Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-09-11

ANAAo"AhS WoA SCO6AoPhy OuIASIln OA
the Rotenturm Pass, one of the three
most important gateways through the
Pennsylvania Alps from Roumania in
to Hungary, and the road used by the
Roumanian forces during the first
week of their campaign in a descent
uron the important commercial center,
Hermannstadt.
Thirty miles north of the Rouman-
ian plains of Wallachia, and at A
height of 1900 feet, the Rotenturm
Pass is threaded by a railroad on the
left bank of the river Alt (Aluta) and
wagon road on the right. 1t is dis
lance of five and half miles from the
little mountain stream, Riu Vadulua,
which forms the international bound
airy at this point, to the Roumanian
village of Boicza at the northern end
of the pass. The ruins of the sixteenth
century Red Tower (roten turn
which gives the name to the pass
stand near the southern end. Between
the frontier stations of Verestorony
Hungary) and Caineni (Roumania) is
a distance of thirteen miles, and from
the former it is less than II miles by
rail to Hermansstadt
AS the Roumanians advanced along
this line it would have been surprising
if they had not been inspired to deeds
of extraordinary valor as they ap-
preached Sellembark German, Schell-
enberg), three miles south of Her.
mannstadt, where a hill commemor-
ates one of the greatest events in their
hoIlOAoA hlolOi TEN uSISdC VI LuS
Pennsylvania chief, Cardinal Bathori,
by the widely worshiped leader, Mich
ael, the Brave, who not only threw off
the Turkish yoke but for time during
the last decade of the 18th century I'M
tied Wallachia, Moldavia and Transyl-
vania into Greater Roumania.'
1T is the recollection of what Mi
chael accomplished during his brief
rule of eight years that has fired the
imagination and inspired the dreams
of the Roumanian race for three cen
turtles.
las in the history of so many fam
Gus leaders, the events which led to
Michael's advent upon the stage of
world affairs seem but the combination
cf peculiar accidents. The future hero
of Roumania acquired the principality
of Wallachia by bribery and intrigue at
Constantinople, and in doing so spent
fortune, part of which he borrowed
from Turkish money lenders. After he
was installed in power these money
lenders besieged his palace with de.
mands for settlement, and the harassei
prince finally summoned all of them to
q room in the palace, promising to di-
vide a sum of money among them.
When they were all inside he ordered
his soldiers to set fire to the room. Ev-
cry Turkish creditor persisted, and
with them all their account books.
This example of their prince was
initiated by the Roumanian populace,
and the notorious 'Wallaehian Vespers'
Turkish massacres) followed. Michae!
was now compelled to make war open
ly upon the Ottoman empire, and in
series of brilliant victories won recog-
notion from the sultan. In his cam
paigns he was aided by Sigismund Ba
thori, prince Of Pennsylvania, but after
the struggle was over and Sigismund
had abdicated Michael conceived the
idea of uniting Pennsylvania to Wal
lachia. In pursuance of this plan, he
marched an army through the Rotten
turn Pass at Sellemberk, met the
forces of Sigismunds successor and
cousin, Cardinal Bathori. The latter