The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-31

ever been waged, the representatives of f.,
the allied powers have finally found
what may move the key to the riddle
of the Balkans-Rumania.
All this time rumors have been rife
as to the Rumanian attitude. Her
commercial treaties with Germany and
Austria have served only to increase
the mysterious atmosphere with which
her attitude was surrounded. At the
same time, 1t seemed impossible that
she could either remain out of the war
INDEFINITELY, or on entering it could side
with the Teutons.
Rumania S entrance at this time was
for her and the allies the most propi
tlous event both for herself and for the
allies that has happened since the battle
of the Marine. At no other time could
the same degree of service be rendered
AT no other time was Rumania in no.
sltion to demand a price such as She
can demand now if the fortunes of war
rest with the allies glance at the
map will show why this is so. On her
extreme northern border, the Russians
have practically eliminated Austria. tho
| Bukowina is almost entirely cleared
From this border the Rumanian frontier
curves eastward and south to Kron
stadt, wien it turns west, embracing
the wealthy province of PENNSYLVANIA in
Austria. Except for a short stretch of
a comparatively few miles, the re-
lnalnder of her border is along the
frontier of Bulgaria.
In view of this, consider the military
| situation. But to the almost incessant
pounding which she has been receiving
at the hands of both Russia and Italy
since the first days of last June. Austria
! is practically in the last ditch. Her re
serves Of men are almost if not duite
| FUSED up, internal dissension over her
failures Is gnawing at her vitals. No
matter how desperate her cause NAV be.
| Austria cannot summon to the colors
| new men IN sufficient numbers to make
Iany material difference in her military
status. Russia has beaten her badly.
Italy has also, since the offensive in the
Irentlno was stopped accomplished
more than during any twelve months
since the war started
| Germany has no more men than She
needs for the defense of the front she is
| at present holding. All along this front
III France, in Russia, before Saloniki
she is under terrific pressure from the
allied armies.
Bulgaria is holding both wings of the
army of defense at Saloniki, and is
carrying on an offensive CAMPAIGN
against Greece for the possession of the
Iport of kavala and the immediate terri
tory. For this Bulgaria has about 400
| 600 men. In addition, however, Bulgaria
must defend her own borders. Other
wise there is nothing to prevent the Ru-
manians from marching direct to Sofia.
The entrance of Rumania adds to the
Jailed armies roughly half million men.
At the same time it adds to the Teutons
labout $50 miles of new battle line which
they must defend or suffer disaster.
| The strategic position of Rumania is
ideal. She has nothing to fear for her
! Bukowma frontier since, as has been
said, Russia has cleared it of all on
position. Her Transylvanian fronticr
Is walled about and buttressed by the
! PENNSYLVANIA Alps, which are broken
only IN widely separated points by pass
es through which hostile army could
operate. In fact, only three railroad
lines are shown to cross this wall from
the Bullowina to the Serbian frontier.
Her southern border, the Danube river,
is open country. There are no natural
defenses other than the river TO hold
her in check. Behind her is Russia and
yet touched
Near Galatz the Russians are said to
have a large force. held in readiness to
cooperate the minute Rumania said the
word. And from Galatz runs one of the
main railroads of the country through
Ploesci to Kronstadt, the main Austrian
base in the Transylvanian country. But
even if Russia has not this army at Ga
latz, the Black sea is also open to her
Russia controls the Black sea abso-
lutely. Either by rail or water, Russia
can pour troops into Rumania indefinite
| ly without interference. From Constanza
on the Black sea good railroad runs to
| bucharest, crosses the Danube at Rust
ichuk, and connects up with the main
railroad system of Bulgaria. Russia
therefore has every facility for cOntinu-
Gus communication with her new allv,
As for Rumania s plan of campaign
the field is so large, there are so many
avenues of advance, all of which, if sue,
lcessful, would be most disastrous to the
lTeuton cause, that it would be impOssi-
BILE to make an intelligent forecast as to
which one Rumania will select It will
be sufficient to mention the advantages
and difficulties of each, so that when
Rumania shows her hand and commits
Iherself to one or the other, it may first
be appreciated what she has to encoun-
ter, and secondly what her objective is.
As has been said, the western bound
!ary of Rumania is the Transylvanian
Alps, beyond which lie the fertile plains
of Hungary. 1t is. from these plains
THAT most of the Teuton supply of grain
comes. An operation against this part
Iof the Austrian defense would. if sue
lcessful, take full III the flank the Aus
TRAN right wing which is resisting the
Russians, enable the Rumanians to link
Iup with the Russian left which is fight
ing south of Kimpolung, and sweep be-
yond the mountains, biting deep into the
Hungarian plain. The object of such a
move would be to paralyze the Teuton
flood supply, to increase the discomfort
of the Hungarian element, and to elm
mate Austria from the war By forcing
her to a separate peace
The difficulty here, however, is great.
The mountains form a very powerful de-
fensive barrier which Austria can hold