The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1915. ROUMANIAN ATTITUDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 3 June 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1915. ROUMANIAN ATTITUDE.

The announcement in yesterday's issue that fifty thousand Roumanians had demonstrated in favor of Italy before the Italian Legation at Bucharest revives the question as to what direction Roumania's policy will take with regard to the war. It was expected that as soon as Italy definitely declared for war that the stories of Roumania's impending intervention would recur. There is no room for doubt that popular opinion in the kingdom is strongly in favor of the Allies, so strongly that eminent Russian statesmen have declared their belief that Roumania must, sooner or later, put an army in the field. The demonstration mentioned above is proof of the sympathy of the people with the course Italy has taken, and it is apparent that the present moment would be singularly opportune for Roumanian intervention. Some little time a«o. General Pan, the right-hand man of the French Gcncralisimo, visited the Russian headquarters to discuss tho military situation, and on his journey to Russia he passed through Athens, Sofia and Bucharest. In the Roumanian capital he was received with marked popular .enthusiasm, but more important than the popular demonstration was the sympathy of his reception in official quarters. It may be presumed that the chief topic of discussion was the prospects of the war, and. incidentally, the desirability of Roumania joining the Allies. Her intervention would complete the northern and eastern blockade of the Teutons, and it needs no military knowledge to appreciate the enormous value to the Allies of an attack on Transylvania. M. Venezolos. in his explanation of the Greek attitude, stated that Roumania made it a condition of intervention that Bulgaria should act simultaneously. That, no doubt, is true, but there is reason to think that the chief question is as to what terms the Allies are prepared to agree to with reference to Roumania's reward for assistance given. Her action cannot accurately be forecasted, but the fact that the people in large numbers are being aroused to enthusiasm may strengthen the hands of the Government and put an end to an hesitation that should no longer exist. Roumania has a large, well-equipped and well-trained

army that would bo particularly valuable just now in turning the Austro<3erman flank, and enabling Russia to concentrate her whole energies upon the enemy along the remainder of her immense line. News from Roumania will be awaited with very great interest during the next few days.