The Washington times., 1915-07-19
Austria Masses Troops
Upon Roumania Border
To Enforce Ultimatum

LONDON, July ls.-Austrian troops
are massing upon the Roumanla
frontier Of Austria Hungary.
An ultimatum from the central pow
ers is expected at Bucharest demand
ing the unimpeded transit of NUM-
tions through Roumanian territory.
The ultimatum. following close upon
the demand OF Vienna that the little
kingdom reply within thirty days 10
an. offer Of territorial concessions
In Bessarabia. made eight days ago.
as the price Of continued neutrality.
is believed to have been determined
upon because Of the alarming short
age Of ammunition in Turkey.
Dispatches today indicate that Tur-
keys plight has become desperate.
Shipments Of supplies over the Rou-
manian railroad consigned to Tur-
key have been held up by orders
from Bucharest. Information from
the capital indicates that the demand
for an alliance or continued neutral
ity will be rejected and Germany Is
determined to force the issue.
Subtle hints and open threats that
the Kingdoms independence Will be
placed in Jeopardy unless 1t should
Join the central powers have pro-
diced no reply and the uNimatum IS
expected within a week to bring the
Balkan situation to head. The
massing of troops along the frontier
at strategic points has been going
on for several days and Is intended
to give point to the Teutonic de-
mands.
The fact that pressure is being placed
upon both Roumania and Bulgaria
lends color to the forecasts that the
campaign at the Dardanelles was devel-
oping into a rapid advance upon Con-
stantinople that may place the Turkish
capital at the mercy Of the allies within
ak weeks.
The following dispatch to the Daily
Chronicle from its Athens correspon-
dent is Significant:
1.-THE great scarcity OF munitions in
Turkey Is about to lead the governments
OF Germany and Austria to take ex-
tremeiy serious steps. 1t has been al
munitions from Germany for Turkey
have been held up in Roumania. Tne
Russian newspaper Russko Slovo states
that the governments OF the central en-
on this question. which is one OF life
and death to Austro German hopes in
Turkey.
Inquiries among diplomats tend to
show that the Russko Slovo's statement
is quite correct. learned that the note
Will take q form akin to an ultimatum.
Austro- German troops are now being
concentrated on the Roumanian from
tier as a means OF exertins pressure
the note is handed to it:
The whole position OF Turkeys army
in the Gallipoli peninsula Is in the bal
anee. Unless Turkey can obtain i'm
he srss seense OF Of
army in the peninsula Is doomed to
crumble dramatically. and that at an
early date. Information from Constan-
tinople is to the effect that the present
available supplies will be exhausted in
little over a fortnight.
Germany lately has been speeding up
WORK at the two arsenals which Turkey
has. The output of shells has been
sou. but even such an increased supply
10 hopelessly inadequate for the gigantic
needs Of the campaign
From Berlin comes the following:
The negotiations between Turkey
and Bulgaria have not yet been con-
cluded. Turkey =. willing to make
certain territorial concessions in the
.Adrianople district to give Bulgaria
the desired railroad route to the sea,
but q point escaping general atten-
kioA iS tHC idCt tHdl ucIfldHuS
in return not merely passive neu-
trality, as heretofore. but participa-
ton in the war. or at least some
form Of pressure against Turkeys
enemies.
German officials decline to discuss
the Austro- Hungarian proposals to
Roumania. which have as their OBJ
Ject assurance Of Roumania's friend
ly neutrality. and perhaps even par
ticipation In the war against the en-
tente powers.
No denial Is uttered that such pro-
posals have been made. but Ger
mapy's knowledge Of the nature Of
the territorial and other concessions
offered by her ally is regarded as
confidential. and Inquiries are refer
red TO oAustro-Hungarian sources for
details.
1t is on open secret that one phase
OF the negotiations has to do with
shipments of munitions to Turkey
passing through Roumania. These
negotiations have not reached Q de-
cisive point. and it Is considered GER
tain that negative answer from
Roumania has not been received.