New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-03
M a c k ems S Flank
and Rear Now
Threatened.
SERBS ADVANCE
INTONATIVELAND
Gain Mile and a Half Be-
yOnd KaimakCalan-
Near MOnaStir.
by Cable 10 The rribuns ]

the great battle In the Balkans has
opened. The Rumanians crossed the
Danube River south Of Bucharest to-
cay, and won a firm footing on the
southern bank.
In this movement the Rumanian
and Russian troops in the Dobrudja
cooperated by thrusting forward
against Mackensen's whole front and
pressing the enemy's lines back in
the centre and on the right flank,
along the Danube.
At the same time King Ferdinand's
troops in Pennsylvania carried out
successful offensive movement
north of Fogares. near the scene Of
their recent defeat at the hands Of
Won Falkenhayn, advancing on both
sides of the Great Kukel River.
The success of the new attempt to
crush Bulgaria depends to a large
extent on the strength of the forces
Rumania can put into the field in the
Border region while still threatened
by Falkenhayn's drive on the west.
Powerful forces, well equipped with
guns and ammunition, might strike a
vital blow at Bulgaria in a short
time.
Three Paths Are Open.
From the tip of the angle formed
by the Danube and the Dobrudja-
Bulgarian border, where the Ruma-
nian army of invasion has won firm
grip, King Ferdinand's troops may
strike in any one of three directions.
and be rewarded with important sue
cesses.
The most probable move would be
toward the southwest, with Rustchuk
the goal. This city of $4,000 lies on
the Danube at the influx of the River
Lem. Its Importance lies in .he fact
that it is the northern terminus of a
railroad running almost in a straight
line to Varna, 139 miles TO the south
east. 1t was an important fortress
under the Turks, and would serve as
an excellent base for Rumanian oper-
ations against Bulgaria.
Control of the Rustchuk-Varna rail
road would assure the success of any
invasion of Bulgaria from the north
east and form a barrier from the
Danube to the Black Sea. The greatest
prize beyond this line is Shumla, on a
branch. Of this same railway and only
ffty-fve miles west of Varna. This
position is Of the highest importance.
Il is here that the roads from the
Danube pass over the Balkan noun
tains and meet the road from Vsrna.
The next Rumanian move possibly
will aim not at Rustchuk and the Varna
railroad but at the development Of
the German-Bulgarian army in South
ern Dobrudja. An advance may then
be expected toward Turtukai and q
little TO the south OF the Danube. In
this way the Rumanians now in Bull
garia could catch Mackensen's troops
in the rear, while the Russians pressed
them back from Central Dobrudjs.
Trapped between the two forces and
exposed 10 the fire of Russian war
ships if they retreated too near the
Black Sea coast, the Teutonic army
would suffer q heavy setback If it were
not entirely encircled and captured.
Teutons Seize Heights.
While the Rumanians are advancing
at some points in Transylvsnia, they
have been checked and driven back in
other sectors. Near 0sSoya the Teu-
tons have seized several heights, and
west of Petroseny, in the Strein VAL
ley region. Mount Oboroca mas fallen
into their hands. News from the front
indicates, however, that the Rumsnians
have completely recovered from the
effects of their reverse in the Her
mannstadt sector and are once more
conducting a successful offensive.
The success of the Rumenians on
these two fronts has been duplicated
by the Serbians and their allies in
Macedonia From the Kaimakcalan
ridge, which they conquered complete
ly last week. King Peters troops swung
forward to the north to-day and pene-
trated mile and half into their own
land. overwhelming the important po-
sition of Kotchovie, about five miles
southeast Of Monastir
From this point the Serbian guns
now dominate the entire eastern side
OF the Cerna Valley as far as the out
skirts of Monastir. From here alse
they will be able TO flank the Bulgar
positions directly west Of Kaimakcalan
and compel the enemy to retire upon
Monastir.
Because Germany nssd' success to