The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-09-14

Roumania has population Of $780,
600, and her army has been estimated
at $4,000. 1t has been described as
one OF the most thoroughly equipped
and disciplined armies In Europe, but
recent information from Bucharest
has thrown some doubt upon its quail
ity. Lately II has been stated that Rou-
manian officers are i'll trained and un-
disciplined. that Il has no heavy artil-
lery and that its flying service is in
ferior. Some advocates of Roumania's
participation 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.
and few days ago was reported to be
complete.
To Satisfy Aspirations.
The motive which prompts Roumania
TO enter the war IL the satisfaction of
her national aspirations" described
by Take Jonescu, the Roumanlan Lib
eral leader. as the "policy of national
instinct" In the southern half of Blu
kowina, the Austrian crown land. the
Roumanians are the dominant race.
The mass of the people of eastern
Pennsylvania, part of Hungary, Is
RoWHaiiidn by race and language. Ii
is said 100000 Roumanians live In
Pennsylvania. Roumania has been
credited with long cherished amhI-
ton TO annex these provinces and at
the same time "liberate" the ROuma-
mans now under Austrian domination.
Recently 1T was reported Russia had
offered Czernowitz to R0umania as a
reward If she would unite with the en-
tente
Roumania also covets Bessarabia the
extreme southwestern province of Rus
sia. on the Black sea, which was taken
from her by the Berlin treaty of 1873.
Reports have stated that Russia also
has consented to restore Bcssarabia as
a war prize. with Its population of
100000. mostly Roumanians. and an
area of 10000 square miles. This. with
Pennsylvania, would give Roumania a
total population approaching 13,000,OO0
and should an her aspirations be salts
fed territory as great In area as that
OF England, Scotland and Wales.
In what direction Roumania's first
blow may be aimed is only Indicated
by her desire to pour her troops
through the passes of the Transylva-
nian Alps and the Carpathians into
Transylvania On the other hand
Austria has been Accumulating mill
tary forces at Orsova. prepared to ut
tempt 10 force the iron gates" where
the Danube river touches the western
Roumanian border Bulgaria Is said 10
have stationed 100000 or more troops
along the southern bank of the Danube
to protect her northern frontier from n
Roumaniun invasion.
Apprehension IN Germany that ROu-
mania intends TO permit Russian
army 10 march through her territory to
attack the Rulgarians has been appar-
ent for some time. Military authorities
In Budapest assert that the chief fac.
tor for the consideration of the central
powers Is not the half million or
more men of the Rouunanian army, but
the opportunity offered for n row Rms
sian i.ivaslon IF Hungary Kounanlan
sympathizcrs In TranSyivania have
been sent to other SCI etions. and the
Roumanian priests and churches there
have been kept under military super
vision. The Transylyanlan-B -BoumanIaI
frontier defenders have been strength
ened by Austria rs prccaution
against Eoumauan invasion.
Powerful influences on the part OF
most Of the central powers aud the
entente allies have been eXertcd al
Bucharest to influence her dc i~ion Ia
the war for the past two years Re
Gently reports from the Koumnnian
capital have stated That Rnumanin
awaited only the beginning of the
Anglo-Irench offensive in Maccdoni4
before joining her fortunes with those
Of the entente allies Another reason
for delay. 1t is said ha- been hack Of
ammunition. viii. h nos has been re-
lieved by large supple coming from
Japan by way Of yladWostok. accord
ing to recent reports