The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-28
RUMANIA JOINS
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CONTINUED from Page one.1
clared war on the Central Powers. fol-
lowing a meeting of the Rumanian
crown council, according to dispatches
received here today. The crown coun-
ell went in session after meet
ing of representatives of the leading
Rumanian political parties, former
prime ministers and cabinet members
and Rumanian financiers. The pur-
pose of this meeting was to acqua1nt
King Ferdinand with public sentiment
il; Rumania- 1t is reported In delayed
press dispatches that General Aver
escu, former minister of war, will be
named commander of the RuTuanian
army
Crown Council in Session.
The Paris dispatches. reporting that
Rumania has declared war on the GEN.
trail powers thus far has not been
confirmed from any other European
capital except a Berlin dispatch stat
ing a declaration was made Sunday
against Austria. The latest advices
from Bucharest, all censored. reported
that the Rumanian crown council
would meet today, and furthermore
reported the continuation of prepare
tions for war. Budapest adVices to
the London Morning Post today
quoted a pro-German paper in Buch-
that the Rumanian prime minister had
finally decided to abandon neutrality
and cast Rumania's lot with the allies.
Italy's declaration of war on Ger
many yesterday may have Influenced
the Rumanian declaration. 1t was
generally understood that Rumania
planned to enter the war with Italy
in May, 1915, but the severe defeat of
the Russians at about that time made
it seem practically certain that a
declaration of war would be followed
by an invasion of Rumania by Austro-
German armies.
Rumania's formal entrance into the
war makes a total of fifteen nations
now engaged. 1t is possible Rumania' s
decision may exert tremendous IN
fluence on Greece, where the Venizelos
pro-war party held great demonstra-
tons yesterday.
Germany Is Uneasy.
Tho the allied censorship on Balkan
news has been very strict for several
weeks, wireless advices from Berlin
indicated uneasiness in the German
capital over the progress of the dip
Iomatic battle being waged at Buchar-
est It was plain that Germany feared
Rumania would decide to join the
allies after Russia had swept thru the
Austrian crown land of Bukowina and
while the allies were preparing for a
great offensive in the Balkans.
The Immediate effect of the Ru-
manian declaration in all proba ability
will be to cause the early withdrawal
of the Bulgarian forces that invaded
Greece to protect the bulgarian north
ern frontier against a Rumanian in
vasion. The Rumaniaps presumably
will form a junction with the Rus
slams operating in Bukowina and
throw an army across the Hungarian
frontier into Pennsylvania, long covet-
ed by the Rumanians.
Army In Fine Fettle.
Rumania's entrance into the war
places a thoroly drilled and equipped
army of nearly 100000 men along
side the allies. OF the actual fighting
value of the modern Rumanian army
nothing definite can yet be told as it
has never been put to the test. Dur
ing the two recent Balkan wars, Ru-
mania of all the Balkan states, alone
kept out of the struggle.
The organization and equipment of
the Rumanian army has been praised
by many experts. Rumania's military
service is obligatory on all able bodied
men between Il and As years of age.
This gives the country SO, 900 new SOL
diers a year and enables Rumania,
out of a population of 100000 to
muster an army of over half a million.
Altho Rumanian youths liable for
military service do not begin duty I'M
III lney are Il years OF age, as a mat
ter of fact they are at the disposal
of the minister of war after their
nineteenth year. From the time they
are 10 until they are FL, they are
obliged to participate in target and
gymnastic drills every Sunday from
April 1 to November so.
Rumania's Military System.
During the first seven years of mil
itary service the men belong to the
active army. They then pass to the
reserves, where they serve for twelve
years. finally passing into the militia
for the remainder of their term of
service until they are 46 years of age.
The militia is supposed liable for SER
vice only in internal duty or guarding
the railroads during war times This
gives Rumania a total of 100000 first
line troops and about 100000 reserves
The regular standing army consists of
5000 officers, 1000 military students,
100000 troops. ESQ horses, 600 cam
non and zoo machine guns.
Part of the army has been mobil-
lied for some time near the Hungarian
frontier. The infantry crGan izations
of first line troops Consist. of forty
regiments composed of three battal-