The New York Times/1916/11/22/Craiova Taken by Falkenhayn
CRAIOVA TAKEN BY FALKENHAYN
Swift Success of Teutons Puts Rumanian Army in Wallachia in a Critical Position.
ORSOVA NOW IN DANGER
London Also Fears That Mackensen May Join Forces with Invaders Across the Danube.
LONDON, Nov. 22.—The Occupation of the Rumanian town of Craiova was reported by the German Official Headquarters bulletin last night.
This has not yet been confirmed from the Entente side, but the fact that no Rumanian official report has been issued since Sunday leaves little reason to doubt its correctness.
The official reports from both German and Russian Headquarters the last two days had prepared the public for this news of the success of the Central Powers’ thrust at Rumania, but it had been hoped that Russia, which was known to be sending reinforcements into Rumania as fast as possible, might be in time to avert the blow. According to information in Rumanian quarters in London, the Entente Allies had made provisions so that the huge stores of grain in Craiova should not fall into enemy hands.
Craiova is in the centre of a great grain district on the edge of the Wallachian Plain, and is an important railway junction. Its possession by the Central Powers cuts the railway communications of the Rumanian armies holding the Orsova region to the west. As the lines from Tirgujiuliz, south of the Vulcan Pass, and from the Danube frontier, opposite Vidin, pass through Craiova, the position of the Rumanian forces in Orsova is now extremely critical, and they may be compelled to evacuate the Orsova region, the holding of which has up to the present barred the Teutonic Allies from the use of the Danube.
The swiftness with which von Falkenhayn struck his blow has caused surprise here, as today’s Russian official communication reports the Rumanian retreat as having only reached Filliash, about twenty miles northwest of Craiova.
Some anxiety is felt that nothing has been heard of the German Field Marshal von Mackensen’s operations in Dobrudja for some time, and it is suggested that his recent retreat may have been a deliberate move to conceal the assemblage of big forces for a possible crossing of the Danube opposite to where General von Falkenhayn is fighting, in which case he might be expected to be heard of at Nikipoli or further west at Rahova.
The London morning papers show no disposition to underestimate the gravity of the situation in Rumania.
The Daily Chronicle says:
“More alarming than the fall of Craiova is the speed with which it was reached and captured. This points to an out-manoeuvring of the western Rumanian defensive under which the latter temporarily and locally has suffered complete collapse. It is scarcely likely that the Allies can prevent the southwestern corner of Wallachia from passing under German control.
The Daily News says:
“It seems certain that Western Wallachia is lost for the time being. Orsova, if garrisoned, may hold out for a long time, but the fate of isolated fortresses when attacked with modern artillery has not been encouraging in this war. Fortunately the chances of assistance from Field Marshal von Mackensen have been diminished by the fall of Monastir, and the allied activities thereabout must prove the greatest embarressment to the enemy, already hard pressed for men.”
A Petrograd dispatch to The Daily News says:
“The German advance at the worst only allow him to occupy a narrow strip of Western Rumania. An advance thence in an easterly direction would be most difficult as Rumania is intersected by hundreds of mountain streams.”
Following is the text of the Russian War Office report issued yesterday:
Rumanian front: In Transylvania, in the Alt Valley, the enemy continued under his attacks with the usual force. Under pressure of the enemy the Rumanian troops are retiring slowly southward.
In the Jiul Valley the Rumanians, under the pressure of superior enemy forces, retired to the region of Filliash.
Danube front, (Dobrudja:) The situation is unchanged.
BERLIN, Nov. 21, (by Wireless to Sayville.)—The capture of Craiova, in Western Wallachia, by German troops was announced by the War Office in an official statement this evening.
The following official communication was issued earlier in the day:
Eastern Transylvania: Only minor fighting took place.
German and Austro-Hungarian troops north of Campulung repulsed several Russian night attacks.
On the Alt River some important towns and intrenched heights were captured by us from the Rumanians in severe struggles.
Our infantry stands before Craiova, which until now has been the seat of the chief command of the first Rumanian army.
Front of Field Marshal von Mackensen: Nothing important occurred with the exception of artillery engagements. Constanza and Cernavoda were shelled.
Our air squadrons bombarded a transportation establishment near Bucharest.