The Sun THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1916. THE FALL OF BUCHAREST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 882, 7 December 1916, Page 6

The Sun THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1916. THE FALL OF BUCHAREST.

The Rumanian resistance in defence or Buchareshhas broken down and the invaders have entered the capital. Once von Falkenhayn forced the Wallachian passes, and von Maekensen, after penning the Russo-Rumanians north of the Cernavoda-Constanza line, threw large bodies of men across the Danube, it was apparent that nothing but a miracle could save the capital. In the last three weeks the enemy forces have made astonishing progress, and when the Rumanians failed to stem the tide at the Alt River, and, later, Pitesci fell, the situation so far as Bucharest was concerned was hopeless. If the Rumanian forces have escaped absolute disaster, their next line of defence should be along a front extending from the Buzeu to Bazau to the western end of the Cernavoda bridge. This will mean the relinquishment of more than half of the kingdom to the e.iemy, with all the grain, oil, and cattle it contains,but better that than thatthe Rumanian armies should be eliminated as a fighting force. Germany is entitled to exult over her success against a country which she considered had acted treacherously to wards her and her ally, Austria. Tin victory is achieved at a time wher German hopes required a stimuli!.' and German larders substantial additions to their stocks, while th> thought that at last Rumania ha; been visited with righteous judgment will add zest to the perform ance of von Maekensen. The whole business is somewhat of a tragedy It must tend to prolong the war, am unless Russia can prevent her allj from being absolutely crushed, i 1 means that von Maekensen, once through with Rumania, will be free either to go straight ahead 01 to turn his attention south to where Ihe Allies are advancing slowly ir Macedonia. It is distinctly to Rus sia's interests to help maintain, say Moldavia inviolate, because bchinc Moldavia is Bessarabia, Odessa, am the Black Sea. An enemy irruplioi into Bessarabia would turn Brussi loff's left (lank and probably forci a withdrawal from Bukowina, am Ihus remove the menace to Lemberg But there is no need to anticipat such grave consequences as thes while the Russians are able to lhro\ their weight into the Rumania] struggle, as they will be in the even el' the Rumanians falling back on t the Buzeu-Cernavoda line. Behini this line the communications ar good, while such a front would ante matically link up with the Russia offensive now being pushed in th hills on the Moldavian frontier. 3 the retiring Rumanians can maintai

their chief dispositions intact they should he ahle, with the aid afforded by Russia, to settle down and defeat von Maekensen's purpose of over-j running the whole country. That is; the best we can hope for at present.. The effect of the capture of Bu-I charest should be particularly noticeable in Greece, and it will only be in the nature of things if Constantine is encouraged to continue his underhand practices on a more impressive scale. It is extremely probable that had the Rumanians managed to keep the Austro-Germans out of Wallachia we should have had a difI ferent Constantine altogether. He 'has been impressed by the demonstration of Germany's strength and influence, and the fall of Bucharest I should confirm him in his impudent attitude toward the Allies in Greece. ITS. would be futile at this stage to | dwell at length on the causes which |led to the tragedy in Rumania, and ;it is to he hoped that there will be Jas little recrimination as possible

among the Allies over the matter. Had Rumania been prepared in a modern sense for the responsibilities she undertook in her own good lime, there would have been no invasion by the enemy. But, with her artillery and general munilionment woefully weak and inadequate, she was no malch for such an antagonist as Germany, and von Hind'-nburg made no mistake when, noting these delicieneies, and noting, too, Rumania's isolation from all the Entente Powers hut Russia, he organised a special effort against this little kingdom. But the capture of Bucharest brings Germany no nearer to recovering the military advantages she has lost in the past six months, unless, of course the subjection of Rumania and the invasion of South-west Russia fol-

lowed. This latest success will give f cheer to the Central Powers and their Balkan allies, and will assuredly make the task of the Grand Alliance more difficult, but at present that is as much as can be said for it.