THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 13

THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONTS.

1 A RUSSIAN REVERSE. Despite tho reverses of the Rumanian army, the people are calm. Stubborn rearguard actions resulted in tho capture of 14,000 German prisoners. The extent of the booty captured disappointed the enemy, whoso biggest haul consisted of 150 waggons of grain at Crajova. The invaders showed no mercy to the villagers. They seized their winter stores of wood and petrol, and sent all tho ablebodied men to work in the trenches. Before tho arrival of the troops enemy aviators swooped down and turned then- machine guns on the peasants at point-blank range. The flight of Rumanian civilians from the districts occupied or threatened by tho er.tmy has assumed vast proportions. The stations are crowded with fugitive", who are miserably awaiting trains. tlappily the winter is mild, othorwiso thousands would die from cold.

RUSSIAN REPORTS. Russian official reports for the week state:—On tho Moldavian frontier the Rumanians were pushed back in places in the region of the Kasino River and the Vranchea Mountains. All enemy attacks on the left bank of the Danube were repelled, except that one height was lost. Unr left wing abandoned Isaacea and Tultcha, in the Dobruclja. A German offensive in the Kovel region (Volhynia) was bloodily repulsed. The Germans delivered attacks along nearly the whole Rumanian front. Tho enemy succeeded in driving back tho Russians and Rumanians along the valley of the Upper Rimnieu; but everywhere else they were repulsed. Our scouts crossed the Narajowka and drove off the enemy patrol guard. The enemy pressed back detachments and occupied a series of heights or the Moldavian frontier. An enemy attempt to cross tho Dniester was checked. Enemy attacks south of the Danube were heavily repulsed. British armoured motor cars participated in this engagement, boating back attacks, and the enemy were put to flight. Tho Rumanians b* a brilliant attack recaptured a height in the Kasin River. Valley on the Moldavian frontier. Fierce enemy attacks on tho Rumanian front, in the region of Dragoslave, were repelled. The Russians reputed strong attacks elsewhere, inflicting heavy losses. Owing to an attack in one area the Russians abandoned Eidipesti after a particularly sanguinary struggle, in consequence of the enemy artillery causing a severe conflagration. Wireless reports state:—The enemy advance continues in tho Oituz Valley. A battle is proceeding for the domination ol the heights east of Sosmezo. The enemy pressed back the Rumanians for a vcrst north and south of the Kasino River, west of Govesha. We repulsed an attack north of Rimnicu-Sarat, on the left bank of tho Rimnieu railway, near Rimnicu-Sarat, as far as Bdldu, near the Filipesti Station. The enemy occupied several heights in tho Oituz Valley. We are consolidating northward of Horsha and cast and south of Sosmezo. The enemy continue their obstinate attacks north-east of Rimnicu-Sarat, mainly along the railway. They captured Bordestski, and pressed us back near Zaiestsi. We heavily repulsed attacks northward of the Danube. Fierce battles were fought in the Oituz Valley. The enemy, being reinforced, repeatedly attacked and captured several heights. The enemy are stubbornly attacking on the Moldavian frontier The offensive north-west of Bevel failed, the Rumanians being victorious, and they captured many prisoners Heights in the Upper Putna frequently cnanged hands, but remained in the enemy's possession. The Russo-Rumanians dislodged the enemy at Bordestski. The enemy repulsed the Rumanians north-west of the Huzeuforsany railway. In the third enemy attack in the Dobrudja, south-east of Brailost, they occupied a height in our centre.

RUMANIAN PARLIAMENT. Renter's correspondent at J assy, in Moldavia the temporary Rumanian capital, reports that the King, in h : s speech openin"- the Rumanian Parliament, said: ','Our armv has sustained the struggle according to the glorious traditions of our ancestors, and in a manner justifying our looking forward to the future with absolute confidence. Rumania will bear the great hardships and sacrifices of war courageously, absolutely confident in the ultimate victory of the Allies, at whose side Rumania is determined to exert every energy till the end." , , The Times correspondent at J assy (temporary Rumanian capital) reports that a National Government has been formed, mcludiinr M. Take Jonescu, without portfolio. The Premier (M. Bratiano) remains in office. M. Bratiano. in a proclamation, announces that the Rumanian army has beeu withdrawn for reorganisation only. In a few months it will have the full strength and bo fully equipped.

RUMANIAN OIL WELLS. . Krupp s organ, the Wcstfalische Zeitung, admits the- complete destruction of tno Rumanian oil weils, which the Germans found practically useless. Presiding at a meeting of the Rumanian Consolidated Oilfields, Mr Rutherford, M.P., estimated the value of the oilfields destroyed by the British military mission at £60,000,000. The Teutons and Bulgars looted the Royal Palace and museums at Bucharest. Latest details of the destruction of the Rumanian oil wells are contained in the Municher Nueste Nachrichten. It says the surface damage was £8,000,000. This does not include the loss of production and it does not estimate the damage underground. All the- engine-houses, cranes, surface and underground machinery are smashed and the oil tanks fired. The destruction was not only workmanlike but skilful. ENEMY REPORTS.

A Bulgarian communique states: Enemy monitors bombarded Tulcea. The retreating Russians destroyed the bridges across the- Danube at Isaacea, Fighting is proceeding for possession of the bridgehead at Machin. German communiques claim the breaking of several Russian positions on the Eastern Danube. The army forced its way to the enemy front after bitter fighting., compelling a retreat to prepared positions. The enemy sinco December 22 have lost 7000 prisoners. Wo captured 5500 Russians in the last few day 3 in/ Great Wallachia and in the mountains south of Riminculiarat. Rimnicu-Sarat (an important town on the main Moldavian railway), in Wallachia, has been 'captured.

Von Falkcnhayn, in u battle near RimnicuSarat, was completely victorious over the Russians sent for the defence oi Rumania. Tho total number ol Russians taken prisoner near Rimnieu was 10,220. Strong Russian counter-attacks to regain) iho ground lost at. Rimnicu-iSarat failed, and we further progressed. Over 10,C00 prisoners were tauen in the Rimnicu-Sarat fighting. We stormed positions on tho Transylvanian east front and advanced as far us Duinetrcsti, 20 kiiometres north-east of Rimnicu-Sarat. We advanced and captured positions between Rimnieu -and tho Zuzeu River, and also captured Rachel, in the Dobrudja. We captured Russo-Rumanian positions in the Oituz Valley. Von Mackenscn encountered strong resistance northward and eastward of Rim-nicu-Sarat, but a strenuous attack entered the enemy's positions and gained ground after heavy fighting. Wo threw back tho Russians as far. as the Braila bridgehead and gained positions east of Maohin, in the Dobrudja. . THE DOBRUDJA. The wireless press has received advices from Petrograd that 4000 Bulgarians were drowned in Lake Baba Dagh, in tho Dobrudja, into which they were thrown by a daring Russian rearguard sally. Tho Petit Parisien's Petrograd correspondent says the Russo-Rumanians completed the evacuation of tho .Dobrudja on Saturday.