New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-26
Dobrudja Defenders
Cut Off From Bu-
ChareSt
VULCAN PASS WON
BY FALKENHAYN
Germans Strike from Both
Ends of Railroad Lead
ing to Capital
rBy Cabs 20 Tie Tribune ]

rBy Cabs 20 he Tribune
London, Oct. 25.-Mackense and
Falkenhayn have driven the jaws Of
their huge wise closer to Bucharest
Both in the Dobrudja, where the
Teutons are striving to force tho
Danube, and on the Transylvania
line, where they are battling for con.
troll of the border passes, the Ruma-
mans and Russians were forced to
yield more ground.
Cernavoda, which guarded the
great bridge over the Danube, has
been captured in Mackensen's sweep.
The Rumanians have retreated to the
heights north Of the town, just as the
Russians fell back along the Black
Sea coast. Whether the bridge was
first destroyed is a question on which
the dispatches shed no light, but il
seems hardly probable that King
Ferdinand's forces failed TO do this.
hubeidHb r oil 10 stop DriNe
The Teuton attack is being pressed
without pause on the whole Dobrudja
front. More than 1000 prisoners al-
ready have been taken by the invad-
ing armies, besides large quantity
Of booty.
Russian troops drawn from the Ca
lician and Trsnsplvanian fronts have
not been able to stem the advance. The
Danube span over which they could
withdraw to reinforce the troops
guarding the Bucharest line has been
lost
Meanwhile on the western border
Falkenhayn is battering his way
through the last of the mountain de-
fences guarding the Rumanisn plains
The Vulcan pass, one of the most inn
portant of the passages between
Transylvsnia and Rumania, has been
carried by storm, while further east,
in the Predeal sector, the Rumanian
troops are still retreating. Here the
invading forces are about seventy miles
due north Of Bucharest.
Allies Sending Help
Thus from the north and from the
east the threat 70 the Rumanian capi-
tai grows hourly. The anxiety hero
was demonstrated in the House OF
Commons this evening, when Lloyd
George, Minister for War, said that
"all help possible Is being given TO
Rumania, but it is undesirable to state
the nature of the assistance" Only
continued attacks, like the French ef-
fort before Verdun, military observers
believe, can relieve the pressure.
The situation in the Dobrudja 10 80
nous. Mackensen can divide his forces,
sending part across tho Danube TO be-
ain tho march on Bucharest, while the
rest pursue the enemy retreatine
northward toward Bessarabia. But 10
Is doubtful whether the German Field
Marshal has sufficient troops at his
command 10 attempt this double thrust.
Must Protect His Flank
Msckensen must safeguard his flank
before he turns westward toward
Bucharest. Otherwise the kumaniana
and Russians could regroup their forces
north Of tho Cernavoda- -Constanza line,
force back the German line in tho
Dobrudja and cut the communications
Of the troops that crossed into old Ru-
mania.
Cernavoda IL only about 100 miles
from the Rumsnian capital, and II the
Germans succeed In crossing the river
they will find good roads all the wsy
to Bucharest.
On the Transylvanisn line the rsuton
troops slowly are mastering aIl the bor-
der passes. Only on the eastern front
are the Rumsnians making any prog
ress. In the Oitus Valley they drove
the foe back to the border. But along
the northern front they are falling
back almost everywhere.
By the seizure Of the Vulcan Pass
the Germans have won . hold on the
important railway running 70 Crsiovs
and then east to Bucharest. This gain
also puts them in position TO nank tho
Rumanian positions further east, and
so aid the drive for Csmpulung, at the
head Of the Bucharest railway.