THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 15

THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONTS.

Tho news from Rumania indicates the steady advance of Mackensen with his force of Austro-Gcrmans, Turks, and Bulgars, pushing back tho Russo-Rumanians after fierce fighting. Tho enemy have broken through the Carpathian passes into Moldavia, forcing 'their way down tho valleys leading to the Sorcth River, and carrying out demonstrations further north to prevent the Russians sending reinforcements southward. The capture of Machin virtually ended tho Russo-Rumanian defence of the Dobrudja. The Bulgars and Germans were thus enabled to bring their guns within eight miles to tho oast of Braila. The advance of tho enemy was so retarded that it is safe to assume that the granaries have been removed from Braila, the Germans admitting that tho Russians destroyed the factories in that place, which tho Germans now occupy. The Germans advanced slowly on Fokohany, and pressed back the Russians. The latter have apparently been successful in extricating their right wing from Falkenhavn's encircling manoeuvres. Colonel Feyler writes: It now seems clear that the Sereth line must perforce be abandoned, and stubborn rearguard actions aro likely, with a view to covering the evacuation of Galatz. which is scarcely tenable now that Braila has gone. (*olonel Feyler anticipated steady fighting in tho retreat across Moldavia to the Pruth lino. Tho defence of this would imply tho surrender of the whole of Rumania, but it means also tho still further elongation of the German-Rulgar lines of communication, and a corresponding drain on their resources of men.

Russian reports indicate that th.ero has boon some severe fighting, in which tho Russians and Rumanians gained minor successes, only to be compelled to retire from positions pained from Mackensen's steady pressure. The Russians attacked the heights on the Rumanian front southward of Mount Bottoch, and took 630. prisoners, also three cannon, 16 machine guns, and some minethrowers and bomb mortars. After an artillery preparation they attacked Bottoch and broke through tho enemy's stubborn resistance. They surprised and annihilated a Bulgarian field post in the Dobrudja. They bayoneted many Austrians and_ took prisoner the remainder of a reconnoitring party northward of Zolotvin. Wo repulsed five strong enemy attacks on the heights southward of tho Chebonicaa River. The enemy launched fierce attacks at Vokoroni, eastward of Braila. A stubborn battle lasted all day, and there wore great enemy losses. The enemy in tho evening compelled tho Russo-Rumanians to withdraw to the other bank of the Danube. A wireless Russian ofiieial message states: South-west of Riga the enemy compelled us to withdraw two versts southward of Kotumba. We took 500 prisoner?. German official reports claim that the Bui gars and Germans took 1000 prisoners eastward of Matchin (on tho Danube). On the Rumanian front von Mackensen forced tho Russians further f.o retreat, sharply pursuing them and defeating their rearguard.

In approaching Fokchany the Gc.mans took 1300 prisoners. The B-ulgars and Germans raptured stubbornly-defended Russian positions eastward of Braila, and drove the enemy towards Machin. South of the Buzcu River German and Bulgarian forces stormed and captured the stubbornly-de-fended villages of Machin and Jijila, and took 1000 prisoners. Tho Austro-Germans, in their mountain fighting between the Eastern frontiers of Transylvania and tho lowlands at Sereth, gained important territory and took several hundred prisoners. Tho Germans stormed and captured Siobizia and Rotesti, in the region of Rimniculsara. Tho Austro-Germans pierced tho Russian bridgehead at Braila, and captured Gruperii and Romnaul after violent houso fighting., arid took 1400 prisoners. Marshal vo,n Maokcnscn stormed strong positions from Tartaru to the Rimnicu. The Germans captured villages and advanced towards tho Sereth. Further south-east they _ captured Olaneastra. Zulianca, and Maxineri, the advance guards reaching the Sereth. In tho Dobrudja Galatz is being bombarded. Tho Germauo-Bulgars captured Braila, and thus cleared the Dobrudja of the enemy. The Germans claim that they arc rapidly repairing the Rumanian oil welis, and expect that work will be resumed in a fewweeks; in the meantime they have captured stocks of oil sufficient for present need. . Strong Russian attacks, according to a German report, failed at Mitau (Baltic area), and the Germans took 1300 prisoners. Austrian reports confirm the successes claimed by German reports, and claim that they took 130 Russian prisoners. The Austrian military authorities have authorised the announcement that Russian, Rumanian, and British commissions destroyed the Rumanian cereals. Tho Austrian population are furious at the announcement.

M. Poincare (President), replying to the King of Rumania, says: "I am firmly convinced that 1917 will'bring the- Rumanians victory, liberation, and reparation."

The Echo de Paris recalls von Hindenburg's prophecv. uttered prior to the recent peace manoeuvres, that "there won't be any winter quarters in Russia this year." He is now trying to fulfd this prophecy by aiming at Odessa via Galatz and item. The Germans promised Bulgaria the Black Sea coast to Odessa, in order to dissipate the Russian hopo of advancing on Constantinople.