RUMANIA'S PERIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 873, 27 November 1916, Page 7

RUMANIA'S PERIL.

A BLACK OUTLOOK. ENEMY CROSSES DANUBE. ALT DEFENCES TURNED. A. and X.Z. Cable Association and FcuUr. LONDON. November 25. A German evening communique says:—A force of General von Mackensen's army has crossed the Danube at several points. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 25. The newspapers insist upon the importance of the news of General von Mackensen being across the Danube at several points, of which one is clearly Zimnifza. Apparently General von Mackenseirs troops have been brought from Cernavoda. The effect of the invasion, if unchecked, will be to turn the line of the Alt River. A RUSSIAN ADMISSION. RUMANIANS RETIRING. LONDON, November 25. A Russian communique says:—ln the Alt Valley the enemy energetically attacked and pressed back the P.umanians towards the south. At Kalimanesht and Moldarosh, the enemy, from Craiova, compelled the Rumanians to retire behind the River Oleiu. The Germans crossed the Danube near Zimnitza. FALL OF CRAIOVA. ITS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE. • LONDON, November 24. The German Government's wireless news from Berlin states that the Austrian's and Germans dominate the situation in the western part of Rumania, called Little Wallachia. The Rumanians endeavoured by every means to impede the irruption into this section of the Wallachian plain, as was proved by the great efforts made near Orsova and by the extraordinarily stubborn resistance in the Jiul Valley. General von Falkenhayn's army, after conquering the Szurduk and Vulcan Passes, made a new thrust on November 12 southward of the frontier, and pushed back the enemy to a strongly-fortified position near Dusteni. We again pushed him back on November 14, and defeated him decisively on the 18th near TirguJiuliu, together with all his reserves. The Orsova-Craiova railroad fell into our hands on the 20th, and Craiova was entered on the 21st. This means the conquest of 11,000 square kilometres of wheat soil. The occupation of Craiova is of high strategic importance. Two Danubian railroads converge there, and the communications of all the Rumanian troops westward of Craiova are cut, whilst the Central Powers' reinforcements, which are advancing on all sides, are easily transportable. A network of roads radiates from Craiova, and these are most important, inasmuch as the chief strategic railroads from the Rothenthurm Pass to the Danube are only 40 kilometres distant. Finally, Craiova, being the key to Western Rumania, is an excellent base for fresh operations to the westward. BELATED REPORTS. POSITION STILL VAGUE. Reuttr's Tcleorams. LONDON, November 24. Three belated Rumanian communiques do not refer to the fall of Craiova, but admit a retirement having been made to the east of the town. Apparently the Rumanians from the Jiul Valley are making a stand on the Oltetio River, between Craiova and Slatina. A reference to the tierce enemy attacks on the Cerna proves that the Rumanians are still operating in the Orsova region. The occupation of Tashul and Tatarpalas in the Dobrudja reveals the extent of the Allies' southward advance. Roth villages are on the Black Sea, 18 miles north of Constanza.