ROUMANIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1915, Page 11 (Supplement)

ROUMANIA.

HER VALUE AS AX ALIA. The news that Roumania is coming in on our side seems too good to be true (writes Sir Joseph C'arruthers in the Sydney Telegraph). Everyone hopes to hear that it is true. What lloumaniu means as a belligerent is move than most men think. She is the seventh Tower in Europe, standing in importance only below the six great Powers, and above the thirteen minor Powers of Europe, There are 7,000,000 Roumanians in Roumania and 300,000 of other races. In Hungary there arc 3,500,000 Roumanians; in Bukowina (Austria) there are 230.000; in Bessarabia (Russia), there are 1,350,000: in Servia 200,000; and in Greece and Bulgaria Xid.OOO. 'o that 5,030,000 Roumanians are in adjacent territory, which constitutes Roumania Irridenta. As a matter of fact, over 3."> per cent, of the population of Transylvania is one long record of subjection of the Roumanian majority to the Magyar minority, who are absolute masters in every way. 'Die great grievance of the Roumanian race is centred in the story of Transylvania, and if Roumania engages in this war it will be mainly with a hope of winning freedom for their fellows in Hungary. Bessarabia is peopled largely by the P»oumanTan race, and Russia robbed the Roumanian crown of this province in 1877 after the two nations had fought as allies against Turkey. The injustice of Bessarabia rankles deep in the souls of the Roumanian people, and when the story of the diplomacy of the war is fully revealed it will be seen that one of the terms that Roumania has stood out for is for a tardy reparation by Russia of the wrong of 1877.

To understand Roumanian sentiment and polities one sshould know a lew main facts. The Roumanian are the descendants of Roman colonists planted in Dac:a—covering modern Transylvania and Ronmania. The Emperor Trajan sent them there as a bulwark of defence against northern enemies. The language of the people is a modernised I Latin—the. nearest approach to the classical language in the world. The people are typically Roman in features, and in many characteristics. For a thousand years they were submerged in the Dark Age of Europe, but have survived, until to-day they exist in their twelve or thirteen millions as a comparatively true-bred race.

When Turkey overran Europe the Roumanians played a magnificent part against the Saracen hordes. Ilunyady Janos, or John Hunyardy, led tlie Hun-garian-Roumanian armies to repeated victories: and Stephen the Great, King of Moldavia (a term including Transylvania, Roumania, and Bessarabia), held tlie Turks at bay from 1457 to 1504. Europe owes more to Roumanians in stopping the Turkish invasions than to any other race, and the debt of Christianity and European civilisation to this 'brave race has never been repaid. In Thrace, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece the Turks exterminated the native aristocracy. They were nnaible to- do this in Roumania. So that Roumania is the only Balkan race or nation which has its old families of feudal chiefs or lords. They have saved the situation once and many times.

The "Boyars" or aristocracy of Roumania are educated, much travelled, wealthy, and intensely patriotic. They are born diplomatists; centuries of struggles for existence have schooled them in the arts of statesmanship and diplomacy. They are not mere intriguers, but are intensely patriotic statesmen. The present population is led by the ''boyars," in whom the real powers of government are vested. The "boyars" are also the landlords.

The Roumanian crops and mine produce form the main source of income, both of Government and people. It will lie found that in coming to terms to participate in the war or otherwise the "boyars" have made stipulations for the sale of their crops to the side that wants their aid.

The late King Charles was a. proAustrian, ami at the onset of the war called a Council of State niul demanded that his army should fight on the side of Austria. 'iTe disclosed a treaty of alliance that he had made binding his kingdom to that course. A vote was taken, and every member of the council voted against the King's proposal. Not satisfied, he look an unofficial plebiscite of his army officers. Result: 110 out of 0000 voted on the King's side, the rest against him. That ended the King's intrigue. At the. onset of the war Roumania was badly equipped with munitions. All her orders hail been placed with German and Austrian linns, and they deliberately failed to complete their contracts. Last December Roumania had a supply for only three months' campaign, ami it would have been madness for her to engage in war under these conditions. To-day she must be better equipped, but undoubtedly will have to rely on the Allies for military supplies to'keep her going.

She can put in the Held an armv of 700,000 men, well trained, disciplined, and equipped. These men come from a fighting stock, and they will be led by the natural and born leaders of the race.. But in addition to that army, which can be recruited and added to, there will be the moral and material influence of nearly 0,000,000 Roumanians on the borders, most of whom are in Austria-Hungary, and who will now become a dangerous element within the enemy's own citadel