THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 19

THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONTS.

THE AUSTRO-GERMAN ADVANCE CHECKED. Tho Russians importantly checked the German advance before Batagu, 20 miles west of Drailia, giving time to remove the Brailia wheat stores and providing a clear retreat for the Dobrudja troops. The Rumanians have definitely escaped from tho Germ.in pincers and tallsn buck upon the I'rotus-Sereth line, shortening tf eir front to about 200 kilometres. The line commences at Dofbuna, and follows tho Sortth and the Danube to the sea. Tho Kuiuun.'an army is now reorganising and lehtting in Bessarabia behind tho Russians, ulio aro temporarily holding the line across Rumania to the sea.

The recent German attacks have boon ineffective. The Russo-Runianian advanced parties arc covering both hanks df the army, which are solidly esta'blished in the Dona Vatra region and on the left bank of the Danube. The Dobrudja troops have retired to previously fortified positions, in conformity with the general retreat. The Rumanian retirement was conducted under the Grand Duke Nicholas's advice. Nicholas has taken over the command of operations in Rumania. A British military mission resulted satisfactorily. It reports the destruction, under the Rumanian Government's orders, of oil wells and refineries in the chief centres.

German prisoners captured in Rumania state that they were brought from the Anglo-i'reneh front, and no troops replaced them there; but the Germans hope that their strong trench-works will enable them to hold on, despite this weakening of their lines. Russian reports state: A strong enemy attack in the region of Wallerutna was repelled at the point of the bayonet. We pursued the attackers, and secured a height. On the Rumanian front our cavalry twico rushed to attack enemy cavalry which whs attempting to-attack our retiring troops in the regioii of Buzeu. The enemy did not accept battle, but retired behind the infantry. We captured a number of heights in, the Carpathians and repulsed counterattacks there and in the region of Fihbeski and Disbatogu, in Rumania. We repulsed attacks south-west of Brody, and also in the region of Parlita, on the left bank of tho Danube. There is intense fighting on our right flank in the Dobrudja. On the Rumanian front enemy attempts at an offensive were repulsed. The Dobrudja detachments were withdrawn northwards? alter stubbornly resisting superior forces along the whole front. One regiment daringly attacked advancing Bulgars, who were thrown into a lake and most of them were drowned. Tho enemy drove back our advance guards northwest, and south-west of Kymnitasrat. We continue to fall back northward of Dobrudja. German official reports state: German seaplanes bombed Russian warships at cHulina. Our air squadrons attacked the enemy when retreating towards Brailia, with visible effect.

A Berlin official report states: The Dobrudja i 3 cleared of the enemy to the region between Maehin and Isaccea. A Gorman communique claims the occupation of Tulcea, on the Lower Danube. It appears that the Germans arc already dividing the spoils. From a well-informed source it appears that Germany is discussing the following rearrangement of territory, based on the idea that the restoration of Rumania's independence is not desired: Russia will receive Moldavia in compensation for considerable territorial sacrifices ■which will be demanded of her. Poland will be mad© an independent kingdom., and Cotirland a German federal State, while Lithuania will be incorporated in Russia. The- Dobrudja will be restored to Bulgaria, and Wallachia will bo divided between Austria, Germany, and Bulgaria. .y It is reported that the Germans have levied £4,000,000 upon Bucharest, and ordered that Rumanian paper money shall bear a German stamp to the amount of 15 per cent, face value. Thev_ have promised full civil and political liberties to the Jews. Two thousand civilians were killed by Zeppelins at Bucharest between the time of Rumania's; intervention and the capture of the capital.