The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-03-08
Is Helpless Between Con-
tending Powers,
BUT WATCHING FOR A CHANCE
To Gain Certain Advantages
Public Indifference Re.
garding Alliances.
is LIKE BELGIUM AND SERBIA

Ttb. LV, wy
Courier to Berlin, Feb. &c, via Lon
don, Feb. 29.)--Nobody here ex-
poets that anything short of a mill
tary cataclysm will rs re Roumania
on either side in the Mar.
Leaders Of the responsible po!iti-
cal parties say that tie chances of
her doing so have vanished, al
though it is admitted that when it
appears to be certain that one group
of allies will triumph over the 9TH
ers, Roumania will join the expected
victors in order to gain territorial
advantages.
That is the quintes sence of state
ments made to the writer in inter-
views with leaders OF public thought
and affairs.
Roumanians who have advocated
action against the central group now
deem the military situation in Eu-
rope uninviting, while others main
tain that Joining the. central pow
ers would be the bes- policy. The
former blame Premier Bratiano for
permitting opportune moments to
pass. Ex-War Minister Filipesco, an
ardent supporter of the Entente al
lies, is Premier Bratiano's severest
critic. Ex-Minister of Interior Jones'
Gu takes a similar stand, with the
difference that in his opinion Rou-
mania may yet join the Entente
group.
Ex-Finance Minister Marghiloman
considers Russia is the arch enemy
of Roumania and argues that before
the war ends Roumania must join
the central powers or find herself
isolated and without friend on
earth"
In the main the general attitude
no wis one of indifference. 1t must
not be assumed that full control of
the Government by either faction
would not place Roumania on one
side or the other. Premier Bratiano
on gaining the upper hand. accord
ing to the general belief, would
throw Roumania to the Entente side,
while it is thought that Marghiloman
undoubtedly would range her with
the central powers.
There has been split in the So
called Federal Party, formed by the
merging of the Jonescu and Filipes-
co factions to support Premier Brat
iano. Several days ago Filipesco
formally brke with Bratiano, so
that the latter's position as Govern
ment head is considered badly sha-
ken. Even Bratiano's supporters feel
that another important Entente re-
verse would cause his fall. Bratiano
is quoted as saying that If the En-
tente loses Salonica it must expect
him to retire.
Roumania's position as viewed in
the light of recent developments is
one of helplessness. the best indica-
ton of which is found in the fact
that after the sale to the British
Purchase Bureau of 10000 carloads
of wheat. Roumania was obliged to
sell to the central powers 100000
carloads of mixed cereals. The Brit
ish transaction had the full sanction
of the Roumanian Government. but
the pressure exerted by the Mar
ghiloman faction robbed the contract
of many advantages to the British.
Grain dealers and producers hav-
ing failed to offer wheat in suffi-
cient quantities to fill the contract
of $4,000 cars made between the
British Purchase Bureau and the
Roumanian Export Commission, the
contract has been radically modified.
Sellers under the old contract re-
ceived $40 per hundred Kilograms.
the price paid by the Germans and
Austrians. but the sellers were re-
CURED to store and insure the Brit
ish purchases at their own expense
until six months after the war. The
sellers figured their expenses would
be $40 per hundred Kilograms,
while the German and Austrian pur-
ohases were TO be delivered imme-
fiately without expense.
Grain experts here say II is not
hkely that the full $4,000 carloads
~'ll ever he obtained.
In exchange for the sale of the
100000 carloads of grain to the Ger
'Nrrs end Austrians.R oumania want
I'd to import certain needed articles,
ore NJ military value. The Ger
-ars and Austrlans refused to in
Judo any Of the latter in the list
rented.
u is no longer a secret that the
cotmaniou army has ammunitio1