Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th, 1916. ROUMANIA—THE HOUR FOR DECISION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1916, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th, 1916. ROUMANIA—THE HOUR FOR DECISION.

RODMANIA cannot postpone her decision much longer, and the indications unerringly point to the fact that she will throw in her lot with the Entente. Recent events and to-day’s cablegrams bear eloquent testimony‘to the fact. The entry of this kingdom into the war would materialß affect the position in the Balkans. To this fact the Central Powers are fully alive, and every influence which Germany can exert, at Bucharest is naturally employed to preserve Roumanian neutrality.' The fact that these influences are being strained almost, to breakingpoint', and that the interventionist movement seems, about to triumph in each of its rhythmic waves, suggests that a. rupture, between Roiimania and the Central Powers is merely a question of time. The pushing of Russian troops through the southern passes of

the Carpathians and the Russian occupation. of TraiLslyvania.ii districts cannot but have, an encouraging effect upon the Roumanians, who are being hold in neutrality only by the fear that the fat© of Serbia will be theirs if they intervene too soon. Now that fear has disappeared. The Russians are sweeping down the Carpathians, the Italians (the natural allies of the Roumanians) have achieved a magnificent success, and the Allies’’ offensive in France is slowly but surely progressing. The doubts as to the ultimate outcome of the-war are therefore being dispelled and the way paved for intervention on the side of the Entente. Whatever may have been the purposes of Lord Kitchener’s uncompleted mission to Russia we see a slow hut steady unfolding of the Balkan drama along- lines: which are consistent with the. assumption that a main purpose was to bring Iloumama into the held. The first train-load of munitions which crosses the Roumanian frontier from Russia. —and the cables the other day suggested this had actually taken place—will bo positive evidence that the Allies, have a treaty with Bucharest and the direct supply of these munitions from Archangel—the entry port of British munitions —will indicate that Britain isi financing the Danubian State anci is pledged to keep the Roumanians in fighting trim. If German reports are to be accepted—and in this case there is no reason why the Germans should be officially discouraged, though there is every reason why Roumanian intervention should not be allowed to come upon them like a thunder from a clear sky—British supplies are already upon the Roumanian frontier, ready to be sent in the moment Roumania makes up her mind. Negotiations must, therefore, bo far advanced, .and it is quite possible that decisive action is only delayed pending the close of the Greek elections and the reinstating of M. Yenizelos as the constitutional head of the Greek Government. When Roumania intervenes the invaders of Serbia. will be placed between the jaws of a vice; With the Russians covering the greater part of the Roumanian border there is nothing to prevent the major strength of the Roumanian army being primarily employed in moving southward across Bulgaria to junction with the Allied army moving, northward from Salonika, where a great offensive is imminent, according to to-day’s cables. The lopping away of Bulgaria and Turkey, from the Central Powers and the redemption of Serbia are results which may reasonably be expected to .follow the entry of Roumania. into the war. THE CAPTURE OF GORIZIA. You must march like an impetuous overwhelming avalanche, nothing stopping you. Avanti, Italia! This is the command which the brilliant General Cadorna, whose military genius receives the hall-mark as his plan of campaign develops, gave to his gallant Italian troops, who have

delivered a smashing blow at the Austrians by their capture ,of Gorizia. With this important advantage, Italy now ought to make much more rapid progress. The next important object will be Trieste. One of its two railway lines of communication with Vienna, has now been cut, but there is another line running from Fiume to Laibach, with a junction at St. Peter’s, which will doubtless he the next object of attack. . The Italian Navy Is sufficient to prevent supplies arriving by sea. Not only does Italy appear now to be on the high road of attain-

ing- her ambition in the capture of Trieste and the Istrian Peninsula,, but the latest victory of her armies is bound (as the Christchuch Press remarks) to have an important influence on the strategy of the -war. Added to the heavy blows falling on the Austrians in Galicia, it comes at a timemost opportune to the Allies. It is almost certain to have its effect on wavering minds in the Balkans, and may lead to important developments in that region at no distant date. Meanwhile 1 ; the outlook for the Allies is more cheering than at any previous stage of the war, especially in view of the Russian capture of Stanislau for Stanislawow), about 75 miles south of Lemberg. This indicates a wide flank movement which wall, materially assist the northern armies, in their enveloping movements on Lemberg and'Kovel.