Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-28

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Paris Aug. 2s.-Roumania declared
war against Austria Hungary last
night. says Havas dispatch from
Berne, which declares that the Wolff
agency at Berlin made the official an
nouncement.
The decision to enter the war was
reached atsa meeting of the crown
council yesterday morning.
The agency announces that the Ger
man federal council was convoke6 Inn
me diately after the declaration became
known.
The Wolff bureau which first made
the announcement of Roumanian war
declaration, is a semi official Germad
news agency which frequently Is used
as an avenue for making public off,
cial statements.
. Fourteenth Nation involved.
j Roumana thus becomes the four
teenth nation to join in the war. Her
intervention has been awaited with
symptoms Of concern by both sides
since the beginning Of the great con-
f1ict This is due not entirely to Rou-
mania's military strength but to geo
graphical locations. opening as she
does gateway for the Russians to
attack the Bulgarians from the north,
while the allied army. having base
at Saloniki, may attack from the
south.
Army to BE Factor.
Her military strength, however. is
by no means inconsiderable. The army
has been estimated at $4,000 men. It
often has been described as one of the
most thoroughly equipped and disci-
plined armies in Europe but recent in
formation from Bucharest has thrown
some doubt upon its quality. Lately
Ii has been stated that it has no
heavy artillery and that its flying SER
vice is inferior.
Some advocates Of Roumania's par
ticipation in the war have asserted
that she could mobilize as many as
100000 men. The mobilization Of the
army has been in progress for months.
Hopes For Expansion.
The motive which prompts Roumania
to enter the war is the satisfaction Of
'.her national aspirations" described
by Jonescu. the Roumanian liberal
leader. as the policy of national in
stinct" tConcisely this means ma
tional expansion.
In the southern half Of Bukowina.
The Austrian crownland. the Rouman-
ians are the dominant race. The mass
of the people OF eastern Transylvania,
part Of Hungary, is Roumanian by
race and language. 1t is said 100000
Roumanians live in Transylvania.
to- ho rroaitpa pifh q
long cherished ambition to annex these
provinces and at the same time lib
crate" the Roumanians now under
reported Russia had offered Czernowitz
5te Roumania as a reward if she would
enter the war
Atso covsts Bessarabia.
Roumania also covets Bessarabia,
the extreme southwestern province
of Russia on the Black Sea, which was
taken from her By the Berlin treaty of
1878. Reports bRve stated that Austria
also has consented to restore Bessarabia
as war prize with its population of
2.000,0O0 and an area of 10000 square
miles. This with Transylvania would
give Roumania a total populations of
l3.00o,0O0 and territory as great in
area as that of England. Scotland and
!. Wales.
Point Of Attack Unreveaied.
Roumania has border line as long
as the whole western front on which
10 choose her point Of military attack
( IN what direction her first blow might
be aimed is only indicated by her de-
sire to poiif her troops thru the passes
on the Transylvania. Alps and the Car
pa.hians into Transylvania. On the
other hand, however, Austria has been
accommodating forces at Orsoya, prepar-
! ~ kESssorcN the armed gates where