Roumania.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 99, 23 November 1916, Page 5

Roumania.

THE FALL OF CRAJOVA. ADVANTAGES TO THE EN^MY. ; . NEW LINE OF INVA3»ON^^ Press Association—Copyright, AtistWilian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.50 a.m.) London, November 22. Vienna messages indicate that Crajova fell, early on Tuesday. The English newspapers accept the news as correct, especially as the Russians admit that the Roumanians had retired east of the railway junction, where the branch from Tirgu Jiujiu meets the main lino from Orsova. Nothing is known of the position of the Orsova garrison. If Orsova is evacuated, it will reopen the Danube to the Austro-Germans r transport from Bulgaria via Vidin* and gives the enemy a nevy jino fpr: invasion from Bulgaria. , :y;i ,./ t ,i t j, Orajova has a population of .52,QU0, and is the centre of a grain-growing and cattle district, though it is of minor importance compared to central and eastern Eoumania. Apparently General von Falkenhayn pushed his big guns through the Vulcan Pass and outmanoeuvred the Western Roumanian defence. The Germans throughout have shown skill in taking advantage ot such collapses, their immediate aim probably to secure control of the lino of the Alt, this bringing the armies of General Falkenhayn and Mackensen into close connection. Roumaniu, however, is a regular grid-iron of valleys and mountain, the ranges running north and south, , making Falkenhayn’s advance eastward somewhat difficult. EVACUATION OF DOBRRIJDJ A FORESHADOWED. 810 BATTLE IN SOUTH-WEST ROUMANIA. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, November 22. The Messagero’s Sofia correspondent states that the newspapers foreshadow the evacuation of Dobnidjn. A wireless message states that a #big battle has begun north of On • -jova. ALLIED EXPLANATION. London, November 22. The Roumanian Legation in Loud m states that if the evacuation of CnJova (the capital of western V abachia) is necessary, precaution will 1 ? taken to destroy the grain stoic>.. Should the Roumanians evacuate Orajova it will doubtless be due to a desire to save the Ist Army from encirclement and draw- the Germans on the Wallachian Plains, and then' * await the huge Russian rcinlorn merits, whose arrival has been delayed by the distance and the difficulties of transport. It is reported that a French armament organisation m ' being placed at the disposal of the Roumanians. •

THE GERMAN VERSION. Press Assn.— Copyright.—Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn., and Renter. (Received 11.30 a.m.) London, November 22. A German communique states: North of Kirapolung, the Roumanians repeated their fruitless attacks on the Rosterturm Pass and Sidi. In the Valleys of Jiul and Alt we won tgteund. i