The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-28
But Surprisingly Small Num-
Der of Rumanian Troops Are
Taken Prisoners
ALEXANDRIA, AZ MILES
FROM BUCHAREST, FALLS
One-hfth of Area of Invaded
Country in Hands of Gem
trail Powers-Oil Wells Will
Go to Germans

London, Nov. 27.--Wlth unrelent-
Ing swiftness, the titanic Teuton dual
steam roller, with Falkenhayn and
Mackensen as steersmen. Is smashing
forward in Western Rumania The
fall OF bucharest seems tonight but
a matter of days.
Already reports from various
sources today stated that King
Ferdinands government is about to
flee to Russia.
The Vossische Zeitung of Berlin
learns from its Sofia correspondent
that the Russian Car is on his way to
the Rumanian frontier. where he will
confer with King Ferdinand,
Latest official word from Berlin to-
night was to the effect that the entire
Alt line is in Teuton hands This
means that one-fifth OF Rumania,
comprising one of the most fertile
plains OF Europe. has been overrun
by the invaders and that the great
vertical railway from Rothenthurm
pass to the Danube is in their possess
sion.
Other outstanding features in the
d
official accounts from the various war
offices are:
The railway city OF Alexandria, ~
miles southwest from Bucharest. was
captured today by the joint forces OF
General Won F'aikenhayn and Field
Marshal Won Mackensen.
Second Trap Sprung.
A second trap has been sprung for
the Rumanian army. which held out
4n h. los 1t
gate"
1t has been driven from Turnu-
Severtnu after the capture of that
city and Orsova, to the southeast.
Other forces in that direction" says
the German war office. ARE blocking
their way"
Bucharest officially admitted the re-
urement of the Rumanian forces from
the Alt Topolog Rivers. which vir-
that the whole Ait line has been
seized Pushing southwark from
Ramnica-Valcea, taken yesterday Fall
kenhayn's Alt forces have thus adj
vanced fifteen miles in twenty -four
hours
Petrograd asserts that the ''retir-
Ing Rumanians." taking advantages of
the natural quality Of the country. are
resisting the enemy advance"
Few Prisoners Taken
The number Of prisoners taken by
the invaders Is surprisingly small.
Under Russian leadership, we'll expe.
rienced in the school OF Grand Duke
Nicholas, the master Of retreatinx
strategy who time and time again
fooled Hindenburg and Mackensen In
the fall of 1915. King Ferdinand,s
scattered armies appear to be extri-
eating themselves dexterously from
the Teuton traps just when they seem
on the point of snatching their hu-
man prey.
Only thirty-eight officers and 800
men were captured during the last
twenty-four hours
Nor Is the booty as large as might
have been expected. though 1t includes
twenty-seven ammunition carts and
500 loaded vehicles.
What appears to be the kew to the
strategy that Is to bring about the
early fall of Bucharest Is contained
in today's Rumanian war office state-
ment which tells OF violent engage
ments'' in the direction of Smardiosa.
This town lies ten miles southeast Of
Alexandria. Due east. at distance
or some twenty-seven miles, lies the
Rumanian fortress of Giurgiu. Thence
a railway runs directly north to Bu-
charest. thirty seven miles away.
This Is the easiest and best way for
an army to reach the coveted capital
To the east of the little village OF
Ttgveni, near Curtea de Argos.
southwest of Campuolung. were the
Rumanians still held out stubbornly.
their lines were broken today and the
fiankng menace to their brethren still
battling in the Pennsylvania foothills
was thus ominously increased
Won't Destroy Oil Well.
The loss of her tremendous oil well
and plants Is one OF Rumania's chief
worries. To the central powers their
possession would mean an inestima bie
gain. At conference OF leading Ru-
manian statesmen. Berlin learned to-
day. the question was debated wheth-
er the well should not be destroyed to
prevent their exploitation by the In
vaders. Opposition to this plain pres
vailed and it was decided TO destroy
only the plants.
These figures supply fair idea OF
what possession of the Rumanian oil
resources would mean to the central
empires:
In 1915, not less than 1.673.146
tons of petroleum were produced BY
the four main springs. located In
Prahova, Dambovitza. Bacau and
Bucau. y4S
OF this total output, Rumania e.
ported In the same year 1870 tonA Z
Germany and Austria obtained A1e.~
SS7 tons of 1t. The remainder wont
to italy and Great Britain. MI
Tho possibilities Of enIargtng ~ q
country.s oil production Il uAown
the fact that In nve yeAxM 1rpM 1n3A @1
" ts1ts - teeal ~ u