The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1916. THE CAPTURE OF ORSOVA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1916. THE CAPTURE OF ORSOVA.

It is probable that the news of the occupation of Orsova did not convey any special meaning to the majority of the overseas people, beyond the fact t'hat it was a success for the Allies. The capture, however, was of great importance, as the strategical possibilities opened' up by the occupation of Orsova are said to be very great, especially in connection with the reported capture of Negotin and the threatening movement on Widin. Orsova stands at the extreme north-eastern point- of Serbia, and, as the cable pointed out, the Danube there runs through a narrow, rock defile only 180 yards wide. Widin, which is reported to be threatened, is about 50 miles south-east of Orsova, though the windings of the river between the two .points render the distance much longer measured by the Danube. At Widin the river is about 800 yards wide. Negotin lies about midway between Orsova and Widin. The stretch of river between these two towns is the narrowest part of the whole length of river exposed to attack by the Roumanians. Nearer to the 'Dobrudja it is about a mile wide, and tlie country in that neighborhood is peculiarly favorable to a surprise attack, on both banks of the river there being vast regions of thickly-wooded heights. A railway leads from Bucharest to ICalafat, opposite Widin, and another leads to Orsova. It would 'be an easy matter to assemble a large army in the woods at any point between the t'Wo towns named quite unpcrceived by the enemy. Preparations for the cross-' ing could be completed behind the numerous islands in the river. It is impossible for the enemy to guard in adequate strength the whole vast 'ine of the river. When the timo was ripe a crossing could easily be forced in face of the few Bulgarian troops immediately on the spot, under cover of a mass of artillery and the fire of the river monitors. Numerous pontoon bridges could t'hen be swung across the river and made secure, and in a few 'hours, long before the enemy could rush adequate reinforcements to that spot, a large army could be passed over to the Bulgarian shore. In commenting on the advantages of securing these important positions, a .particularly wellinformed writer in the Dunedin. Star states that to grasp the consequences, it is necessary to bear two tilings in mind: the main Bulgarian concentration on the Dobrudja front is 200 miles away; while [ the Roumanian army crossing at Negotin and Widin would be only a little more t'han 00 miles from Nish, on the trunk line from Berlin to Constantinople, and only about 90 miles in a direct line from Sofia, the. Bulgarian capital. Not only would the communications between the Germans and the Balkans be swiftly cut, but the whole Bulgarian scheme of defence would be crumpled up at a stroke. They would be compelled, at once to weaken or abandon their defence of the Dobrudja frontier, and that would let in . the Russians. Bulgaria is hopelessly doomed in any case. The Allies have too many strings to their bow. The Dodrudja line alone is too long to be I successfully defended, even wit'li Marshal von Mackensen in command, while it i may be turned at any time by a surprise crossing of the river. It i 3 probably true that large bodies of Turkish troops are assisting Bulgaria on the Dobrudja front, as the forcing >f tlie front will mean the fall of Constantinople; 'but Turkey has not sufficient troops to seriously affect the Situation. It will be seen by the above review of the position how vitally the operations in the Bal"kans affect the general plans of the Allies for achieving the complete defeat of the enemy on all fronts. To-day's cables state that as the result of the Roumanian occupation . of Orsova the Austrian river fleet ; i; unable to assist or communicate with the Austrian units below Orsova. The Danube, from Siiistria to the Blade Sea, is free to Roumanian navigation. It is further stated that this new operation of the RussoRoumaniaus in Dobrudja and the northern borders of Bulgaria will nullify the Bulgarian small advantage. This -has already been forecasted and will cause no surprise, but the .progress of the Allies emphasises the that the -whole

course of the German offensive, from tlie hour Wncu they crossed the Meuse until to-day, when they are being pounded to pieces on the tallica of t'he tSomme, is thickly strewed with unrealised predictions and baffled hopes, while their unfortunate coadjutors are being sent to their doom.