New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-30
Defenders Fleeing to
Bucharest in Wild
Rout, Berlin Says
PITESCI SEIZED
BY FALKENHAYN
Russians Attack in North
to Relieve Ally, but Blow
Seems Too Late

Lodon, Nov. 29.-The Rumanian
retreat is unchecked. Driving for
ward along the whole front from the
Transylvanian passes to the Danube,
the invading armies tightened the
band of steel that is closing on
Bucharest.
Mackensen, moving against the
capital from the south, is now with
in twenty miles of Bucharest. This
is admitted by Petrograd, which con-
cedes the loss of four villages east Of
the Ziminicea-Alexandria line.
Falkenhayn has captured Pitessi,
sixty miles northwest Of Bucharest
and the converging point of four rail-
ways. His troops, who battered their
path through the Rumanian defence
west of Campulung, thus have
reached the railway leading directly
to the capital, and have joined forces
with the troops which pushed east
ward from Craiova. Apparently
they have advanced twenty-five miles
in day.
Fleeing in Disorder
"The defeated army is retreating
eastward in disorder" says Berlin,
telling of victorious advances" both
by Falkenhayn and Mackensen, along
the entire line. There is no state
ment from Allied sources to contra
dict this assertion.
There is belated hope in the Rus
SLAMS, but observers here doubt that
their effort can delay long the fall of
Bucharest The Cars troops struck
heavy blow in the Carpathian
passes to-day, winning a series of
ridges around Kirlibaba and on the
Hungarian border and taking more
than 700 prisoners. The offensive is
being kept up without pause.
Berlin reports that violent Russian
attacks yesterday on the Moldavian
front made small local gains at heavy
cost. These efforts were repeated to-
day.
Doubt They Can Save Ally
Il seems certain that the Russians
will divert some of Falkenhayn's forces
to the northern line, for if the Rus
SLAMS force their way through the
Rodna Pass or the Moldavian frontier
they will menace the Teutonic troops
in the rear. But whether the diversion
will enable the Rumanians to make a
final stand before Bucharest and
eventually turn the tide is extremely
doubtful.
Beyond the fact that both Mackensen
and Falkenhayn are pressing forward
with undiminished power the exact
position of the armies battling for the
Rumanian capital is vague. While one
column is moving swiftly along the
Pitesci-Bucharest railway. the Danube
troops. composed of Bulgars and
Turks, are advancing from Giurgiu
directly on the capital These forces
Yesterday took Kulugurena, which is
twenty miles south of the capital.
Campulung Army in Peril
The German announcement that the
Rumanians are retiring in disorder. if
true, is the first sign that an orderly
retreat has been turned into a rout.
The capture Of Pitesci, sixty miles
from Bucharest, threatens the last Ru-
manan hold Of the passes west OF the
capital. The Campulung position
already is taken IN the rear. There
has been no mention of the towns
capture, and it is feared that the de-
tenders face capture unless they can
escape eastward over the mountains,
a most difficult feat.
II the drive continues and there is
no indication vet that the Rumanians
have mastered sufficient power 10 stem
1.-THE Rumanan position in the Ere
deal Pass would be fanked
Then would follow the fall of Ploesci
and with it the railway that supplies
the front before Bucharest would be
lost The Rumanian stand must be
made in front of the Argesiu River if
these important positions are TO be
held
Fortress Ready for Test
Although the Rumanian capital has
been shifted TO Jassy, Bucharest is still