pass and destroyed the defences at its eastern end, also the Burnside camps in its neighbourhood.

IN MESOPOTAMIA-

FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCE.

Reuter'3 Telegrams. LONDON, December 26. Mesopotamia (official): British detachments advanced to the right bank of the Tigris and consolidated the positions to the south and east of Kut. Our cavalry destroyed Gassars Fort, which is a base for hostile Arabs.