RUMANIAS PLIGHT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 8

RUMANIAS PLIGHT.

GERMAN SUCCESSES. HUGE CAPTURES CLAIMED. } A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Rcuter. LONDON, December 8. A German communique says:—■ The rapidity of the Austrian and German advance across the Bucha-rest-Ploesii line resulted in cutting off and taking prisoner most of the Rumanian troops in the Predeal and Alt region. The pursuit is proceeding between the mountain range and the Danube. Our Ninth Army alone, yesterday, took prisoner 10,(100 men. A later communique claims immense booty, including 181 guns and 70,000 prisoners. BUCHAREST'S GUNS. SAFELY TAKEN AWAY. Reuter's Telegrams. PETROGRAD, December 8. All the guns in the forts of Bucharest were saved. The Rumanian army retired in an orderly manner. FORTS UNDAMAGED. A GERMAN REPORT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 11, 8.55 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 10. According to the "Lokal Anzieger," the 18 Bucharest forts were entirely undamaged. , THE ORSOVA ARMY. REMNANT SURRENDERS. Australian and W.Z. Cable Association LONDON, December 8. The division which surrendered on the Alt is the remnants of the Rumanian rearguard at Orsova, which has been fighting for three weeks in the rear of the Germans. A RUMANIAN VICTORY. MIXED FORCE DEFEATED. '''The Times" Service. LONDON, December 9. The correspondent of "The Times" with the Rumanian army states that four Rumanian divisions defeated a German, a Turkish, and two Bulgarian divisions south-west of Bucharest, capturing 20 cannon. A RUSSIAN SUCCESS. HEIGHTS OCCUPIED. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, December 9. A Russian communique says:— Russians captured 500 prisoners, six machine-guns, and three cannon in I an engagement west and south of the 1 Putna valley, on the Rumanian front, : where the enemy was dislodged | from two heights. FUTURE OPERATIONS. GERMAN INTENTIONS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 9. The success of General von Hin- , denburg's scheme has resulted in j many speculations as to how to use | General von Mackensen's and Genei ral von Falkenhayn's victorious arimies. Germany will certainly continue the policy of striking the Allies lin the weakest spot. Three alterna- ! tives are suggested. An attack on i Italy, a blow in the direction of Bes- | sarabia and Odessa, via Rumania, or j an attack on General Sarrail, in the : hope of bringing in Greece. It is ; generally expected that when Genej ral von Mackensen readies the Rusi sian and Rumanian entrenched front I defending Moldavia, the Germans I will also entrench, and seek to effect ! a Rumanian coup d'etat by mingled | flattery and threats. The pro-Allies j and the Government have gone, but a strong German party has remained I in Bucharest, and is capable of forming a Government which the Germans will recognise. * MOLDAVIA SAFE. SARRAIL'S TURN NEXT. United Service. LONDON, December 8. Speculation is rife in European capitals concerning Germany's plans. M. Marcel Hutin states that the ; Rumanian Ist and 2nd Armies have i reached the Buzeu line, and are | strongly entrenched, and, therefore, | General von Mackensen's advance into Moldavia is not expected. Berlin boasts that it is to be General Sarrail's turn next, while the Italian Press insists that the Central Powers intend to launch an often-- | sive against Italy. PROMPT ACTION NEEDED. TO FRUSTRATE GERMANS. Australian and NZ. Cnlde, Association PETROGRAD, December 8. A semi-official message in the "Russky Slowoe" stales: "The enemy is in a hurry to finish with the • Balkans in order to begin operations! against the Russians in the spring. j The Germans are creating numbers; of fresh reserve formations. The | winter was necessary to the German | headquarters for the liquidation of I the Balkan danger, which threaten-] ed to cut off Austria and Germany from Turkey and Bulgaria. Dceiisive action on all the Allied fronts j is necessary before (he enemy has time to complete his programme." A WORD OF WARNING. ALLIES NOT DEFEATED. Renter's Telegrams AMSTERDAM, December 8. 'flic "Vorwaerts" deprecates the bellringing and bellagging over the! | fall of Bucharest, and says:—"The victory over Rumania is a defensive victory. Our enemies are still j strong, unconquered, and confident of ultimate victory. Hence M. Sturnier has been replaced by M. Trepoff, and Mr Asquith has yielded to aj stronger man. We must still shout:' 'We desire peace.'" The "Rheinsch Westfalische Zci-1 tung" warns the public that the wan will last a long time, and says:—"The Ministerial changes in England mean thai Ihe victory parly is determined upon war to the knife." '