Earlier London Summary

1916

London, Sept. 20. — Chief of Staff von Hindenburg's vigorous efforts to turn the tide both east and west have met with indifferent success or plain failure during the last two days in all theatres of the war except southern Transylvania.

In France from 9 o'clock this morning until night the Germans threw wave after wave of infantry in heavy assaults against a three-mile front at Bouchavesnes, on the French line, half way between Combles and Peronne. At 1 o'clock the Germans after several failures reached Bouchavesnes, but were immediately driven out at the point of the bayonet.

On all other parts of this field the Teutons, broken by the French fire, ran back to their trenches, leaving great numbers of dead.

In Transylvania the Rumanians have met with serious reverse in the region of Hatszeg, whence they have been driven back to the Transylvania Alps and the town of Petroseny and Szurduk pass have been recaptured from them, according to Teutonic reports.

In Dobrudja, where the Russians and Rumanians have been heavily reinforced, Germanic accounts say the battle is fluctuating. Sofia reports successes for the Bulgars at certain points, while Bucharest claims a victory for the Rumanians near Enigea, 19 miles south of the Constanza railway.

Russia's heavy pressure, despite desperate counter blows, is steadily crowding the Germans, Austrians and Turks through the Carpathians south of the Bystritza River, where Berlin and Vienna admit Russian gains for the third successive day.

West of Lutsk in Volhynia, where a great battle is in progress, the Teutons say Russian troops that penetrated their lines were thrown back again.

Tonight's British official report says:

A captured order of Gen von Falkenhayn, dated Aug. 24, says the wastage of German cannon and ammunition in the last few months "has been considerably in excess of production," and there is a serious diminution in the reserve supply. The Army is ordered to preserve material, "for, otherwise, making good the losses and placing new formations in the field will be rendered impossible."

Bucharest's claim regarding the Dobrudja campaign is partially corroborated by the following German statement:

The Allied fleet is blockading the Greek coast occupied by BUlgaria. British aircraft have raided Deama and French aeroplanes attacked Monastir.