THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN STRUGGLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 21

THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN STRUGGLE.

Russian official reports heavy fighting as follows: —Tho enemy pressed back the Rumanians along tho road from Plocsci to Bezeu, but tho Rumanians counter-attacked and restored the position. An enemy attack at Kirlibaba failed. There is deep snow and frost over tho whole Moldavian front. Tho Austro-Gcrmans are active in Wallachia, preparing lines of defence, fortifying positions, constructing bridges across the Danube at Giurgovo, Tiranus, and Everin. They ara employing tho whole population above the ago of 14. The Rumanian retreat continues with a minimum of loss. Enemy attacks south-east of Kovel. in fche wooded Carpathians, and in Moldavia were repulsed. We captured some heights. Germans unsuccessfully attacked Oislaft, west of Mizclu. 30 miles north-cast and 25 east of Ploesti respectively. South of the River Trutus, in Moldavia, we captured a line of trenches and repulsed counter-attacks with heavy loss. Tho enemy are stubbornly resisting our advance north of Dorna Vatra (Buko-wina-Moldavia front). The Rumanians took the offensive along tho high road between Mezilu and Buzeu (Wallachia), but were obliged to fall back. Tho Rumanian army now occupies tho front Buzeu-Saringa-Moyu-sirai. The enemy on tho 13th inst. continued their attacks in the direction of Buzeu. Our cavalry and infantry came into contact with the enemy west and southwest of Buzeu, and fought a stubborn battle. Our artillery stopped an attempted advance southward of Kiselin. Our artillery held up the' offensive from Grabkoozo on both sides of the Tarnopol-Zolotchey railway. The Russo-Rumanian? are falling back from Buzeu under pressure. In consequence of this retirement our troops occupying the River Walomitza, arc also retiring. There have been minor operations on the Western Carpathian fronts. Tho enemy's advance in the Oituz Valley was repulsed. Russian warships bombarded Port Baltchik with a view to tho destruction of tho Bulgarian flourmills. Tho Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Potrograd says the Germans continue to pursue the Rumanians strongly to prevent their rcconecntrating and attempting to recover Bucharest. The Germans are already detaching troops for Macedonia, whither new Bulgarian levies are being despatched. The oil wells at Ploesti have been so thoroughly destroyed that it will take at leact a year to put them in working order. Speaking in tho Chamber of Deputies, M. Briand (Premier), referring to the Rumanian retirement, said her army, supported by Russian armies, will recover, for the Eastern question was far from settled, and tomorrow a new army will be mobilised on the enemy front.

GERMAN REPORTS. Gorman reports arc as follow:—The Russians again strongly attacked in the wooded Carpathians and both sides of the Trotus Pass without success. Von Mackcnsen's pursuing army is finding resistance at some points. Wo have captured Mizzil, half-way between Plocsti and Urzceni, 30 miles southoast of Plocsti. We took 10,000 prisoners in three days and captured several guns and much war material. Von Mackensen is progressing along the whole front, despite the greatest difficulties with the roads in Great Wallachia. South of the railway lino from Bucharest to Cornavoda has been cleared of the enemy. Russian attacks in the wooded Carpathians and Serbian attacks east of the Cerna were repulsed. Our Dobrudja army is pursuing the enemy, who, as a result of our rapid advance in Great Wallachia, evacuated their positions last night. Bulgarian reports state:—Wo captured the town of Kalarash, also the bridgehead on £he left (west) bank of the Danube, opposite Cornavoda. Our advanced detachments have reached Bucharest and the Feiesti railway. Russian warships bombarded Baltchik. We have entered Fetcsti. GENERAL. In order to prosecute the Rumanian campaign the Germans withdrew 15 divisions from the west front and one from Macedonia. Mackcnsen's and Falkenhayn's armies consisted of at least 20 army corps. The Times correspondent in the Balkans says: "Germany is beginning to impose crushing levies upon captured Rumanian towns. The Craiova tax amounts to £2,000,000, over £3B per head, and Bucharest is double that. II Sccolo states that the Kaiser will shortly bo visiting Bucharest. General von Stolzenborg has been appointed Chief of the General Staff at Bucharest. Marshal von Mackcnsen's capture of Buzeu gives largo supplies of grain to Germany. It is reported from Budapest that the Rumanian Premier bis resigned.