RUMANIA'S PART

Otago Witness, Issue 3265, 11 October 1916, Page 15

RUMANIA'S PART

Fierce fighting has been proceeding in the Dobvudja region, and according to latest reports has not yet ended in a victory for either side. A sensation was created by tho news that tho Rumanians had crossed the Danube between Rustchuk and Turtukal, threatening Marshal Mackensen's rear. Rumanians claimed that they attacked along the whole front and repulsed tho enemy's centre and right flank. Then followed tho intimation that the force which crossed the Danube, having concluded a demonstration, had retired to the left bank. Tho crossing was only a feint, but it is claimed that tho threatened envelopment caused Mackensen to evacuate Silistna and the German-Bulgar force was attacked from the west, north, and south-west, and by tho fleet on the cast. They could not retreat by the Rust-ehuk-Varna line, as the country had been transformed by rain into a vast swamp. A Bulgarian communique claims that Bulgarian columns from Rustchuk and Turtukai surrounded and destroyed between 15 and 16 Rumanian battalions who crossed tho Danubo at Rahano without any artillery. Mr Hilairo Belloo claims that this is a lying report, issued by the Bulgarians, who feared the effect ihe news of Mackensen's danger would havo upon Greece and other neufrals. Turkey claimed that a Rfimanian battalion was annihilated, and 100 survivors taken prisoners. A wireless message on tho other hand stated that tho Rumanians had returned without a single loss, after having destroyed many Bulgarian depots, including IOQ.OOOcwt of army cereals. Violent fighting in tho Dobrudja continues Von Mackciisen havinjf delivered a scries of counter-attacks to prevent his flanks being turned. The Rumanians penetrated 50 miles In Northern Transylvania. General Odorkim took prisoner 2040 men when ho defeated tho Austro-Germans between Fogaras and SiMiiccanan. The Rumanians slightly withdrew in tho Jiul Valley, first destroying the Petroseny coal mines, these being tho enemy's objective. They conquered Amyacea, taking jOOO prisoners. The Rumanians claim to havo captured enemy fortifications in tho region of Parajd, between Brasso and Dornawatra, after three days' fighting. The enemy recaptured one advanced position in tho Colibricon region, but were repulsed elsewhere with heavy losses. Iho enemy in tho Fogaras and Vpademn attacked with superior force.s, and the Rumanians withdrew somewhat A Rumanian semi-official report states: On the northern front tho Rumanians withdrew to a strategic position before stronger enemy forces, mostly German, so as to a«suro a powerful defence for the passes leadin"- from Rumania towards Lrasso. Everything shows that the Austro-Germans are attempting to striko a desperate blow. They are collecting troops from all other fronts The war correspondent of tho 1' rankfurtcr" Zcitung states that the Rumanians lost tho battle of Hermannstadt through withdrawing their reserves from the Vulcan Pass at a most critical moment. Nevertheless, they fought with desperate anc dogged courage. Tho majority wero killed and wounded. For four days there was desperate fighting, and, though completely encircled, the remnant rallied when the reserves arrived, and fought finely, but unavailingly, in counter-attacks. _ Official information has been received at Berne, Switzerland, that the much-vaunted Hermanustadt victory consisted of the destruction of a single Rumanian regiment forming tho rearguard Surrounded by-a forco 24 times greater than itself, it fought heroically. Meanwhile tho Rumanian main body withdrew safely. . Mr Bourchbr, correspondent of Iho times at Bucharest, reports that German aeroplanes on Sunday dropped in Bucharest bundles of poisoned sweets and others containing germs of infectious diseases. Seven San aeroplanes raided Bucharest on Monday, killing a woman and five children. They again dropped sweets containing virulent disease genns. The Rumanian authontics a'-o warning the inhabitants ot the danger of epidemics from eating these poisoned sweets. . A German aviator dropping bombs on Bucharest killed an American subject lhe American Minister has communicated with the American Government. Tho war correspondent of the \ icnna Zeit telegraphs from the Austrian headquarters: "Tho impossible must not be expected on tho Rumanian front. General Brusiloft's If.test offensive ties up large forces, and it may become necessary to postpone the chastisement of Rumania. Rather must wo bo satisfied to stem the tide of tho Rumanian onslaught against Hungary." „ ~ Tho Berliner Tageblatt dwells on the "•rowing difficulties arising from the shortage of" petrol since war was declared by Rumania. Tho Government has now restricted supplies for lighting purposes, and is considering utilising- more daylight by the abolition of tho workers' midday intervals. __ GERMAN REPORTS. German communiques state: The Austro-Hungarians defeated the Rumanians in the Goergeny sector and recaptured a position astride the MagyarosPurajd road. Wo pushed back the enemy over the Ilomorod, and all tho rivers havo

ato objectives, the twin villages of Karadjabala and Karadjazar, were lirst surprised and then captured in two hours. There ■were few casualties other than those required in a furious assault. Our success was followed by a series of desperate counter-attacks. We took 300 prisoners, and killed and wounded 2000.

The Britishers went into action each man carrying 220 rounds of ammunition, two days' rations, and a pick and shovel. The most difficult task was to cross the mile of shell-pounded country between Bala and Zir, which was enfiladed on both sides with machine guns The Bulgarians in their trenches fired desperately until tho attackers were upon them, and then flung clown their rifles, scrambled over the parapets, met the attackers, and raised their hands. The British dashed through the burning villages and seized tho trenches beyond, where they beat oft' counter-attacks for two days. The Bulgarians on the 2nd attacked the new British position with three battalions, but the artillery fire broke up the attackers, and an infantry charge completely routed them. The British advanced on Tuesday, and inflicted severe casualties on the enemy. On Wednesday the whole village of Jchikvi was in British hands, and the rest of the day was spent in consolidating the position. The Lowland Scottish and the Irish battalions especially distinguished themselves. The British had hardly settled down at Ycnikeui when across the plain from Toplova 3000 Bulgarians advanced to counter-attack till within reach of our guns and shrapnel. Then the Bulgarians fell in scores, and they fled back. Later they tried again, but a shell fell in a group of 40 and wiped out the lot. Finally the enemy retired to Toplova. The Bulgarians lost 5000 men during the fighting at Balagia. British artillery bombarded Nevoljen, which the enemy evacuated and we occupied. The Serbians followed up their recent swecp'ing success on the Malkanidje by a brilliant victory. The Bulgars, forced to fall back from strong positions, retreated in a disorderly state. In consequence of tho Serbs' capture of the whole of Kajmakalan, which is the key to the plain of Monastir, tho enemy may possibly attempt a stand on a lino on the Cerna River. The Bulgar is a brave ecklior, but the enemy has been shaken by the relentless artillery bombardment. After defeating tho Bulgarians on Mount Nidza. the Serbians carried out a lightning offensive, occupying Kcnali, with the Russians on their left, while the French artillery and infantry holding tho centre pushed forward upon the Monastir Plain. The Bulgars are abandoning the hills and villages. The Saloniko states that the Serbians, after stubborn fighting, occupied positions north of Rojar, compelling the Bulgarians to retreat, and the Serbs obtained a footing on Dabrojalich, the most important natural barrier on ' tho frontier, strongly fortified, and considered impcgnable. A number of prisoners and much booty were taken. Tho Serbians have occupied the station at Kcnali. Tho Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent writes: —"The Allied attack on tho third Bulgar line was roughly along tho Serbo-Greck frontier. It continues vigorously, but it will probably take several days-' hard work to butler in the formidable lino protecting Monastir. _ German engineers supervised tho fortifications, which represent several months' work, and they havo been feverishly 'speeding up' since tho Serbian offensive compelled tho Bulgarians to abandon tho Ostrovo-Kajmac-kalan line.

"General Vassityc is attacking the .Bui-! gars between Kmali and the Cerna River, in conjunction with the French. The terrible losses suffered by the Bulgars during their retreat have affected their discipline, j and prisoners declare that officers have been ordered to fire on their own men on the least suspicion of desertion." .French communiques report that the i Franco-Russo-Serbo forces have reached I the Petalino line, on the west slope of Mount Kajmackalan. The left ' wing, holds Pisoderi. The Allied ad- : Vance guards have begun to cross the Cerna hi the region of Dobrovani and Brpd (near Monastir), progressing, dcepito hail, on the slopes of Mont Sbaba, and reaching Buf and Popli. A Salonika communique states: Fighting continues from the Cerna bend to Lake Prospa. The Serbians have occupied Dobruopoljo Peak. The French captured Kisovo, in the Baba Mountains.

A Bulgarian communique states: Our counter-attack crushed a Serbian attempt to cross the Cerna near Okoto-hivir. The enemy fleet bombarded Dcdeagatch. Thedamage was unimportant. Our aeroplanes caused the fleet to retire.

The Royal British Flying Corps successfully bombed a troops transport at Prosenik, and a railway line between Proscnik and Seres. Our seaplanes made a scries of attacks on the Bulgarian coast between September 13 to 22.

Mr Bourchier, writing from Bucharest, states that a Bulgarian officer captured in the Dobrudja states that the Bulgarian army is divided. The majority are Russophiles, who are subjected to systematic persecution and sent to the most dangerous posion the -Macedonian front. There is an increasing agitation in the army against German domination. The Government is aware of this feeling, and is terrorising tlie people. Many arrests are made dailv in all classes of society. The shortage of food is increasing.