Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-29
Roumanin's Opportunity

new ntimations-that Roumania soon
will cast her lot with the allies So many
expectations OF this particular event have
been disappointed the current prophecies will
be taken with rather more than the Gus
tomary grain of salt, and yet there are signs
and portents not to he disregarded
First OF all, there is uneasincss i'm Berlin
Cabling from there. correspondent saws
'Rouma MIA may join the entente against Ger
many and that the determining fact will
be the military events of the next fortnight .
On the virtual demand OF the Austrian min
lister at Bucharest, Take Jonesco former
Premier. has surrendered his Austro- Hun
garian and German decorations. and his OK
ample has been followed by half dozen
others OF the most conspicuous men in
Roumania.
There is news to-day OF an allied offensive
from Saloniki. directed by the rehablitatcd
Serbian army against the Rulgarians in this
sector. 1t is too early 10 say whether this
VIII develop into attacks on large scale. but
II 1t does. ii will merely fulfill predictions
made when Russia started her onslaught in
Galicia and Nolhynia. and Britain and France
thrust a the German detenses on the Somme
The allied armies at Saloniki have been re-
ported to number 100000 men amply sup
piled with guns and ammunition and pre-
pared. when the time came, to deal heavy
blows.
1t would seem that time has come The
Russian advance in Southern Galicia has
swept along the Roumanian border into the
passes OF the Carpat hians The Turks are
fully occupied in the task OF holding the
Grand Duke Nicholas from their capital and
so can give little assistance. despite REPORTS
OF Turkish army corps fighting with the Aus.
TRANS IN Galicia. TO the Bulgarians in the
Balkans II there ever is 10 he an advance
from Saloniki. the future is unlikely to pre-
sent more favorable opportunity than the
present, or TO offer larger promises of
success.
What is true at saloniki is true also of
Roumania's possible entrance into the war.
conditions are suspicious. If she is going 10
tight AT all, il must be now. for in a few
months, II the campaigns now being con-
Quoted go inst the allies. she will not dare
10 strike and II the fortunes Of battle CON
tlnue steadily on the side OF the allies, her
help VIII be neither asked nor required
\ needed lesson was laugh, the allies by
the CHASTITY failure OF their Balkan diplomacy
ana Roumanias assistance, if il has again
been invited. will be compensated amnlv II
is not impossible the resignation OF Foreign
Minister SazaEof. OF Russia as yet un-
cXplc med. was due TO the Cars determine
ton to reverse the SazanoN policy and meet
some OF Roumania's demands These. 1t will
be remembered, included the cession bv
Russia OF portions OF Bessarabia where Rou-
mahians form the predominant element of
the population.
Roumania. like every other alton in this
war or outside OF il. has thought of herself
Her great men dream dreams OF a great Rou-
mania, formed by the acquisition OF terri
tories now subject 10 other nations Eight
months ago Take Jonesco concluded a
memorable speech in favor of participation
IN the struggle on the allied side with these
words: Chance has wlled it that il should
be this generation which accompishes our
destiny. II will either dig the grave of the
labor OF centuries ii will create an enocb
so beautiful that the vision OF IL plunges me
into humility and blinds me with excess Of
light"
mat Is the temper of Roumania's most
distinguished citizen and OF millions of his
couhtfymen In ina gination, they see CRATE
iut Russia yielding "a strip of Bessarabia.
"hi!e PENNSYLVANIA their own irredenta. is
snatched from the palsicd hand of the Haps-
burgs When the temptation is so great, the
reward so tremendous, it seems hardly likely
mat houmania Will resist the lure
The average man wouldn't care where they
pn' the reserve bank, If only he had a
key to il.