THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17263, 2 September 1916, Page 8

THE CAMPAIGNS.

Beyond the abandonment of Brasso and tho territory between tho upper Alt and tho frontier, already announced by tho Austrians, no development of importance is reported from tho Rumanian theatre. Various corrospondents < aro anticipating a speedy Rumanian sweep through Transylvania, but there is notiling in the current news to warrant the assumption that the Austrians and Hungarians are abandoning the province without a light. It is quite possible that the enemy’s plan is to establish himself on a short front from Borgo Pass to tho Roteturm, but there is no immediate reason why he should abandon the upper Maros and the. Alt as an advanced line of defence, and there is every reason why such an advanced line should bo held to cover tho ccncentration on. the main front. Tho Rumanian campaign will demand at least ten divisions for the defence of Hungary now, and as' the campaign progresses a stronger army is likely to bo needed, so that the Central Powers may have to carry out a drastic rearrangement of their forces. Air Warner Allen, tho official British representative, at tho French! headquarters, states that nine German divisions have been sent from Franco to Russia, and Bd tho defensive force for Hungary would necessarily have to be provided from tho eastern theatre there is nothing improbftlo in the story that the* deficiency is being made good by transfers from the western front. It would be consistent with the methods of tho Central Powers if they -were now to resort to strictly defensive warfare on tho western and Italian fronts, in order to concentrate their energies on Rumania. They would be prepared oven to concede ground in Franco if tho weakening of tho western front would permit them to paralyse the Rumanians for the rest of this season. Hie period available for largo movements is brief, for by the end of Ibis month tho weather may bo unfavourable in tho Carpathians, and tho end of October will soo the cessation of big attacks on the Russian front. If by an horoic effort tho enemy could prevent a Russian offensive, or if he could inflict heavy losses on the Rumanians the position would be secure for tho winter, and during the pause there would be ample time to perfect plans- for nest spring. The obvious German plan would be to beat th© Russians back from the Bukovina and to drive a wedge between Russians and Rumanians, but tho enterprise would have to bo undertaken on a great scale if it aimed at preventing the co-operation of the neighbours. The whole position is calculated to test the strength of the Central Empires. Von Hindenburg is likely to cling to the Prussian tradition, and wo should expect him to meet tho Rumanian intervention by an'’ attompt to repeat tho operation of last year in tho eastern theatre, but whatever force he may bo able to concentrate in the east now, the time left to him is too short for a really great thrust, and tho need is too urgent to permit delay. We are opening up a question rather too large to be elaborated just now, but wo cannot afford at such'a crisis to ignore tho broader aspects of the rival strategies.

The actual operations call for some comment. An official statement from Bucharest confirms the report that largo Russian forces are moving from the Danube through the .Dobrudja to the Bulgarian frontier, though as yet wo have no positive endorsement of Router’s message that Bulgaria had declared war on Rumania. Unofficially it is stated that tho Bulgarians are preparing to withdraw from Macedonia, but this may apply only to the right wing, for tho Bulgars will naturally be anxious primarily to defend their own frontier, and a shorter front may be necessary, in view of the double attack that they have to meet. In tho western theatre there have been minor in the Somme region, and the British aro threatening an attack between Arras and Armentieres. Heavy artillery fighting has commenced on the Dvina, and movements are in progress on the Stokhod.