The Rumanian Campaign

1916

The German-Bulgar spectacular rush at Tutrakan has, according to a report telegraphed from Athens to the London Daily Mail, been speedily countered by an equally spectacular rush of Russians and Rumanians for Nish, the Serbian capital, after the fall of Belgrade, now in possession of Bulgaria. If the invaders manage to reach the neighborhood of Nish they will achieve a sensation and furnish a service to the Allied Balkan campaign of immense importance — the cutting of the Berlin-Belgrade-Constantinople Railroad.

The Athens despatch reports the Russo-Rumanian troops have already advanced more than ten miles into Serbian territory having occupied Negotin and doubtless pushed on at once. At Negotin the expedition is about seventy to seventy-five miles from the Orient railroad. Allowing for delays to despatches the invaders must have been in Negotin on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

The crossing of the Danube from Roumanian territory was made to Prahavo on the Serbian side, near the river. Prahavo is seven miles from Negotin. The success of this attempt depends entirely on speed and surprise. Doubtless the Rumania staff was aware that this section had been skinned of troops to furnish the Bulgarian rush into Rumania.

The crossing of the Danube unopposed substantiates this belief. The country through which the expedition is moving will afford it every assistance possible, as what inhabitants are there are entirely unfriendly to the Central Powers.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.