New-York tribune., 1918-07-12
Authoritative Document
Tells Of Opportunity
Presented in 1916
Politicians Interfered
Had Power to Change Affairs
in East, but Suddenly
Retired
CORRESPONDENCE OF The Associated Press)

Correspondence OF The Associated Press)
LONDON, June 30.-How the Ru-
manian armies lost an opportunity of
annihilating the German and Bulgarian
armies in the Dobrudja in 1916 is re-
vealed in a confidential document which
has Just reached The Associated Press
from an authoritative source in Ru-
ma,s~a.
The document contains an account OF
a conversation between Field Marshal
Won Mackensen and the Rumanlan mill
itary leaders, which occurred shortly
after the Rumanian peace treaties
were signed. Won Mackensen declared
that the failure of the Rumanians to
press their advantage in 1916 changed
The whole course of the war. He said
been pocketed and compelled to sur
render, and this might have been fol-
lowed by a separate peace with Bull
garia which would have separated
Turkey from her allies and changed
the whole balance of power in the
East.
The Rumanian failure, the memoran-
dunn states, was due not to the military
leaders. but to the shortsightedness Of
the politicians at Bucharest.
Rumanians Found Clear Path
In September, 1916, General Aver
escu, commander in chief of the Ru
manian army, and by far the ablest of
all the Rumanian generals, had taken
an army of four divisions and crossed
the Danube into the heart of the
enemy's country. He found clear
path into the heart of the German Bull
garian Dobrudja army, and penetrated
fifteen miles with view to cutting off
l,o;~, -t,-il-
them from the rear. General Aver
escu's own position was safe, for be-
hind him he had eight divisions of sup
port and reenforcements, including
Serbian and Rumanian troops of the
first quality.
Averescu. however, had neglected to
cut the wires which connected him with
the politicians in the Rumanian cap
ital, and he had only got fifteen miles
beyond the Danube when there came
a peremptory order to withdraw his
forces. 1t was an absolute command
from the War Cabinet. Averescu tried
to reason with his political chieftains
over a long distance telephone wire,
and even threatened to resign, but the
politicians had decided and refused to
change their decision.
Cabinet Feared Germans
he NaplHet, IL appeared, 1elt tnaL
there was danger of the German armies
on the other side of Rumania-the
Carpathian front-breaking through
and doing a great deal of harm at
time when Averescu's army was far
afeld. The politicians timidly pre-
ferred a defensive policy to a daring
offensive, and after a day or two Of
delay Averescu and his army with
drew from their commanding position
IN Won Mackensen's rear and retired
across the Danube.
The Germans were much puzzled by
this manoeuvre, and never were able
to secure satisfactory explanation of
this withdrawal of their enemy at the
very moment when his cause seemed
won. Won Mackensen was an old pre-
war friend of Averescu and knew the
latter's abilities too we'll to under
estimate them.
That was why Won Mackensen sought
out Averescu during the peace parleys
few weeks ago in Bucharest.
"If you had gone forward" he said.
you most certainly would have bapged
the whole of the Bulgarian and Ger
man armies in the Dobrudia."