RUSHING REINFORCEMENTS AGAINST ROUMANIA

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13275, 2 September 1916, Page 5

RUSHING REINFORCEMENTS AGAINST ROUMANIA

HINDENBURG ORGANISING DEFENCE OF HERMANNSTADT. ROUMANIAN SECRET PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONFLICT. HCN SPIES UNAWARE OF THE CRISIS. LONDON, August 31. Only meagre accounts of tin 1 early Roumanian successes have reached London, which has not even received the Roumanian account of the capture of Brasso (Kronstadt), which the Austrian communique admits. Severe lighting extended from Tolgye Pass, in the Transylvanian Alps, to Mt. Vulcan, where the Roumanians forced the mountain passes in order to attack Petriheny, which is eight miles north of the frontier. Kesdwasarhely, north-east of Brasso, which was also evacuated, is 18 miles from the frontier. The lighting occurred chiefly amid the hills, at a height of fifteen hundred to three thousand metres. / ~ Hungarian battalions fiercely attacked the Turn Severin region on the Danube, with the evident intention of crossing the mountains and cutting the Roumanian lines of communication, bin were repulsed with heavy losses. It is.reported that several German divisions under General von Mackensen have arrived at Hermannstadt, north of Rothen Thrum Pass. Their arrival is apparently the lirst result of Hindenburg's determination to rush reinforcements eastward and counter the Russo-Roumanian danger. .Mackensen is hurriedly organising.the defence of Hermannstadt, where the guns are plainly audible. Many buildings have been converted into hospitals. The Roumanian advance was assisted by the wonderfully complete preparation of the military machine. The bulk of the troops were not only mobilised, but in position, the railways were under military control, and the rolling stock was properly distributed. All this was done without alarming the German and Austrian spies, who were unaware of the crisis until the declaration of war. The Casino at Sinaia, a popular resort in the Carpathians, was crowded on Sunday evening, and the gambling rooms and theatre were full of Roumanians, Germans and Hungarians. Suddenly the thunder of big guns and the sound of rifles stopped the gay laughter. A moment of consternation and incredulity followed, then the Roumanians instinctively drew away from the Germans and Hungarians, and the Casino was emptied, except for nurses transforming the halls into hospital wards. Meanwhile guards were hurried to the oilfields and other danger points. Enemy spies were arrested and aliens were hurried to the internment camps. The Daily Telegraph's Petrograd correspondent states that it is believed that General von Hindenburg, who has lately been preparing for the offensive, brought up the available reserves, including six divisions of Turks which were in Galicia and Transylvania, but the intervention of Roumania upset his plans.