RUMANIA'S THRUST AT TRANSYLVANIA.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13659, 30 August 1916, Page 2

RUMANIA'S THRUST AT TRANSYLVANIA.

Germany takes scant consolation from* the fact that the mountain high roads from Rumania into Hungary present immense difficulties to her Ally's new foe. It is safe to say, however, that the Southern Carpathians will soon be one of the important battle (fronts, Hungary is guarded by a natural barrier composed of the encircling ring of mountain ranges from north of Pressburg, along/the southern boundary of Galicia and the western, boundaries of the Bukowina and Rumania to the Iron Gates on the Serbian frontier—the last defile through which the Danube, on its 600-miles course from Pressbiirg to Orsova, flows eastward to the sea, Tt is certain, however, that whoever attacks Hungary from the east and south-east must first pass the mighty mountain wall. After that she lies for the most part a ilat and fertile plain at her conqueror's feet. But the obstacle is a gigantic one, At the western extremity the great semi-circle begins on the Daunbian 'plain near Pressburg, and the Western Carpathians swing up towards .the north-east. Then come Hie Tatra, the Central Carpathians, which will be found due south of Cracow. Following the semi-circle round, we come to the long stretch of the Eastern Carpathians, which divide Galicia and the RnkoViM from Hungary. Next i« the Transylvanian highland, a quadrilateral lying within the arm of the semi-circle .running across the frontier of Rumania and reaching right to the Danube. The whole of Transylvania is a highland—not a-plateau, for there is nothing level but the river 'bottoms—which, oil its western, or Hungarian side, slopes gently to the interior and has easy passes, but on its eastern and southern frontiers, facing Rumania, lias huge mountain walls, which give it the appearance of a tremendous natural fortress, and render very difficult an approach from Rumania. Here is the highest par! of the system, and it closely resembles the Tatra in its bold peaks and beautiful scenery, Lastly come the Sretonye mountains, which extend to the Danube, and, together with the Mirocli Mountains on the right, or Balkan bank, form the historic gorge of the Iron Gates, near Orsova. The Western and Central Carpathians are much more accessible from the north and east than are the Eastern Carpathians'and the Trahsylyanian Alps. Here the Carpathians present their steepest aspect to Rumania, The most, northerly passes are. the Rodna and Borgo, at the south-western corner of the Bukowina. Then come the Torgyes and the Bckas, close together. In the southern wall the Predeal pass is south of Brasso (or Kronstadt), on the railway line from Bukarest, Next on the south is the famous Rothenturni, or Red Tower pass, through the narrow gorge of the Aluta, where, ruiis the railway from Bukarest to NagySzeben (or Ilermannstadt). Here, according to this morning's messages, hostilities have already commenced. Lastly, there are the Yulkan, Teregova,! and Iron Gate passes. The latter is ; by the Danube, and lets through the railway from Craiova, in Romania, to Temesvar and Budapest, ft is not" unlikely, however, that Rumania will choose an easier route to the. plains of Hungary ami may move Westward ,along the frontier of Serbia and cut the Berlin to Constantinople fttilway at Belgrade, thus isolating Bulgaria and the enemy troops in the Balkans. In any .case, with AustriaHungary hard pressed, Rumania's cutty will cause the Auslro-German Gene-ral-Staff some pretty hard thinking.