New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-10
Mackensen Also Captures
1874 Cannon and 100
Machine Guns
PURSUIT OF BEATEN
FOE IS UNCHECKED
London Expects Decision
for Great Drive Either
i'm West or East
fBy Cable 20 The Tribunel

tBy Cable 70 The 1ribunel
London, Dec. 9.-The Teutons are
sweeping on in Rumania. Everywhere
on the 2OO-nile front In Eastern Wal
! lachia Ferdinand's troops are In re-
! treat
The retirement Of the Ruhlanians
/ Is proving even more costly than fol-
lowers of the campaign had foreseen
"Slnce December /, as far as ap-
pears at present from a superficial
clearing up of the battlefelds around
| bucharest" says the German official
statement, "the Rumanians have lost
! 20 our Ninth and Danube armies more
! than 10000 men, 1S4 cannon and l2O
machine guns. The size of these fig
ures permits Of plain conclusion be-
/ ing drawn as to the Importance OF
the success obtained By the allied
(Teutonic) troops and shows to what
degree the Rumanian army is de-
moralized.
Vast Booty In Material
"The losses in dead and wounded
are in proportion to the number OF
prisoners. The booty. war material
and field material, taken Is incalcu-
liable"
Several thousand Rumanians were
captured yesterday, when the Ninth
German army routed divisions when
tried to escape from the Predeal Sec
tor toward the southeast. Vienna states
that the Rumanian army group has
been "annihilated." The swift re-
treat of the Rumanians has compelled
the Russians to abandon their posi-
tons near the Danube, now fanked
by the Germanic forces.
There is no cessation in the attacks
Of the Russians against the enemy's
limos in the wooded Carpathans and
in Eastern Pennsylvania. but the sue
cess that was expected to have at
tended their initial efforts to relieve
Bucharest is not yet in sight.
The German figures on the losses OF
the Rumanians in the last week are
believed by Allied observers here to
be greatly exaggerated, but tnere Is ~
effort to minimize the sorry plight INTO
which Ferdinand's troops have falien.
French critics believe that the oul"
of the army will eventually MAKE
successful stand along the Sereth,
though they admit that the usefu!nesS
of Rumania's shattered units VIII a.
pend largely upon the abilitv oil husS'A
to resquip and victual them
British Opinion Divided
As the future may bring changes IN
Tho onerations of the Entente forces
in the East-especially Of the British
armies-it is interesting to observe the
arguments of the Fasteners ana
"Westerners" in England.
The western" school opposes any
great effort by the Allies in the Bal
Hans. principally because OF the ar
fcultv of maintaining an army there
II Is 5000 miles from Southampton
IN Salonica, or eighty times the dis
lance between Folkestone and bou-
logne. II takes approximately twenty
times as much tonnage for England 70
transport and support a soldier III
Greece as in France. ~.
Briefly. the support OF British
army in the Balkans is fully as oil,
dcult as would be the transport ana
, sunnort of a German army IN England.
The shipping problem Is the most
vital consideration, in the opinion OF
tho "Westerners." The recent IN
creased activity of German submarines
in the Mediterranean is offered as an
added argument against the transport
ing of large forces to the Balkans.
Railroads Aid Germany
Germany. on the other hand, 1t Is
! pointed out, through it's complete sys-
tenn Of railroads can employ troops IN
/ the Balkans almost as easily as in
Picardy.
Now consider the arguments Of the
Fasteners" Against the enemy
Western deferces the Allies must send
huge forces and accept huge sacriiices'
while the Germans, when compelled TO-
simply retire their line. unbroken.
Even il the Entente forces break
through the enemy's defences, Ger
many will be far from beaten.
No great strategic victory can be Oh.
] tanned By the Allies, the fasteners
hold. until Germany is cut of from
Turkey and Bulgaria. Once this is ac-
complished, the chief objects for which
the Allies are fighting may be attained.
Cause of Political Discussions
The differences between the two
schools is one of the fundamental
causes Of Britsn's political upheavaL
Just as it has been and is responsible
in some measure for the unrest in
France and Russia.
Until the two schools can be recon
ciled-until some compromise is struck
between them-the prosecution of the
war by the Allies cannot go forward
with the maximum efficiency. Uncer-
tainty, dla,oriness and conflict will
vanish as soon as the decision is made
and il is in sight.