RUMANIA IN PERIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 869, 22 November 1916, Page 7

RUMANIA IN PERIL.

ENEMY IN WALLACHIA. THRUST ON CRAIOVA. SITUATION IS GRAVE. | A 011J X.Z. Cahlr AttodaHon and RtvltT. LONDON. November 21. A German communique, issued this evening, slates that Austrians and Germans are approaching Craiova, the capital of Western Wallachia. i | Craiova, the capital of Western Walhu'liin, is Til miles from the Humaniati | Iwiriler :it Orsova. on the Danube. 11 is 1112 miles from Craiova to Bucharest.] SORELY BESET. INTERVENTION BADLY TIMED. Australian end X.Z. Cablt Attorialion. LONDON, November 21. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent slaies that Rumania is sorely beset. It is now apparent that 1 the moment for her intervention was 'chosen with a complete disregard to strategic needs. The Rumanian Army might have been used with decisive effect if it had been employed at the right mojinent, but intervention was positively ■ perilous in August, lillti, when the* Germanic armies were still intact, and their reserves in a position from I which the German commanders were | able to organise the invasion of Rumania while still holding up the Brit- , ish, French, and Russian armies. This meant the adoption of rear- ; guard tactics on a gigantic scale. Hither (he Entente's General-Staffs ■ lacked a single directing brain, says I the correspondent, or there was a want of candour between the Allied I Cabinets. THE SOURCE OF DANGER. GERMANS ATTACK PASSES. LONDON, November 21. The conditions in the Carpathians struggle do not admit of full defensive preparations, as deep ravines and dense forests cover the approach of the attacking columns. The Germans are able to choose their points of attack, and General yon Falkenhayn is perpetually seeking to turn the Rumanian defences by outflanking manoeuvres. As the frontier is of immense length he is able to throw his weight against any one of the six passes. Fortunately General Avarescu is one of the best generals of the Entente, and continues to hold up General von Falkenhayn's main attack in the Prahova Valley, which aims at the priceless oilfields. If the Germans succeed in debouching upon the -. j Wallachia plain, then Bucharest will be found to be a strongly fortified ! centre. There is a formidable sysj fem of defence in Moldavia.