“TIMES” CRITIC HOPEFUL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4406, 25 November 1916, Page 5

“TIMES” CRITIC HOPEFUL.

ARMIES CAN ESCAPE INTACT

(“The Times.")

(Received November 24, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. Colonel Repington thinks the situation in Roumania is less black than appears. Tile Orsova army, he thinks, the Vulcan Passes have not been will probably escape to the east and forced; therefore there is no reason why tlie western armies should not retreat without being broken. ■

GERMANS’ RISKY MOVE.

THE LESSON OF VON KLUCK

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn-) (Received Nov. 25. 1.30 a.m.) PARIS, Nov. 24. M. Biclou, military critic of the “Journal des Dobats,” compares General Falkenhayn's advance on Crajova with von KluclUs movement- towards Paris, and points out that the Germans, not having sufficient men. are leaving a blank between the armies thus exposed.to Allied attack.

The peculiar geographical situation of Roumania has the effect of placing that country in contact with its enemies along a particularly extensive front, approximately 500 miles on the side of Austria-Hungary and 450 miles on the side of Bulgaria. For this reason a suitable offensive can only be based on natural obstacles, such as the Carpathians on the Transylvanian border and the Danube on the side of the Bulgarians. On the Austrian front the Roumanian General Staff has built fortifications all along the passes of the Carpathian mountains. On the southern front the Roumanian General Staff has organised different bridgeheads in the interior of the country on the left hank of the Danube at accessible points, where it may be deemed advisable to build bridges for the passage of troops. With regard to the Dobrudja, that province having no natural obstacle on the south, lines of fortication of a semipermanent character have been constructed in the interior of the province. In addition, bridgeheads have been constructed at Tut-rakan, Silistria, etc., at a distance from each other of some 20 miles or so. The different bridgeheads on the left bank of the Danube have a defensive character, and enable a small number of troops to prevent the passage of the Danube by enemy forces. The bridgeheads on the right bank of the Danube are designed to facilitate mobilisation and concentration in the sector on the Dobrudja of a great mass of tropos for the invasion of Bulgaria- In conjunction with the lines for fortification between the Danube and the Black Sea, they allow time for the arrival in the Dobrudja of Russian troops from Bessarabia and their concentration on a base of operations.