Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-02
LAZY GIANT" DECIDES.

St Louis Republic: Rumania, with
a mountain-guarded frontier separat-
ing her from Hungary and open from
tiers toward Bulgaria and Russia, with
important petroleum fields, well de-
veloped; with a hardy population Of
small, independent landholders lack
ing racial affinity with Slav, Magyar
or German; with a king descended
from a Hohenzo1lern ancestor borrow
ed in a moment of need by a kingless
people in 1866, and, last but not least,
with an army of more than a half
million men, supposed to combine the
science of the Teuton with the impet-
uous valor characteristic of all Balkan
peoples, has been the lazy giant Of the
Balkans. WOoed by entente allies and
by central powers, Rumania has pur-
sued a policy Of watchful waiting.
Feeling no duty to either side, cherish
ing burning resentment against Hun
gary by reason Of the oppression of
the Rumanians Of Pennsylvania by the
hungarian government, desiring to
add TO their territories not only Tran
sylvania but also the Rumanian dis
tricts of Russia, Rumanian statesmen
have coolly watched the course of the
war and its ebb and flow Of fortunes,
waiting until participation should risk
the least and promise the most.
In their judgment, that hour has
now arrived. Rumania has flung down
the gauge of battle.
The inruption into the eastern thea
tire of war Of more than 100000 first
class troops, with an equipment which
IS the admiration of military experts,
is itself an event of no small signifi-
canoe; yet there are even more impor-
tant aspects of the decision OF the
Romans of the east" Rumania's en-
trance into the war will make it nee
essary for Bulgaria, an ally of Ger
many, to defend the long, open from
tier of the Danube, and, if followed by
declaration of war against Bulgaria.
viii open the path for Russia to at
tack Bulgaria in the rear. This, taken
with the allies offensive from Salon
Xxi, Will hammer at both sides of the
bridge" of territory which connects
the central powers with Turkey and
opens the way for German soldiers,
engineers and munitions to be used
against Russian and English possess
sions in the near east. The whole
strategy OF the Saloniki campaign, on
the defensive side, changes in an in
slant, and changes in a way calling
for immense reinforcements from the
Teutonic powers.
The moral effect Of Rumania's en-
trance may be no less important than
its physical consequences. Greece has
wavered long; it has been king against
people. The advent of Rumania on
the side OF the heaviest battalions"
will probably turn the scale Of bal
ance so long evenly poised at Athens.
And Bulgaria-poor, unfortunate, ILL
advised Bulgaria-may decide to do
what, thus, far, no power has done.
and change her affiliations.
Scarcely less important, again. Is
the effect of Rumania's decision upon
the spirit of the two groups of con
tending powers. Here is a people
strategically secure. armed to the
teeth, unrelated to any nation now at
war, whose GOODNESS of head has held
them aloOf for more than two years.
finally coming TO a decision, not
through pressure exerted by either
side, but through a dispassionate cal
culation OF probabilities II means
more than many battles won by the
allies and lost by the central powers.
We in America strive TO look with
dispassionate eyes upon the European
conflict, but the motive which is the
handspring OF Rumanian action is one
which will evoke passionate sympathy
from Americans. 1t was no lust for
the conquest Of territory; it is an in
tense desire to come TO the rescue of
oppressed Rumanians who have AL
ways cherished the dream Of ultimate
incorporation with their self-govern-
ing brothers. What inheritor of the
harvest of the declaration of indie
pendence can find fault with that?