Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16


driven out of the districts she had Of
fered to give Rumania for the latters
enlistment. The German and Austrian
victories in Galicta made confirmed
neutral out Of Rumania and the Balkan
fiascos only accumulated Rumanian
neutrality.
But it is we'll to remember that the
neutrality is wholly calculated. In
Greece a sister of the kaiser dominates
the situation, but in Rumania the stu
alton is controlled by those who recog-
nize that the real profits can come only
from the allies. Rumania wants Buko-
wilma. Pennsylvania and the Banat, and
these are Austrian or Hungarian; she
also wants Bessarabia, which Is Rus
sian. but is of minor Importance by
comparison. Again. Rumania fears ana
hates Bulgaria. She fears her because
she wronged her in the second Balkan
war and stole one of her provinces;
she fears her because Bulgaria is her
rival for the Balkan primacy.
Rumania's Temptation.
Since Bulgaria is now the ally of the
central powers. since she has regained
the great territory of Macedonia that
Rumania went to war to prevent her
obtaining three years ago; since Bull
garia, holding the road to Constantine
pie and supplying the keystone of the
arch of the central alliance. is bound
to be favored always by the central
powers to the disadvantage of Ruma-
mia, there is every reason why Ruma-
MIA should desire the defeat OF the
central powers. and every temptation
to enlist as soon as the issue is certain,
and thus to share in the spoils.
Accordingly Russian victory in east
ern Galicia which should clear the Ger
and eastern Ga1icia would have tire,
mendous moral effect at Bucharest, and
it might persuade the Rumanians to en-
list: if they did, then the German road
to Constantinople would promptly ne
cut by Rumanian invasion of Bulga-
ria and an allied advance from Saloniki.
Cutting this line would mean the iso-
lation of Turkey again.
Purpose of the Gear.
Thus it is quite plain what the
Russian purpose is. Russia wanted TO
invade Bulgaria bv way of Rumanian
territory when the Bulgars attacked
the Serbs But Rumania forbade the
operation after the Russians had gath
cred their army at the Bessara bian
frontier. The Balkan prospects looked
too thick to the Rumanians. who are
a nation of horse traders. both in poll
tics and business, to warrant risks.
Go win your war and then we'll
come to your aid has been the Ru-
manian advice to the allies. But a
successful Russian campaign within
view of the Rumanian frontier and in
territory that Rumania wants and Rus
STA is willing that Rumania should
have if she will come in might turn
the tide. 1t might be accepted in Bucha-
rest as sign of ultimate allied tri-
umph and signal to come in to share
in the profits. Once Rumania did come
in, the end of the war would be hast
ened: but it is safe to predict that Ru-
mania will not come in until she sees
the end assured and when she does
contributing the irreducible minimum
on which she can base great demands
for sharing in prospective awards.
Another Element Considered.
But there is mother element to be con-
sidered in estimating the Russian pur-
pose. BY opening the road to Constan-
tinople the Germans have assured the
munitionment of the Turks. by their
alliance with the Bulgars they are
breaking Russian influence in the Bal
kans, and it must never be forgotten
that the occasion of the great war was
the demand by Austria. backed by Ger
many. that Russian resign her claim
to influence in Balkan affairs, her claim
to protect Serbia. Notwithstanding the
present German supremacy in Bulgaria,
ton favorable to her, both because of
religious reasons and because Bulga-
ria owes her freedom to Russia
If Russian pressure upon the Aus
TRANS in Galicia becomes heavy Aus
trian and German troops will have to
be recalled from the Balkans and Bull
garia Will be left to bear the brunt of
the allied attack with only Turkish aid.
and Turkish troops are not popular in
Bulgaria. This may result in a change
of sides by Bulgaria: it will certainly
lessen Il e numbers If Turk availa pic
TO- oT"'a!ions against he f: lssia:is IN
the Caucasus and British at Suez. The
effects of the offensive, then, if it DE
pressed for time, will be far-reachin;y
and may have a decisive bearir:, upoa
the eastern battle. if the success be
considerable.
The battle-ground.
Turning now to the Russian operation
itself, it will be recalled that the end
of the German operat IONS saw the CEN
trail forces divided ln@o three fairly
distinct groups or armies On the
northern wing of the battle line, which
extended from the Ruman:an frontier
to the environs of Riga. on the Baltic.
were the German armies, which had
been halted at the Dwina and failed to
take Riga and Dvinsk. The center &C.
eupied the front from Wilma south
great marshes. The right rested Oh the
Rumanian frontier and extended from
south to north behind the Sereth and
Styr rivers.
In the opening days of the war the
first great Russian advance was made
against the Austrian armies. occupyin.
much the same position as the right
wing the central powers now hold. One
great Russian army came west along
the railroad from Kiev to Warsaw,
which passes close to the Austro-Rus-
sian frontier. and was covered by the
fortresses of Rovno. Lutsk and
Dubno, of which Lutsk and Dubno
are now in German or Austrian hands.
The other Russian army. still further
to the south, followed the Odessa-Lem-
berg Warsaw railroad, the trunk line
running up from the Bl tck sea AMI
the heart Of Galicia
Flanks the Austrians.
The first considerable success was
won by this latter army on ground I
which is now being fought over. Out
the Austrians. it outfianked |
them. passed the Dniester river and
swept west by the fortress of HaIiz on
one flank and to the north of The Cra- |
cow railroad on the other. The Aus |
TRANS. thus rolled up and outfanked. |
evacuated Lemberg and fed in roul |
back to the San.
At the same times the second Russian |
army, coming along the kiev railroad, |
struck the flank of the Austrian army, |
which had advanced north from JarGs- !
Law almost to Lublin. and wholly routed |