The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-08
$4,000 More Men Captured, T0-
days Reports State. :
Trapped by Pursuers, 5000 Lay
Down Their Arms.
MONASTIR new TEUTON GOAL
Heavy ReinfOrcements of Ger
mans to Macedonia Front. !.
RumanianS Still on Run; MAJ
Make Stand on BuZen. 7

Berlin, Dec. 8, (via Sayville wirelessa
The German advance on the lins
beyond Bucharest and Ploesti has pro-
ceeded SO rapidly that Rumanian
forces on the frontier mountains in
the Predeal and Altschanz passes have
had their retreat cut off, today's off
cial war office statement asserted.
Further important captures of Ru-
manian troops are announced today
by Berlin in the work of gathering in
prisoners. The total for which figures
are given including a force of 5000
additional trapped in western WaE
1achia, the fate of which was a foreF
gone conclusion, is approximately
200 men, together with twenty-six
guns. In addition, however, the Ger
man war office reports the routing of
the Rumanian forces which were oper-
ating in the Predeal and Altschanz
pass regions along the Rumanian
northern frontier.
Rumanian Retreat Continues
The body of 5000 men with it's arr
tillery had been trapped in western
Wallachia by the speedy advance Of
the Teutons, as the statement mems
toned the capture as taking place on
the Alt river, stream long since
passed by the invading armies on their
way to Bucharest
The situation north and east Of
Bucharest, following the surrender OF
the capital has not yet been clarified
Seemingly, the Rumanians are still on
the retreat northeastward, rapidly
leaving the remainder of southeastern
! Wallachia in the hands of Won Mack
enSen and military commentators do
not expect a stand to be made by the
Rumanians before the line of the
Buzeu river is reached. This line virs
tuaHy cleses the neck of the province
or Moldavia running eastward from
the Hungarian frontier. to .Galatae ,r,
the lower Danube near the Bessa rst-
bian border.-I 1t is regarded as a strong
defensive line.
Germany Denies Losing Hill 3O4. =
The German army headquarters
does not concede the reca pture of Hill
3O4 positions on the Verdun front in
france, claimed by the French war
office. 1t is declared the French at
tacks were repulsed. Fl
Plan Thrust II Monastir.
London, Dec. S.-German troors
along the whole Monastir front are
being strongly reinforced, according to
advices from Saloniki today. Pre-
sumably these forces are being diyert-
ed from the Rumanian theater of war
1t was believed here that the Ger4
mans are preparing for Inauguration
of powerful offensive against the
Franco o-Serbian-Italian and British
forces in Macedonia, strengthening the
Bulgarian and German troops there
with big forces now no longer needed
in Rumania.
More Fighting i'm Rumania.
London, Dec. S.-Fresh details of
the German occupancy of Bucharest
received today, added to the belief
here that the Rumanian retiremer3
mad been masterfully executed and
with a minimum of loss
The Rumanian army is still intact
with reorganization and re-equipment.
may again become a formidable force
Presumably the Rumanian forces
which evacuated the capital and the
other cities in the territory taken hv
the Germans, are planning their re-
organization northward in that part ~
Rumania just below MoIdavia Ru-
mania narrows in this part and the
flank of such an army would be well
protected by natural obstacles against
an enemy. q
Moreover, the Rumanians establisf,5
ed here would be closer to their
sources of supply in Russia and better
able to draw reinforcements in mef1
from the cars legiCns. A renewal OF
bitter fighting in Dobrudja was looked
for here today as the first Immediate
result of the Rumanian retirement
French Recapture Hill 3O4. :
Paris, Dec 8.-The Germans lasf
night were driven out of the trenche4
which they had captured on the east
ern side of Hill 304, on the Verdun.
front, it is announced officially.
Heavy Fighting on Macedonia Front =
Paris, Dec. s.-Heavy fighting is in
progress on the Macedonian front
Three successive counter attacks on
the Serbians have been made by Ger~
man and Bulgarian troops in the re-
gion of Strayina. The war office an@
nounces that these attacks were res
pulsed