CONTINUOUS LINES.

Evening Star, Issue 16197, 19 August 1916, Page 9

CONTINUOUS LINES.

HOW TO MEET THE|W.

THE RUMANIAN BOOM-

ERANG.

TRANSYLVANIA.

RUMANIA'S OPPORTUNITY

[By Criticus.]

The approach of the Russians towards the import-ant Jablanitza Pass, and the steadily-increasing probability of Runia' man intervention render an examination of the strategical situation on the southern flank of tho eastern front advisable. This position is ircnderod exceptionally well by the accompanying map. The black line in eastern Galicia shows the present position of tho Russians, .and the arrow indicates the position of' the important Jablonitza Pass, between which and tho Bcrgo Pass the Russians will sooner or later force tho passage of the Carpathians. By a slight error of draughtsmanship the Borgo Pass is shown as opening from Rumanian" territory into Hungary,

whereas in reality it opens from Bukowina into Hungary. The reader will notice that Rumania is shaped just like a huge boomerang, which curves round tho enemy's right flank in Galieia and along tho Carpathians. To understand the full potentialities of Rumania's position it is necessary to bear in mind the difference between the strategical methods now being employed in Europe and thoso in use in Napoleon's day. Then.- is no " new strategy," properly so called. The p-inciples of strategy are the same to-day as they always were, but their application has been modified in "One important particular. Modem strategy might be called the strategy of continuous lines. The small armies of Napoleon's time, fighting in dense formations, were represented by mere dots on the map. But it is necessary to represent the operations of our armies to-day by continuous lines which stretch from frontier to frontier. The fundamental aim ct strategy is still to be strongest at the decisive point, but the difficulty of 'penetrating modern siege lines has somewhat modified the method of its application. The great aim of the allied strategy must, now be to secure the opportunity to makeaise of their superior forces in order to outflank the enemy, and thus compel them to extend their lines. Given adequate room to manccuvre, we car. confidently work round their flanks. If they continually stretch their line to meet this move it will ultimately become sc thin as to be easily broken. If they keep their line short in order to &ep it stroii;; it will be turned and rolled up. This is where the intervention of Rumania would be decisive. THE ADVANTAGE OF POSITION. Romania illustrates tho supreme importance of strategical position as compared with the mere number of acres occupied by either side, which so impresses the popular imagination. As she lies there on the map, she has already turned the enemy's flank by her mere geograplvical position, and her entrance/ into the war would automatically crumple up tho whole of the enemy's eastern defensive scheme. It must be borne in mind that nearly ths whole of Hungary is a flat, alluvial plain, offering few natural oUstacks to the advance of an army, and an admirable field for the _ operations of the immense masses of Russian cavalry. Most of the numerous passes across the mountains from Rumania into Hungary are crossed by railways, so the communications of a Ru manian army would be excellent. Now let the reader imagine the enemy's defensive line as following the lino of ike mountains just inside the Transvlvanian-frontier from the Borgo Pass to the Iron Gates Now draw an arrow pointing from the Tron Gates towards Vienna. That.will represent the extreme left of the Rumanian army as it stretches westward and reaches round the flank of the enemy. Auotliej ai-row should now be drawn from,a point immediately to the west of Bc-krado, and pointing along the west bank of'the Brave t!u;ough Slavor.ia. .That represents an allied force (composed probablv of AnaloFrench, Serbs, and Rumanians) turning the line of the Theiss and tho Danube! Such a move, of course, can onl\- be parried out when Bulgaria is crushed. Thi combination would bring perhaps threequarters of a million fresh troops against the. already failing enemy, and lengthen their line, which is already too loner for their strength by 500 or 600 miles." It would compel them to resort to open warfare again on ground peculiarly favorable for the allied offensive ECCENTRIC MOVES. If the* Russians succeed in forcing the Carpathians between the Jablonitza' andBorgo Passes they will be able to extend their loft flank to the south and west thus compelling a "great extension of the enemy|s line on ground favorable to the operations of the Russian cavalry. But that would be what is known to strategists as an eccentric move. It would bo very dangerous if the enemy still have strength enough" left to deliver a powerful counterstroke. By taking advantage of their excellent railway communications they would be able to mass powerful, reinforcements in Transylvania, aiid drive home a great stroke in the direction of the Borgo Pass. The extended left flank of the Russians would thus bo cut off and jammed iip against the Rumanian border. This danger could be largely obviated by the Russians extending their left flank cautiously as they advance into Hungary, so that it never gets so far that it cauld hot be drawn in if the Russians were forced back. But tho- intervention of Rumania would abolish the danger altogether. There would be lib heed to extend the- Russian loft flftnk,, as the necessary extension would

lie provided by the Rumanian army, and if there wero any question of retreat -this could be effected , through Moldavia, the northern arm of the Rumanian- boomerang. The map also illustrates tho Russian disaster which followed the battle on the San River last summer. Tho Grand Duke had been fighting hard for the northern passes (the Dukla, Lupkow, and others), and had forced his way across the Carpathians. If the reader will lay a- pencil on the map from Cracow- to Przemsyl he will see ' clearly what happened. " The Austro-Germans struck in that direction, and forced the Russian® back. The passes had to be abandoned, and large bodies of Russian troops which had crossed them ware cut off in consequence.' If Rumania joins us all these dangers and difficulties will be over. A GREAT DREAM.

There can be no doubt that Rumania will join us once she is convinced that the Allies are able and willing to satisfy her desires. • What she wants is the doubling of her territory and population. From Belgrade the river Theiss may be seen stretching to t&e north. Rumania dreams of extending her frontier to follow tho line of that river and thence across the Carpathians to embrace Bukowina. This is believed .to represent roughly the ancient Roman province of Dacia. The region was conquered and planted with Roman colonists in the time, of the Emperor Trajan, and the 'Rumanians like to

believe that they are the descendants of these colonists. They speak a lancniatre closely allied to the Latin, and their name odiously suggests a Roman descent, though the Roman strain must now have been rendered very thin by dilution with Other races. There are difficulties in the way ot. gratifying her ambitions. - Russia, wishes to keep Czemowitz and a part of Bukowma, while Serbia objects to Rumania acquiring the Banat of Temesvav, just across the Danube from Belgrade. But there is no apparent reason" why Rumania should be a more dangerous neighbor to Serbia than Hungary. Apart Irom these obstacles, the Allies might very well concede Rumania's demands in lull. There are nearly 3.500.000 people ot Rumanian blood in Transylvania. The Magyar ruling race.are a delightful people. J-bey are a musical people. They dance and smg divinely. Their hospitality r~ overflowing. But their conception of politics is to swindle all the other racout of their political rights bv means <>' an impudently cooked electoral system thus keeping all the power in their owi hands, and using it to ruthlessly sunpre* all agitators" and other un'reasonahi people who think that thev have a rich to lair play. Whether the Rumanian T° U i »r tlls otller racea better i doubtful., but the Allies could stipulate f. equal nghts before ceding tile territo" A strong Rumania and a powerful ec'; Federation of Balkan States would be useful check to the illegitimate ambitions Oi the greater Powers,

THE NEWS.

Ihere is no nsws to-dav of importance from any ot the fronts at the moment of anting. Petrcgrad reports no change. IHe enemy s communiques report victories everywhere, as usual. Italy has no process to report, and appears to be held up or the present. From France there are „ usua " rc P° rts °f small incidents not -north summarising.