The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-10-23
RUMANIAN SITUATION
IS SERIOUS
Continued from page ~

4
stanza, was reported from Berlin
/ only Saturday afternoon. The Bull
/ garian official report OF a six mile ad.
vance indicates that the Rumanians
have suffered most severe defeat.
Retirement Continued.
| PETROGRAD. Oct 2S.-The Russo
Rumanians continue their retirement
In Dobrudja under enemy pressure.
though offering stubborn resistance 1t
was officially announced today.
In the Trotus, Ortuz and Slanie val
leys in Transylvania the Rumanians
attacked the enemy and compelled a
slight Austro-German retirement. In
western Moldavia, the Rumanians
have been successful in stubborn fight
ing.
The fighting on the Galician-vol
hyn1an front is slackening. Austro-
German attempts to cross the Bold
urka, north Of Brody. were repealed by
Russian fire.
/ Disastrous Rout.
BERLIN. Oct. 23.-Consta nza, Ru-
mania's greatest seaport, has fallen
before Field Marshal Mackensen's
armies. it was ofaciaIly announced
this afternoon.
Capture OF the city is the greatest
Fsingle achievement for the central
powers since Rumania entered the
war. eight weeks ago. The victory is
hailed by German military men as
OF more importance than all the gains
made by the allies since the Somme
offensive began.
Official dispatches from the German
and Bulgarian war Office indicated
that the Russo-Rumanians have suf-
.fered disastrous rout
Smashing northward along the
Black sea coast, Mackensen's army
occupied first the Rumanian port OF
Tuzla and then swept onward
through strongly fortified Rumanian
lines OF defense. marching twelve
miles to Constanza in little more
than two days The rapidity OF the
Teutonic advance is accepted as an
indication that the Russians and Ru-
manians became demor2lized and
made an extremely disordered retreat.
An Official statement from Sofia
earlier in the day, reporting the cap
ture OF village six miles south OF
Constanza, prepared Berlin for news
of a great victory.
No surprise was manifested here
when 1t was announced that Mack
ensen had pushed on through the
ruins Of the old Trojans wall and had
occupied Constanza itself.
Since Rumania entered the war.
Russian transports have been bring
ing Slav troops, munitions and other
war supplies to the aid Of the Ru.
manians. Large bodies Of Russian
troops have arrived In Rumania
through the port Of Constanza, whose
capture by the central powers eff
fectually puts an end to the trans
portation OF reinforcements via the
Black sea.
The thirty-five mile Constanza
Cernavoda railway, leading across
the Danube, is the carrier over which
Rnmania has derived large quantity
OF her supplies. The Teutonic right
wing is now astride that railway a,
Constanza while Mackensen's center
and left wing are swinging forward
to capture the remainder Of the road
Mackensen is aiming principally al
Cernavoda and the great bridge over
the Danube.
Great Violence.
BUCHAREST. Oct. 23-Fightins
continues with great violence neal
lConstanza, the war office announced
! today. South OF Cernaavoda, the Ru
manians have retreated.
Steamer Sunk.
| LONDON. Oct. 23.-The British
steamer Fortuna has been sunk. Tel
of the crew were landed today, but il
Is believed the captain and f1fteer
others were drowned.
Considerable Smelling.
LONDON, Oct. 23.-Considerable
enemy Smelling of British positions be
tween LeSars and Guedecourt las
night. was reported by General Hais
today, but no infantry actions of i'm
portance occurred on the Somme
front
South OF Ypres. the British occu
pied the lip of two mine craters form
ed yesterday by the Germans on 6
bluff.
| aHja.S b.. N.ro.aoe