HEROIC RUMANIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 65, 10 December 1917, Page 6

HEROIC RUMANIA

A FRENCHMAN'S HOMAGE

AMAZING COURAGE AND RESISTANCE Looking very robust in his French uniform of a staff lieutenant, M. Robert de Flers, soldier and playwright, provides a living example of the queer changes of metier. imposed by tho war. Beforo Enropo was plunged into tho cauldron of this present conflict, M. do Flers and Caillavet were the most celebrated pair of dramatists known the world over for their clever social satires. Fame and fortmio went hand in hand in their case, nnd they amassed "royalties" that many royalties would envy. "Le Roi," "Lo Bois Sacro," "Primerose," are some of tho plays which charmed tho Boulevards as perhaps no other light and vivacious studies of tho moment have done.

Then the war e.ime to interrupt not only the run of do Flers et do Caillavet plays, but to stop the theatre momentarily as an institution in France: M. dc Caillavet died; M. de Flers took to journalism. ■ Later came active service as an officer of Reserve: for the past fourteen months M. de Flers has been in Rumania on the French staff. All his life associated with the, fire of the footlights, he has now faced tho fire of battle , through four stremious months, and exchanged the drama of art and invention for tho most terrific drnma in the world.

Hardly could he be constrained to talk about himself, and this articlo contains no .illusions to his danger and escapes during the disastrous jetreat of the Rumanian Army, which he accompanied throughout, sharing unexampled hardships ._ He prefers to praise the Rumanians for their amazing courage nnct resistance. One does not, hq thinks, render sufficient account in Enpland of their difficulties or of their performance. "'WTien that is known," ho said. "I think yotir fel-low-countrymen will pay them profound homage."

Rumania's Ideals. "Rumania /started upon this war with real generosity and sincerity, and from "Jove of the cause. She desired the triumph of right and liberty over oppression. Her national ideal tended, of course, towards Transylvania, but ,in the broader issue her ideal was that of France and England. Yet imagine the difficulties that assailed this poor little country. Her frontier of fourteen hundred. kilometres (875 miles) was as great as all the fronts of Russia. This had to be defended by an army of 600,000.men! They submitted to terrible reverses, and had to retreat during the sovoro winter. Their sufferings wore immense. Added to the overwhelming military situation were sickness and famine. The epidemics, which were spread by vermin, 'made frightful havoc. As to scarcity- of food brought about by the failure of 'the flransln'ort, it caxised many to die of starvation. I saw ,people doad by : tho roadsides, in tho ditches, in the stations, and in country vehicles.

"If you had said that these people, on the morrow of the fall of Bucharest, would have vanquished the army of Mackensen, you would have been regarded—as a poet," remarked M. do Piers, laughing. "But such was the fact. The reconstituted army of Rumania saved .the Eastern front. The project of the Germans was certainly to cut through the Riimanian Army from the south towards the north and from the west to the east, and march on Odessa. It was clear that it was no defensive scheme, but a real plan to pass,_ for Mackeiisen had gathered ten divisions. Besides, wo found on prisoners and on dead officers and men army orders to proceed by regular stages to Jassy. In spite of tho violence of their attacks, which were delivered fivo or six times a day, the Germans failed to advance a single kiicmetre." Speaking in greater detnil'oi' the heroism of tho Rumanians, our informant said the French mission under General Berthelot and the EngHsh. mission (which included Colonel Griffiths, who destroyed the petroleum wells) undoubtedly afforded groat aid, Imtjhis would b'nve been of little avail if tiie quality of tin? troops had not been magnificent. To-day the morale was admirable. Tho troops were well led ana well equipped, but it was useless to hide the fact that strategically their position, was seriously menaced.

Tho King and Queen,

M. de Flers paid a high tribute to the King and Queen. His Majesty understood the interests of his country and worked for thorn. He was really attached to his family, the Hohenzollerns, but ho had sacrificed his affections for patriotism. "To me," remarked M. de Flers, "King Ferdinand observed that he had changed the German motto, 'Germany before all' to 'Mv duty above everything.. On my departure from Rumania, a month ago, he again assured , me of his faithfulness to the Allies. English people ; " continued the French officer, "ought to he proud of Queen Marie, for she is English,. being the daughter of the late Duke of Edinburgh,. She is devoted to her new country and to the Allied cause. Often she goas to the (rout on a: visit to hospitals behind the lines. She is a snlendid horsewoman, and thoroughly English in her tastes. She is also 'literary, and writes excellently." Was it not remarkable, ton, lie asked, to see Rumania, in the midst of such a war, occupying herself with agragrian problems ? Parliament had taken the unique course of voting a law which expropriated more than half the arable land of tho country in favour of the wasant. The example was set by the King, who gave up his Crown lands, and was followed by the large owners in the Government and Legislature. The law was passed practically unanimously.