New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-27
Rumanians Blow Up
CernavOda Span to
Check Invaders
MACKENSEN NOW
WAITS BIG GUNS
Falkenhayn Gains on
Campolung, but Falls
Back in MOldavia


against Bucharest has slowed down. In
the face of sterner resistance by the
Russians and Rumanians, Mackensen in
Dobrudja and Falkenhayn in the Tran
sylvanian line were able TO make only
slight progress to-day.
The second phase Of the Dobrudja
battle seems about to open. Before the
Rumanians at Cernovoda retreated they
destroyed the great bridge that
stretched for ten miles over the Danube
and the swamps that border on it. Thus
before Mackensen can strike for the
railway that runs to Bucharest he must
accomplish the task Of crossing the
river.
Bringing Up Heavy Guns
Mackensen is bringing up his heavy
guns TO renew the battle north of Ger
navoda. The action against the Rus
SLAMS and Rumanians who retreated
from the Constanza-Cernavoda railway
developed so rapidly that the artillery
found it impossible to keep up the pace.
Military critics here believe that the
Rumanian situation, while it is brighter
than it was twenty-four hours ago. still
carries serious problems.
On the western line, where Falken-
hayn is striving TO force the mountain
passes, the Teutons made progress to-
day south Of the Predeal Pass, toward
Campolung, but on the Moldavian front
the Rumanisns struck heavy blow
and now have forced back the invader
to the frontier at almost every point.
Further west, in the Vulcan Pass
where the German army drove back the
defenders yesterday, the battle is still
in progress. But the Rumanisns have
rallied and are battling fercely for the
southern end of the passage. The in
vader has not penetrated to the Ru
manian plain.
Pressure Is Relaxing
Petrograd reports to-day that the
German pressure in the Dobrudja is
relaxing. Apparently the Germans have
checked their efforts to drive into Bes-
sarabia and are concentrating their at
tention on the crossing Of the Danube.
What seems clear is that the invad-
ing armies did not trap any large num-
Der of Rumanians at Cernavoda. While
some fed over the great bridge the rest
fell back northward to join the Rus
slams from Constanzia. Sofia claims the
capture Of great quantities of supplies
at Constanza, but this is contradicted
by a Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
which says that Russian sailors de
stroyed all supplies before the port was
evacuated.
Mackensen's artillery prevented
larger forces of Rumanians from get
ting across the Danube. The guns
dominated the bridge and cut of that
line of escape. The only alternative
was destruction of the bridge and a re-
treat into the marshy country to the
north.
Airships Help Mackensen
Mackepsen has been assisted greatly
in this fighting by his aeros and his
Zeppelins. These harassed the re-
treating Rumanians and prepared III
way for rapid pursuit
The most notable result of the Ru-
manian counter drive on the Moldavian
line was the capture of Mount karek-
haras, twenty-five miles south Of the
Bukowina line. In this three-conered
country the Russians have defeated all
the Teuton efforts to force wedge
between the Russian and the Rumanian
armies.
In the House of Commons this even
ing Premier Asquith said:
"The Balkan situation is engaging
the most anxious attention not only oi
his majesty's government, but OF inc
governments of the Allies. Ihey nave
taken and are now taking every possi-
BILE step to support our gallant com
rades in Rumania in the splendid strug-
gle they are making. ! nope we Shall
not take unduly pesslmistlc views. Rus
Sla, france anu ilaiJ nav :.
all the concerted measures wlthlh lheli
power TO support Rumania IN her strus'
gle for independence.
Serbs Continue Advance
Whether these measures mean IN
creased pressure on other fronts oniS
the future can tell. The most propapie
moves seem the sending oil men ahu
ef n
runs to Rumania and renewed ac'''i'S
on the west and from Salonlca:
This Macedonian operation is not yet
in full swing. But the Serbs made a
new advance toward Monastir to-day
taxing several heights beyond the Cerna
hnnd While French troops occupied two
towns and a bridgehead on the Al,
banian line. where junction has been
formed with the Italians operating
from NalOna.