The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-13
General Tells How Ruma-
mans Gave Up Chance
of Great Victory
AVERESCU CALLED
OFF BY THE CABINET
Was in a Position to Have Annihilated
the German and Bulgarian Armies in
the Dobrudja-Might Have Changed
Whole Course of War.

LONDON, June 80, Correspondence
of The Associated Press How the Ru-
manian armies lost an opportunity of an
initiating the German and Bulgarian ar
mics in the Dobrudja lin 1916 is revealed
in confidential document which has just
reached The Associated Press from an au-
thoritative source in Rumania.
The document contains an account of
conversation between Field Marshal
Won Mackensen and the Rumanian mill
tary leaders which took place shortly aft
er the Rumanian peace treaties were signed.
Won Maekensen said that the failure of
the Rumanians to press their advantage
in 1916 changed the whole course of the
war He said that his entire army could
easily have been pocketed and compelled
to surrender, and this might have been
followed by 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 memorandum
states, was due not to the military lead
tIs, Out the suOFlslBHIeuneSS Oh the POI
iticans at Bucharest
In September, 1916, General Avereseu
commander-in-chief of the Rumanian ar
! my and by far the ablest of all the Ruma
man generals, had taken an army of fou
, divisions and had crossed the Danube in
60 the heart of the enemy's country. Ill
had found clear path into the heart q
the German-B Bulgarian Dobrudja army, an
, had penetrated fifteen miles with a vier
: to cutting off all their communication
and striking them from the rear.
General Averescus own position wa
safe, for behind he had eight divisions {
Serbian and Rumanian troops of the frs
quality. t5Et
= But Averescu had neglected to cut II
Z wires which connected him with the pc
iticians in the Rumanian capital, an
I he had only got fifteen miles beyond II
Danube when there came a peremptol
order 70 Withdraw .bis. FORCES. IT. was q
q absolute contrnand tIom the WaE cabiue
Averescu tried to reason with his poll
zeal chieftains over the long-distance t,
cphone wire, but the politicians had
cided and refused TO change their decisio
n The cabinet, it appeared, felt that the
\ was danger of the German armies on &
I other side OF Rumania-the Carpathij
| front breaking through and doing a gre
deal Of harm at time when Averesct
Z army was far afeld The politicians til
idly preferred a defensive policy to a ia
ing offensive and after day or two of Z
u lay, Averescu and his army withdrew fire
- their commanding position in Won Macke
sens rear and retired across the Danul
The Germans were much puzzled by Il
: maneuver, and never were able to get
~ satisfactory explanation of this vii
drawal of their enemy at the nome
- when his cause seemed won. Won Nj
re- kcnsen was an old prc-war friend Of Av
cr. cscu and knew the lattcr's abilities
IS. well to underestimate them That v
-" why he sought ont Averescu in the coul
= Of the peace parleys a few weeks ago
snnoa Bucharest
0 "Why did you withdraw" asked
Mackensen. 'If you had gone forward J
on. most certainly would have bagged
m, whole of the Bulgarian and German
mics in the Dobrudja."