New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-21
Dobrudja Blow,Aimed
at Bucharest, Gains
Along Black Sea.
.RUMANIANS WIN
IN TRANSYLVANIA
Serbs Await Sarrail's Or
der to Break Through
Last MOnaStir Line
BY ARTHUR s. DRAPER
IN, N,hf. 90 II. Tsrfhura

London, Oct. 20.-Mackensen has
opened a new offensive in the Do
brudja. Striking at the Allied line
along the whole front in the Ruma-
nian province, he has forced back the
Rumanian left wing, resting on the
Black Sea coast. The battle, which
is as heavy as any of those which
marked his first drive, is still in
progress.
The Kaiser's generals seem deter
mined to force their way to Bucha-
rest-if that be possible. Falken-
hayn attempted this, but the stanch
resistance he met has blocked the
frontier passes. To Mackensen-
operating at the other end of the
Balkan battle line-the task has
fallen again.
Falkenhayn Thrust Back
Falkenhayn made several fierce ef-
forts to-day to break the Rumanian
line defending the border. but none OF
these succeeded. King Ferdinand's
troops, who seem 10 have rallied COM
pletely from the heavy blow the Ger
mans struck at them a fortnight ago,
made additional progress in clearing
their country of the enemy. and drove
back the Teutons on the eastern line
as far as the frontier.
The Serbians. who are battering at the
last Bulgarian line on the ridge ten
miles east Of Monsstir, have held their
ground. Berlin. conceding that they
achieved a temporary success. says the
advance has now been halted. But
military observers here believe that
whenever King Peters troops decide
to launch heavy drive the Bulgsrs
will not be able to withstand IL.
Frorx a high authority on the Balkan
operations | learned something to-day
Of the situation that prevails there.
The Serbians have not used their full
strength yet; their campaign is being
guided by Sarrails orders.
People Are Impatient
Naturally, they are anxious to re
gain their country as soon as possible
The people sometimes become impa-
tient Of the delay, but they realize that
they must sacrifice their desires to the
Allies strategy as a whole.
Nv informant considers Falkenhsyn'
drive. supplemented by Mackensen's ef-
fort in the Dobrudja, the last effort OF
the Germans in the Balkans. The
chances of its success are practically
even.
II the Germans invade Rumanis, nat
urally they will be able to put bigger
force in Macedonia later, when the Al
lied offensive from Salonics assumes
larger proportions, but by that time
the pressure on the east and the ives,
will be so great that Hindenburg will
he forced to recall divisions from the
Balkans.
The Serbians and the Bulgars will
fight fiercely. To them the war is
question Of future dominance in tho
balkans. and not a death struggle be-
tween the Allies and the Central Pow
ers. A decision in Macedonia this year
ia hardly probable, but the coming
spring undoubtedly will see the heaviest
fighting of the war.
Allies Land More Troops
There are increasing signs OF wider
Allied operations in the Balkans. The
Serbian advance OIL Monastir is one
phase of this. Dispatches from Salon
lea report that more Entente forces
among them strong contingent OF IN
fantry. have been landed there.
These operations, Of course, depend
in large measure on the Rumanisn sit
uation.
In the fighting along the Transyl-
yania line to-day the Germans were
driven back in the Trotus and Oituz
valleys. on the eastern front, while five
attacks in the Bran dehle, on the
southern front, were defeated and
heavy losses inflicted on the attacking
forces. Mount Surul. in this sector,
was recsptured by the Rumanians.