The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1916. ROUMANIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1916. ROUMANIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

j-aere is something almost pathetic in the position which Roumania has taken up in connection with the war. However strong her inclinations may have been to side with the (Russians, she could not ignore the fact that if she entered the lists against the Central Powers, whether they were victorious or not, she would stand the risk of being overrun and her territory probably laid waste. This was no illusion conjured up to justify a policy of neutrality, but a stubborn fact that was emphasised by the massing of hundreds of thousands of Austro-Gennan-troops on the Roumanain frontier, ready and willing- to strike if only the opportunity offered—and more than likely to seize that opportunity at will. Roumania, in her wisdom, awaited the trend of events, with the object of avoiding invasion and its terrors. Such a policy may ha considered weak, but it had the elements of safety until conditions were materi-, ally altered. The mighty onslaught of the Russians and their important successes has placed the situation of Roumania in a new light for the time being, and, we hope, for all time. The river Pruth runs across the northern part of Bukowina, trending slightly to the south as it approaches the Roumanian frontier. Czernowitz stands on this river, ten miles from the Roumanian frontier, and Czernowitz has fallen to the Russians. More is at stake than the fate of that town, and the loss or retention by the enemy of his line extending to the Roumanian frontier, for apart from the enveloping movement now in progi'es for crushing the enemy, there is the Allies' campaign in the Balkans to be considered, will have a most important bearing on the issue of the war. Roumania has stated her intention of moving when the proper time arrived, meaning thereby that she intended, if possible, to avoid the fate of Belgium and Serbia. It may be taken for grant- ! ed that if she ever contemplated the ' possibility of joining the Central il'owers she would have made the plunge long since, and it is equally patent that she i is well aware that hei safety and integrity can best be secured by co- i operating with the Allies. Only one as- i suranee was needed by Roumania, and 1 that was the complete removal of all

danger of attack by the Central Powers. Had she declared her intention oi casting in her lot with the Allies when the 'Russians first advanced into Bulcowina and G'alicia, only to be driven buck to their own territory, it is easy to picture what would have happened when the Teutonic vengeance overtook her. Roumania has waited patiently for the turn of the tide, and it is only reasonable to expect that as soon as she is convinced that the Russians can hold what they have taken she will move side by side with the Allies. Roumania holds the key to the eastern position, and h'er advent into the ranks of the Allies would now be of the utmost service. With twenty divisions of highly clTective men, and another thirty divisions of reserves belonging to her Balkan neighbor, operating on the Trausylvanian border, Austria would at once cease to be of any useful assistance in withstanding the Russian advance towards Silesia. Germany knows .this, ami probably fears it. It has been stated that Russia some time since signed an agreement permitting the passage of war material to Roumania, and offering that country a portion of Bessarabia. The co-operation of Roumania means that Austria ivould be compelled to hold another four hundred miles of front; that Russia and Roumania would forthwith combine to put Bulgaria out of action, and that communication between the Central Powers and Constantinople would cease in a very short space of time. All that Roumania needs to induce her to join the Allies is the conviction that thi

Allies must win. unce satished on tnat point there need be 110 fear of lier remaining neutral any longer, and the one great factor in this connection is tlie

marvellous success of the Russians, who are proving beyond all question that they are now able to deliver crushing blows 011 the enemy with comparative ease. Boumania's opportunity has arrived, and on her entry into the war the whole Balkan position will wear a new and favorable aspect, tlu> subjugation of Bulgaria becoming a mere incident, and the duration of the war materially shortened.