A BLACK OUTLOOK FOR RUMANIA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 7

A BLACK OUTLOOK FOR RUMANIA.

GERMANS ON BORDERS OF THE OIL AREA COME WITHIN RANGE OF BUCHAREST GUNS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December f>. 10..") a.m.) LONDON, December 5. The situation before Bucharest is black indeed, if the German claims are accepted that a decisive battle was fought on the Avgesu on Sunday and the Russo-Humauian armies defeated. The Germans also claim that they arc recovering the ground lost south-west of Bucharest, where they were driven back on Saturday by the Rumanian offensive. The Germans are now within range of the big guns of Bucharest. General von Maekensen has assumed the chief command. He claims that the Rumanians have suffered bloody losses. His advance into the plains has also simplified the commissariat problem. The greater part of the maize crop has been captured, in addition to large stacks of wheat, petrol, wood, metal, and salt, much of which is in loaded carts. The German advance on Targoviste brings them to the outskirts of the oil area. The richest oil field is in the Prahova Valley, between Ploesti and the Prcdeal Pass. During 1915 Rumania exported 429,000 tons of refined oil products—practically all to Germany and Austria—but only 3 per cent, of this was petrol, which Rumania treated as contraband. The present stock of petrol in Rumania is about 1.000.000 tons. If the Rumanians are able to demolish the wells ami machinery, it will be six months before the Germans are able to extract any oil. The only redeeming feature is the fact that the Russian Army has effected a junction with the Rumanians before Bucharest. It must be hoped that the Russians will be able to throw in further reinforcements at the danger points.