New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-28
Rumanian Resistance
Breaking; Foe Takes
Vast SUPPLE,
CERNAVODA DRIVE
FEARED IN LONDON
Mackensen May Cut OFF
Enemy's Armies-Orsova
Forces Trapped
tBy Cable 10 Ths Triounsl

London, Nov. 27.-The conquerors
of Western Rumania drew the net
tighter around Bucharest to-day.
Beaten on all sides and exposed
to disastrous flank attacks King Fer
dinand's troops have surrendered the
entire line Of the River Alt. A band
of steel stretching $50 miles from the
Pennsylvania Alps to the Danube
row cuts off all Western Wallachia,
with its 10000 square miles. Along
the entire length Of this line the in
vaders' columns are sweeping for
ward.
Mackensen's regiments descended
from two sides to-day on Alexandria,
the centring point of several roads
winding forty-seven miles over the
Vlaska plain to Bucharest.
Resistance Is Breaking
After capturing the town the Ger
manic forces continued their forward
drive. 1.-THE resistance to the Danube
army is breaking" Berlin an
rounces.
The complete union Of the forces
Of Falkenhsyn and Mackensen was
doubtless achieved to-day in the re.
gion just to the northwest of Alex
andria, where the forces driving
eastward from Craiova have estab
lished new lines.
In the upper Alt district another bix
success was scored by the invaders, q
success that directly brought about the
abandonment of the whole line BY the
Rumanians. Between the All and the
Jiblea- Pitesci railroad Saxon troops,
supported by Newmark artillery regi-
ment, made a quick thrust at the de-
tenders lines, broke through, scat
tered them in wild disorder and capt
ured more than 400 men. At the same
moment the Teutonic troops on both
sides of the Alt in the Valces region
drove the Rumanians from the Topolog
line. The invaders, led by General
Delminsingen, took up positions look
ing down on the important railroad and
military centre of Pitesci.
Orsova Army Cut on
Meanwhile, to the west of the line by
which the Teutons have cut Rumanis
into two parts. the remnants Of the
Rumanian army that held 0rsova are
cut off. Part Of 0rsova garrison re-
treated 10 the north and is now hcmmed
in among the frontier mountains. The
other section fell back TO the southeast,
in the Mehedinti sector.
In an attempt to shake of the crush
ing pressure OF Falkenhayn's columns
these units met serious defeat, losing
more than 1900 men in prisoners, be-
sides valuable supplies of munitions.
Their capture is only question o.
hours.
With the seizure of the whole Dan
ube line, from 0rsoys TO Rustchuk,
Mackensen came into possession OF
scores of barges and a number OF
steamers laden with valuable cargoes.
In Craiova, too, according TO reports,
the Teutons found vast quantities OF
oil, benzine and rubber. invaluable to
Germany in her present straits. Grain
supplies we're seized in Zimnieea and
in other places from which the Rumz-
mans were forced 10 fee.
Crucial Week for Rumsnia
The most critical week in the his
tory Of Rumania has opened. Nothing
short of a miraculous reversal in form
can save Bucharest from siege within
a few days and from capture soon az
terward. Everywhere the odds favor
the Teutons.
Bucharest is the centre OF q circle
whose radii average approximately
fifty miles and are being shortened
every hour. The shorter the radii the
greater becomes the concentration OF
guns and men BY the enemy. As this
campaign is primarily waged by guns
rather than men, tne advantage Of the
invaders increases in proportion as the
front narrows.
The Teutons will not find the con.
| quest Of Rumania as simple as that OF
Serbia, however. A year ago the Serbs
were war weary and fatigued; the Ru-
manians are comparatively fresh. The
Serbs had to retreat over rougn coun-
try; the Rumanians are following
1 good roads and saving most OF their
men and guns.
The Serbs had little support or en-
couragement; the Rumanisns are get
| ting every assistance possible, even
though II comes most tardily. That
Russia is determined TO throw ell her
power TO the aid Of her stricken ally
/ is indicated anew BY n report that the
Gar is on his way to the Rumanisn
front for a conference with King Fer
| dinand.
Huge Guns Doom City
Just what will be the final decision
/ OF the Rumanian government when the