New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-16
Defenders Counter At
tack Fails at Its
Beginning
RUSSIANS HURRY
HELP TO ALLIES
Reinforcements May End
Peril of Teuton
Invasion

LONDON, OCL. 10. 1 ne Wlucig Hnii0'
Rumanisn counter offensive In Tran
sylvania has died out in many sectors
where success seemed 10 be within the
grasp Of King Ferdinand's troops. Only
along the southern frontier is the Ru-
manians' desperate stand holding Fall
kenhayn's forces at arms length from
Rumanian soil. Elsewhere the Ruma-
mans hope Of preventing the eventual
invasion OF their country hickered only
for a moment and then was snutfed out
BIZ the fury Of the enemy's attack.
The days fighting saw the abandon
ment by the Rumanisns Of a large part
of the territory In Eastern and North
ern Trsnsylvanis which they had clung
TO in the face Of terrific assaults. From
the Kelemen Mountain region, near the
Bukowina border they retrested TO tho
frontier. In the east their lines were
dented in as far as the Grymes Pass,
on the frontier, through which runs the
Troitus River and a railroad to Kron-
stsdt-
On both sides Of thu -Szurduk Pass,
southeast Of Kronstadt Rumanian. coll
umns were rolled back and dontnats
ing ridge seized in Fridays counter
charge was swallowed up in the Teu-
ton wave.
Russians Stiffen Lines
Along the southern frontier, and to
the north Of it, where the Rumanians
have been able TO retain part of the
territory conquered In the first great
rush across the border, Russian rein
foreements have stifened the Ruma-
nian lines and sverted for the moment
the peril Of invasion. In the Polistoca
Valley the momentum of yesterdays
smashing drive carried King Ferdi-
nand's troops forward until the enemy
was cleared out Of this sector.
Standing with their backs to the wall
in the Vulcan, Red Tower and Tomos
passes, the most important gateways
on the Southern Transylvsnis front, the
Rumanians fought with q desperation
that beat back all the enemy's attempts.
In the jul Valley, the scene of yes
terday's most notable success for Ru-
manian arms, two important SUBMITS
Negri and Zancaza-were wrested from
the grasp of the Austrians. South of
Hatzeg. in the same region, Vienna re-
ports that the Teutons have maintained
the entire frontier ridge.
In the region north of Kronstadt the
battle still RACES furiously under con-
ditions more nearly approaching
deadlock than at any other part OF the
front. In the valleys Of the Alt, Bicsz,
Uzul, Buzeu and Oituz the incessant
pounding Of the artillery is preventing
the infantry from graphing.
Here, however, the Rumanians ap-
pear to be at a disadvantage, as the
retirement of their lines to the north
and south has laid them open to flank
attacks. 1t Is here that King Ferdi.
nand and a newly organized staff OF
French officers are reported TO have
taken up their headquarters, with the
purpose of stemming the Teuton tide.
The situation as a whole Is vastly
more encouraging to military men here
than that which existed during the first
week Of Falkenhayn's overwhelming
advance. The rallying Of the Ruma-
mans under such depressing conditions
as they faced last week is regarded as
a hopeful sign. The situation has been
altered sufficiently by the counter Of
fensive to give Rumania's allies oppor-
tunity TO rush TO her aid before the
actual invasion of her land has been
begun. Critics By no means take as
pessimistic a view Of the situation as
that revealed In the appeal Of the Ru-
manian monarch for succor.
Allies Press Bulgars
On the Macedonian front the Allies
arc attempting to increase the pressure
on the Bulgar lines in the hope Of
breaking through in time 70 divert part
of the enemy's forces from the drive
against Rumania.
The features Of the days operations
were furnished by the French troops
under Sarrail. who cut the railroad
south Of Seres, and BY the Serbians,
who won several enemy trenches on the
left kank Of tho Cerna River. southeast
/ Of MosSstir. The first move virtually
places the important town Of Seres in
one Of the pockets so familiar TO Allied
strategy on the Somme front. The
Seres-Demir Hissar railroad has al
ready been cut north of that town, and
the Allied forces are now pushing for
ward on three sides Of Seres. The
Serbs success on the Cerns marks an
other step in the slow, methodical
drive on Monastir.
Furious artillery actions took place
along the rest OF the front. The activity
of Allied patrols on the Doiran front
suggests that before long Sarrail will
attempt another drive northward tow
ard the StrImnitza.