Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-08
TRAN SYLvAN|A.
ALL|ESLURE To
WIN RUMAN|A
First Article of Series on
War in Balkans Explains
the Causes for Strife
SACRIFICES MUCH
IN MAKING MOVE

The first of series of four articles
on the present activity of Rumania in
the world war after so long refraining
from taking part in the strife, appears
today William Wiley, an Ottumwa
jockey who for the past five years has
been riding the mounts of the crown
prince and prime minister OF Rumania
on the race courses at the Bucharest
and other places throughout the Bal
kans, is the writer of the series and
they contain some interesting first
hand information on the European
war. Especial attention is given Ru-
mania which is the latest of the coun.
tries to become involved in the war.
These articles will continue daily until
completed and are worth close atten-
ton by the reader Mr.. Wiley writes
as follows:
The first question asked traveller
returning from Europe is, How long
is the war going to last?'
To answer this in definite way is
foolhardy To express an opinion is
allowable and beg to venture mine.
Until England comes to complete re-
alization that Germany cannot be con.
quered, so long the war will last.
If the sum total of human life, devas-
tation of property and expenditure Of
money is considered no nation can
claim a victory The civilized world
will have received a shock both physi-
cally and morally from which it will
take generations to recover. One by
one the neutral nations are being
drawn into the whirlpool of war.
The last, Rumania, which has sat
astride the neutral fence for two years.
has been caught in the eddies of Eng
lish and Russian eXaggeration and
drawn down to it's doom. Why Ru-
mania should ally itself with either
side is inconceivable to anyone famil-
the war has enjoyed a period of unlim-
tied prosperity Bounteous harvests
for which the belligerent nations have
bid one against another in the open
market. Such tremendous prices pre-
vailed that the country was stripped
clear of everything that could be sold.
A slow process of starvation set in six
months before Rumania declared war.
Besides. every favor was extended
her, unlimited credit, the nations vying
one with another for her favor. .Exag-
gerated and magnified accounts of of
Austrian defeats and losses circulated
by Russian and English sources final
ly convinced the people and the gov
eminent that the Austrian cause was
lost and the time for active participa-
ton was at hand.
Promises of men. guns and ammuni-
10 ov,l hot oct c&,.iv
of fertile land, Pennsylvania, were the
lures that finally drew. After the I'M
firing efforts of the allies, the Ruman-
ian diplomats (pardon the world were
hoodwinked into the belief that their
opportunity was at hand and war was
declared on August Is at o'clock in
the evening against Austria.
An hour later the crash and roar of
Zeppelin bombs dropped from a
height Of 10000 feet on the capital,
Bucharest, announced the Austrian re-
ceipt. The personnel of the Rumanian
army was we'll known in German
circles. It's inadequate equipment, in
efficiency and armament, the disorgan-
lied state of the railroads and the in
nermost secrets Of the government
were the common property Of the Ger
man embassy. Even the date of the
declaration of war was proclaimed
aloud in public places.
The declaration of war by Rumania
was blow to the honor of German
diplomacy. They did not underrate the
Rumanian conditions--they had them
accurately gagged. What the German
embassy did not see and take into con-
sideration was the foolhardiness Of
Rumanian officialdom and the persuas-
i've power of Russian and English dip
lomats and the favor Of the press
which the latter controlled.
The Rumanian declaration of war
caused no uneasiness to the central
nowars II only meant another section