NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17288, 2 October 1916, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

The Austro-Germans claim' to have inflicted a sharp defeat on the Rumanians in the Hermannstadt region, and to have punished the Rumanian rearguard severely during tho subsequent retreat to the Roto Turm Pass. There is no reason to doubt that the Rumanians were compelled to fall back befcre superior forces, but if the campaign lias- followed the normal and obvious course.the Rumanians should not havo suffered a serious defeat. When Rumania declared war on Austria-Hun-gary the Austrian frontier guards woro rapidly withdrawn towards the Maros valley, the enemy's policy being, of course, to shorten the front drastically and to fight only delaying actions, covering the concentration of an army for the defenco of Transylvania. The line on which tho enemy was expected to retire ran from the Borgo Pass in the north id Hermannstadt, but as the Rumanian strength was not fully revealed and as the enemy's forces in Transylvania were weak, Hermannstadt was abandoned for the time being, and the Rumanians entered into occupation. It then appeared that the Austrian lino of defence might bo as far back from the frontier as tho valley of, the Maros, but as so extensive a retreat would have allowed the Rumanians to invade tho Banat on a wide front it could scarcely bo supposed that the enemy would remain on the defensive and allow tho Rumanians to develop an advance in force.

In these circumstances it was doubtful whether tho Rumanians would remain in possession of Hermannstadt, particularly in view of the fact that ffon Mackensen had a Bulgar-Gorman army in the Dobrudja, threatening the dhernavoda-Constanza railway. This southern offensivo by tho enemy meant that the Rumanians could not put their full strength into tho campaign in Transylvania, in the earlier stages of the war, so that the occupation of advanced positions beyond tho frontier involved some danger. Moreover, the Rumanian plan of campaign, according to well-informed critics, did not contemplate a largo invasion of Transylvania, the intention being to secure the frontier passes and -to* develop tho advance in the north, through the Bukpwina, and in the west, into tho Banat. One may doubt, therefore, whether the force at Hermannstadt was more than tho advanced guard of tho First Army, or, rather, of the centre of the army, for the wings would be operating in the Brasso district and rtorth of the Vulkan Pass. Tho retreat of the Rumanians to positions north of the Rote Turm Pass is not surprising, but it would be disquieting to be told that any considerable force had been in the Szeben valley.

Hermaunstadt is readily accessible to .the enemy, three railways converging there, and at least three good roads, .while the Rumanians were dependent on, the single road over the Rote Turm Pass. This road from the south is the famous highway constructed by Trajan, Or at least named after him, to facilitate the military occupation of Dacia. It was in the first decade of the second century that Dacia was converted into a Roman province, and the Rumanians who inhabit Wallachia and Moldavia and Transylvania are proud to regard themselves as the descendants of Trajan's military colonists. The Romans were great road-builders, and. wjhilo Trajan's road over tho Rote Turm is the;.most ..famous in this region, there are* still to be found in Transylvania .portions of' highways constructed during the Roman occupation. The old native-capital of Dacia was to the north of the Vulkan Pass, and the Roman roads included one from this point into tho Maros valley, and another from the, Maros valley to the Alt valley.

Nothing has been heard recently of the Russo-Rumanian operations around Dorna Vatra,- or of tho Russian operations Oil the border of tho Bukowina further north. Jiut the Rumanians are 'making good. progress from the western frontier of Moldavia, and tho enemy's communiques show that they aro in contact with tho Austrians in the Gorgeny Mountains. The first barrier to be overcome by the Rumanians on this front consisted ..of the Gyergyo range, flanking the valley of the upper Maros, but the upper Alt and the upper Maros were soon held by the invaders, and a few days ago it was reported. that they uad occupied Szokely Udyarholy, in the Kulkullo valley. They aro therefore nearly fifty miles from their own frontier, and they have reached tho obvious limit of the enemy's voluntary retreat. All the important valleys of central Transylvania have railways, so that the advantage is manifestly with tho enemy, who can concentrate his forces rapidly and maintain them without difficulty, whereas the Rumanians must depend on road transport, and will be able to operate only in comparatively small columns. Later on, when the situation in the south-east is moro secure, tho Rumanians may be able to organise the invasion and occupation of Transylvania on an adequate scalo, but it would be unwise to assume that the great progress they havo made so easily during the past few weeks can bo maintained.

the operations during the last day or two was to be expected- It commonly takes about a week to shift tho heavy guns to new positions, to organise fresh lines 'of entrenchment and to carry o,ut tho hundred and one .alterations occasioned by an advance, and then time is occupied in relieving divisions that have been in the thick of tho fighting Hitherto British and French have attacked alternately and there have been no very marked pauses in tho operations, except, of course, during August, when tho results of the July offensive had to bo thoroughly consolidated. But the last big attack was made by British and French in co-operation, and consequently there may be a more appreciable pause. But it is hardly likely that the Allies will rest on what they have achieved, because only a few weeks of tolerable weather are left for this season.

In spite of the adverse conditions, which seem to have rendered observation from tho air very difficult, there havo been one or-two minor affairs on the British front. The positional fighting north of Thiepval is proceeding. On- Friday tho fighting was exceptionally severe, tho Germans couiitcr-attncking hotly. Progress is being made towards le Sars and as the British are closing on Eaucourt l'Abbaye, which is less than a ■mile from le gars, it is to be presumed that they are near the larger village. Tho French, too, have advanced a little north-west of Combles, between Morval and Fregicourt, and north oi Rancourt, but the sum of all these littlo actions docs not amount to a great deal. Their purpose is simply the local improvement of the now front.