New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-22
Mackensen'S Attack
Imperils Railroad
to COnStanZa
.FALKENHAYN WINS
ON RUMANIA SOIL
TeutOn Wise Threatens to
Crush Bucharest Armies,
Which Lack Guns
BY ARTHUR s. DRAPER
m .r.ht. o.. r.. T>-.h,,,~

lBy Cable 20 Tho LricuneJ .-~..
London, Oct. 81. Msckenssn,
striking heavily against the forty
mile line in the Dobrudja, drove back
the Rumanians and Russians along
the whole front to-day.
The -Tchernavoda rail
way, leading over the Danube TO
Bucharest, is endangered again.
Along the Black Sea coast the Teu-
tons have captured Tusla, eleven
miles south of Constanza, while
south Of Rasova on the Danube the
village of Koganja has been wrested
from the Russians. In the centre
the heights northwest Of Toprai Sari
were carried.
Take $500 Prisoners
In this new offensive the Teuton
forces already have captured $500
Russian prisoners and hundreds of
Rumanians. The Rumanians are
forced once more to withdraw troops
from the Transylvanian line and so
weaken the resistance TO Falken-
hayn's thrusts.
Along the Transylvanian frontier ths
day was one of successes and with
drawals for the Rumanians. On the
eastern line they seized several impor-
tant positions, forcing the invader back
toward the border and taking 600 pris-
oners. but on the southern front. be
low Kronstadt, they were compelled 20
fall back.
Thus Rumanis- Is confronted with two
threats-Falkenhayn on the north and
Mackensen on the south. Her problem
is fraught with much uncertainty. al
though the leading military critics here
think that she has better than an even
chance.
Falkenhayn has nine German divi-
sions In his command. in addition TO a
mixed force Of Austrians and Turks.
while Mackensen has one or two Ger
man divisions and about 10000 Turks.
Both are we'll supplied with guns. Only
natural defcnces are saving King Ferdi-
nands country from immediate inva-
sion.
Can't Force Allies Hand
Germany is playing for big stakes.
An invasion of Rumania would give
her the opportunity 70 save Bulgaria
and Turkey and to sack the stores OF
Rumania. But. more important still.
she would be striking a blow at Bes-
sarabia and Odessa.
Those who advocate .redoubled ef-
forts by the Allies on other fronts
particularly in the west-to relieve the
pressure against Rumanis fail to real
ize that this would mean playing
straight into Germany's hand. for IL
there is one thing that the German
staff wishes IL is great Allied infantry
attacks before the artillery has paved
the way for such advances.
The western offensive must continue
In the methodical manner that has ac-
complished much more than the mill
tary experts thought possible. Hsig
and Foch refuse to butt their soldiers
heads against a stone wall. Rumania's
salvation lies in her ability TO get guns.
She already has the men. Russia, aid
ed by her natural defences, is expected
TO stave off the enemy until these guns
can be supplied TO her ally.
The successes Of King Ferdinsnd's
troops in Transylvenia to-day we're OBJ
tained on the extreme northern tip OF
the battle line. Fslkenhsyn's forces
were driven back toward the frontier
in the Bistritza Valley. and lost Mount
Sisphes in furious engagement that
cost them more than 500 prisoners.
In the region of Dornavatra a battle
was fought in four feet Of snow and
ended in an Allied success. In the
southeast, in the Buxeu Valley. Bu-
charest admits the retreat OF Ru-
manian forces before furious enemy on
slaughts. Admission Is also made OF the
withdrawal of Russo-Rumanian troops
en- the left wing and centre Of the Do
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