Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-12

clares that a big battle is raging for
posi- sion of
Big Rattle for the bridge over
the Danube az
Cernavoda Bridge. cernavoda, and
that Russian forces are operating to
the west of this point. This announce
ment is lacking in the very details
which are essential il the Dobrudja
situation is to be made perfectly clear.
but the news offers wide field for
speculation.
n Won Mackensen has not actually
1ailen back with generalization to
points Immediately north of the Ger
naVoda-ConstanKa railroad, it is be-
ileVed certain that the Russians have
made good use of the railways which
run north through Rumania. and have
during recent days moved large forces
10 the vicinity of Cernavoda with the
intention of crossing the Danube at
This point and bringing pressure upon
Won Mackensens forces to the north
from the rear. Such a move would be
entirely feasible. and possibly the best
one that could be made to effect a
nasty German retreat from the north
Mackensen possibly did not consider
for a moment the holding his line
north OF Hirsova, If he knew that by
continuing in these positions for long
tHc INusSidHS might get Suff1cient
FORCES to the rear to not only sever
his lines of communication, but com
pletely endanger the safety of his
armies. If Won Mackensen detected the
Russian plans he undoubtedly ordered
retreat. 1nasmuch as his retreat has
been one of speed. the theory that
the Russians have brought this about
by the Cernavoda threat Is extreme
ly likely.
On the other hand, if the Russians
have no such plans and Won Macken-
sen Is retiring simply because he is
forced to. owing to enemy power then
the recovery of the Russian and Ru-
manian forces truly is remarkable.
it be entirely voluntary, would indicate
that the Russians
May Be About to and Ruma mans
Retake Railway. about % E m tn or reae sre
the Constanza-C railway, for
it is not thought that the German
leader would get SO close to Cernavoda
with his left flank without drawing
his line back along the seacoast to
the right well. for his line would be
made longer than at any time during
the present campaign. As the Germans
and their allies must get the greatest
use of every available man, il is not
likely that extra forces would be en-
ployed to hold long line such
would be necessary in case both wings
were not pulled southwark simultan-
eously.
1t IS not to be expected that Won
Mackensen will surrender the Con-
stanza-Cernavoda railway line without
the strongest show of resistance. for il
he should the Russians once more will
he n n
Rumania and thence to the Transyl-
vanian line over this communication
route. At the present juncture Rus
sian aid is going over the line of COM
munication starting at Sulina on the
middle estuary Of the Danube. and
running thence through the Sulina
canal and the Danube to Galatz. where
the railroads are utilized. This line is
extremely long, and If the Russians
and Rumanians can once more take
the Constanza-Cernavoda railway the
task of assisting Rumania In repelllns
the enemy will be much more simple.
Still another theory might be adj
vanced for the retreat of Won Macken-
sen. Outside of the possible effect on
the morale of Teutonic forces by ex-
tremely striking gains in the DobrudJa,
making 1t appear that this little nation
was within the iron grip of Teutonic
armies. there is little reason why the
Germans should desire to hold that sec
ton of the Dobrudja north of the rail-
way, being as it is of little military
Importance. Looking northward from
the railroad the national boundary
lines on the west and on the seacoast
jut outward, making it necessary to
constantly lengthen the German line
as 1t progressed northward. Any one
at all acquainted with military tactics |
knows that the shorter the line the !
greater offensive and defensive power I
of an army. Won Mackensen may have |
seen the inadvisability of attempting |
to hold the longer line to the north of !
Hirsova and decided to withdraw to a |
point where he could stretch his armies |
across the Dobrudja at the narrowest |
point The Constanza- Cernavoda rail- |
road crosses this strip. Won Macken- /
sen. IL he stands firm. not only will be
a BILE to Illustrate the Russian and Ru- !
manian effort to clear the Dobrudja of |
the enemy and once more gain control !
of the railroad, but can rest during the |
winter in well founded security. know
ing that the danger of the Russian ar
mics crossing over the Danube in the
nulled.
1t is not to be expected in the light of
entente plans for the saving of Ruma-
mia, and the
Invaders Likely to Russian deter
Be Pressed Hard. nrsss throrsh
Bulgaria to Constantinople. that Won
will be allowed to rest in
the slightest Most logical is the ex-
pectation that he will be forced to re-