New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-24
Fall of Cernavoda,
Key to Invasion,
Seems Imminent
RUMANIA IN PERIL
OF SERBIA'S FATE
Entente Must Act Swiftly
to Save Ally-Odessa
May Be Goal
fBy Cable 70 ne rrfpune.1

London, Oct. 23.-ConstanZa mas
fallen to Mackensen in his swift
march through the Dobrudja. In
four days the invader has smashed
his way into the Black Sea port and
come within striking distance Of
Cernavoda, the Danube bridgehead
guarding the railway to Bucharest.
Before the battering Of the Bull
gar-Teuton forces the Russians and
Rumanians have been forced to give
way on the whole line. Mackensen's
forces are well astride the Constanza-
Cernavoda railway. East of MUIR
fatlar, which is ten miles west Of
Constanza, Mackensen has pushed
beyond the railroad.
Two roads now lie before the In.
vading arimes. They can strike
westward in an effort to force tho
Danube through Cernavoda and so
begin the thrust for Bucharest Or
they can move northward, toward
Bessarabia, with their ultimate goal
the important Russian port Of
Odessa.
Msckcnsen's bold stroke probably
contemplates the former. Military OBJ.
servers here believe that it is an AZ
tempt to crush Rumanis, just rs Serbia
was crushed. They do not think that
the Teutcns hsve enough troops TO uns
dertake drive for Odessa.
Cernavoda Bridge Vital
The crucial position in the Dobrudts
operations is the Cernavoda bridge
across the Danube. Berlin's statement
telling Of the victory, says the invads
ers are approaching Cernavoda. Rue
manian retention Of this bridge would
mean the blocking Of the road b
Bucharest, 100 miles beyond.
Mackensen's coup Is admitted TO b
one OF the biggest staged yet In the
Balkans. With Cernavoda in their
hands, the armies Of the Central
Powers could prevent q Rumanian %
Russian invasion Of Bulgaria for Q
long time.
Tho loss Of tho Constanzs railway
Is a serious handicap to the Rumsn.
.ans, cutting them of from several
lines Of communication. Constants
has been Of great value IS q port ss
which Russian troops and Russian am
munition were landed. The Rumanisn
army, Il is believed, Is weak becauss
It needs guns and shells. These were
obtained from Russia By way Of Con-
stanza.
Easier for Falkenhayn
Mackensen's victory also hghtens
Fa,kenhayn's task in Transylvaniav
where the Teutons are battling des'
perately to penetrate the frontier be-
fore the substantial help sent by the
Allies can reach tho Rumanians.
l. has been apparent that the ioina
movement Of Faikenhayn and Maeken|
sen and tho alternate blows that have
marked tho campaign against Rumania
since she entered the war. eight weeks
ago, have embarrassed King Ferds>
nand's generals seriously.
The fact that French and Russisq
generals we're sent to Bucharest TO aid
the Rumsnians In counsel, and the fsce
that General Averesco was transferrsd
from the Dobrudja to Transylvanis, in
dicated that the high Allied commands
appreciated the danger Of tia situation.
Constanza's fall and the menace thae
Il, capture carries undoubtedly VIII
influence the Russian campaign In Gs'
licis. For ii seems that the Cars
commanders must send aid to Ruman!s
70 bulwark her defences on the east -
we'll Is on the west
sarrail Can Aid Ally
Another method Of relieving the
pressure on Rumania Is to renew IN
strength the drive from Salonica. Sar.
rail has been getting men and ammuni-
tion. but no wide offensive movement
has been inaugurated.
The future is probably not as gloomy
n, the present surface indications Tho
Rumanians on the frontier seem to be
holding their own, at least. and on the
eastern line have forced Fslkenhayns
troops back further. until now the me
vader holds only Ave miles OF Ru'
manian territory inside the Trotus Val-
ley line.
On the Macedonian front tho Serbs
have won an all-dsy battle against the
Bulgarians. hurling back all eountes
attacks and inhieting heavy casualties