The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-12-07
Capital of Rumania and
PlOesci, the Oil Center,
Have Surrendered
FATE OF THE ARMY
REMAINS IN DOUBT
City Deserted Before It Was Entered
by Victors-Escape of Retreating Sol
diers May Be Dificult-The Paris of
the East.


LONDON, Dee. THE flags Of the
Central Powers fly over Bucharest to-
night. The capital of Rumania, as well
a. Ploesei, the great oil centre, and
Sinaia, the summer capital fell to the
Teutons yesterday.
A large part of the beaten, weakened
and demorahzed Rumanian army is
cut off and practically surrounded
northwest of Bucharest, Berlin an
nounees the capture of 5000 more pris-
OGeIs.
The taking of Bucharest virtually
completes the conquest of $4,000 square
miles of southern Rumania. the greater
part of the fertile Wallachian plain, II
weeks to the day since Rumania de-
Cllred war.
Troops of Field Marshal Won Mack
el sens army of Germans, Turks and
Bulgars that crossed the Danube into
iimaEia less than two weeks ago en-
tered the capital from the south. They
are now pushing out from Bucharest,
rrsHiDg the fleeing Rumanians and
TIER Russian allies, whose help came
too late.
1t was almost into a deserted city
IL at the troops of Won Mackensen
marched. The greater part of the peo-
PIE of Bucharest had been sent to Jas
sy, in northeastern Rumania, near the
Russian border, whittier King Ferdi-
nGnd and his ministers fled a week ago,
Yesterday the Tcutons were only sav-
az miles from the capital. For several
days their great siege mortars threw
Ia h explosive shells into the city and
a. on its SO armored forts and batter
les which were smashed as the Belgian
forts were smashed The evacuation
of the city was ordered after a last
great effort TO save il by a counter of
fensive failed.
The capture of Ploesci is of military
Importance undoubtedly greater than
tie capture of Bucharest. Ploesci, one
OF Rumania 5 largest cities, with a
population of 10000, is the great Ru
m1uian oil center. With Ploesci there
fell into the hands of the Teutons the
whole Of the rich Rumanian oil fields
The secondary oil center of Campania
where the Standard Oil interests are 10
ted, is also in Teuton hands.
Ploesci, which is 36 miles northwest
Of Bucharest, is railroad junction OF
great Importance. Through it runs the
main railroad from Kronstadt to Blu
charest, and the main line through
| BIzeu north in Moldavia.
| The latter railroad was the only Iii
rect route of retreat for the Ruma
mans who held the Prahova valley
north of Ploesci and had to relinquisl
/ Sinaia in their retreat. If the Teu
tons took Ploesci before this Rumaniar
army could get safely away the army
is in a serious predicament.
The same railroad was one of twC
/ routes of retreat for the Rumanians anC
Russians holding Bucharest Only two
| railroads from Bucharest were no
held by the Teutons before the fall o.
! Ploesci closed one of them. On tht
other, from Bucharest along the Danub,
northeast TO Fitesci, the retreat is be
| ing made.
If the Teutons took Ploesci befor
Bucharest was taken the situation o
| the defenders of Bucharest is also sc
rious. Their retreat by way of Ploesc
/ 10 buLcu WAS cut Oh. anu 1t Is IedTcl
the single line from Bucharest to Fife
sci was unable to bear the strain.
This line is vulnerable to attack i
ease Won Mackensen could throw NOR
troops across the Danube from the Dc
brudia to cut it. Though the Danub
marshes are in summer a big obstacl
at present they are frozen and a cross
ing would be by no means impossible
it is believed.
The lines of retreat from Buchares
were so few and the Ploesci route wa
so seriously threatened two days az
by Won Falkenhayn's rapid advanc