100 років тому - Румунія
RUSSIAN ARTILLERY
PEASANTS IN A MARKET TOWN OF THE DOBRUDJA
AUSTRIAN DONKEY CONVOY IN ' THE CARPATHIANS
RUMANIAN CONVOY IN BUKAREST SHORTLY BEFORE ITS CAPTURE
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-nurses-in-the-dobrudja-s3mwpk0gc
British nurses in the Dobrudja
Sometimes when we arrive at the hospital and the wounded are carried out, it is found that many are dead, and often the stretcher, the ambulance, and the men are entirely covered with blood.
November 21, 1916
Thrilling adventures in the Rumanian retreat in the Dobrudja are narrated by Miss Monfries, who has been serving as motor-driver and interpreter with the London unit (LSWS) of the Scottish Women’s Hospital in the Balkans, and is at present home on leave.
When the retreat began on October 22 some members of the unit were working at an advanced point, and they fell back to the hospital at Medgidia. Thirty-six hours later orders were received to evacuate the hospital. Equipment, which had taken six days to unpack, had to be packed in four hours, and in addition wounded soldiers who kept pouring in, had to receive attention. While the work was in progress news came that the line might after all be held, and the evacuation was then postponed. When a renewed order for speedy departure arrived the staff decided to chance things and to hang on during the night, but shells were falling and eventually they had to go.
Between the time of being told to pack up and the actual departure 350 wounded men were received and dealt with. Sixty bullock carts had been promised to transport the hospital equipment, but only five arrived and it was with difficulty that a few additional carts were obtained. By making several journeys, the unit got its material to the station, but by this time all the civilians and the Rumanian and Russian Headquarters Staff had gone, and Medgidia was in flames.
The journey to Tchernavoda had to be made in trucks, which also carried wounded, who had only had a first field dressing of their injuries. No food was to be had on the journey, and the party were without anything to eat for 36 hours. Two nights and the greater part of another day were occupied in covering a distance which normally takes five hours. Bombs fell near the railway during the journey and all the villages were burning.
The capture of the train several times appeared certain, but eventually the people got through safely. Shorty after Tchernavoda had been reached the train started without warning to cross the Danube bridge. The approach of two hostile aeroplanes had been observed and apparently the bridge was the objective of the airmen. The train crossed without disaster, but bombs were dropped all around and two slightly damaged the bridge.
Miss Monfries and her companions afterwards got through to Galats and finally to Odessa. A section of the unit which travelled by road was five days and five nights in completing the journey The road was narrow, deep in mud, and crowded with refugees and their farm stock The unit is now at Odessa refitting, and funds are required to renew the equipment. Before the retreat Miss Monfries was in Bukarest and Constanza.
AMBULANCE WORK WITH RUMANIANS. A woman motor driver on the Rumanian front writes: Yesterday --- and I went to a town 30 miles away, drove the ambulance there, and were caught in an air raid - a few casualties and several dead horses. Today we had some time off, so were given two horses by Serbian officers and went for a long gallop astride. We have discarded skirts and live in riding breeches, blouse, tunic, boots, and putties; no hat and short hair is so comfortable.
It is wonderful how calmly everyone takes the fighting. Sometimes when we arrive at the hospital and the wounded are carried out, it is found that many are dead, and often the stretcher, the ambulance, and the men are entirely covered with blood. The awful part is to have to listen to the groans behind you every time the car bumps, and the ground is so bad, always great holes in the road. We drive very slowly, but still there are some jars. Often we know that haemorrhage starts after we leave the dressing station, but we must not stop - just get on as quickly as possible to our hospital.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bukarest-and-after-cg5fml6qs
Bukarest and After
Bukarest did not fall in the technical sense. The city was evacuated in good order by the Rumanian troops, with Russian forces steadfastly guarding their left flank.
December 8, 1916
A German newspaper has sapiently remarked that “in spite of the fall of Bukarest the war will last a long time.” The observation might have been expressed differently, for the correct interpretation of the events leading up to the fall of Bukarest is that they have furnished the Austro-Germans with fresh sources of supply. They are thus enabled to prolong their resistance and to postpone the still inevitable end.
We notice numerous other indications in the German Press which show that our principal adversaries are disposed to recognize the very definite limitations of their triumph in Rumania. The tendencies of their comments are not surprising. When we have dwelt fully upon the sorrow felt by all the Allies at the temporary occupation of the Rumanian capital, the fact remains that the successes of the enemy north of the Danube are anything but unqualified. Bukarest did not fall in the technical sense. The city was evacuated in good order by the Rumanian troops, with Russian forces steadfastly guarding their left flank. The Rumanian armies have withdrawn towards Moldavia, but the bulk of them are still intact, as are also the very strong Russian units.
There was much heavy fighting, but the defenders of Rumania have avoided definite defeat on a large scale, and have still to be reckoned with. They are moving towards a part of the country where they can offer a far more effective resistance if they are still followed. The region around Galatz, for example, contains formidable prepared defensive positions. Meanwhile we should recognize the heroism of the sorely-tried Rumanian forces and of the Russians who have fought by their side. It is not difficult to understand why German commentators discuss the Rumanian campaign in a chastened spirit. They know full well the truth about the internal condition of Germany, and they know that it can never be adequately ameliorated from the Danube.
Germany has won Bukarest for the time being, only to realize that she has not found salvation. The available food supplies in Rumania are limited, and even enemy reports acknowledge that much of them has been destroyed. The oilfields are a gain, but oil will not feed the troops or the pinched civil population of Germany. The Germans boast that they have greatly shortened their line across Rumania, but they must be conscious that the latest of their campaigns has imposed a severe strain upon their diminishing resources in men and material. They have gained a great advertisement, they have found means to fight some time longer, but they are no nearer the victory they seek. Around the countries of Central Europe the Allied nations are ranged, armed and aggressive, determined to fight on unceasingly, and as confident as ever in the ultimate outcome of their efforts.
When the spectacular side of the invasion of Rumania ceases to impress, it will be found that Germany has obtained a success which contains many flaws, and possibly introduces fresh elements of weakness. The regret of the Allies at the course of the Rumanian campaign must remain unabated, but it presents no reason for despondency, and in that spirit we should now regard it.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rapid-retreat-in-rumania-vtjm39cjt
Rapid retreat in Rumania
The Germans on Saturday and yesterday claimed to have captured 3,150 prisoners and much railway material.
December 18, 1916
Marshal von Mackensen’s two armies, now moving rapidly forward in eastern Rumania, are approaching Braila, the headquarters of the grain trade. This important Danube port, the last place of any consequence in Wallachia still remaining to our Allies, is without natural defences, being situated on the edge of a level plain and south of the fortified Sereth line, where it is suggested that our Allies will make a serious stand. At present tho enemy is about 20 or 30 miles from Braila, and is in contact, with the Russian cavalry, which have inflicted temporary check on him at various points.
The Germans on Saturday and yesterday claimed to have captured 3,150 prisoners and much railway material.
The retreat, has necessitated the abandonment of the positions held by the Russians in the Dobrudja, otherwise their right would have been exposed at Harsova, where the bridgehead on the opposite side of the Danube must now have been seized by the enemy. The Bulgarian, Turkish, and German troops who were opposing General Sakharoff have followed him nearly as far as the hilly country in northern Dobrudja which was successfully held in the autumn. Here, the German communique intimates, resistance is expected.
OFFICIAL REPORTS. 3,150 PRISONERS CLAIMED.
Russian reports:
SATURDAY. With a view to the destruction of mills supplying the Bulgarian Army with flour, our vessels successfully bombarded the port of Baltchik [in the extreme southern part of the Dobrudja captured by the enemy] on December 13. We were bombarded in turn by the shore batteries, and attacked by seaplanes and a submarine, but the enemy gained no result.
SUNDAY. In the course of yesterday the enemy, continuing to follow up our retiring troops, attempted to attack in the region of the Buzeu-Rimnic-Sarat road and railway line and in the region of Batogu, south of the station of Filipesti [which is on the Buzeu-Braila railway].
In the former direction our cavalry twice rushed to attack the enemy cavalry which, however, did not accept battle and retired behind his infantry. in the region of Batogu [which is nine miles S. of the Buzou-Braila railway] enemy attacks were repelled. In the Dobrudja the enemy attacked one of our detachments with large forces in the region of Testemel [about 20 miles north of the line hitherto held by the Russians] and occupied this village.
General reports:
SATURDAY. During continuous fighting the left wing of the Oth Army reached the Buzeu-Rimnic Sarat road. East of Buzeu, on the river sector of the same name, the right wing of the army captured the crossing over the Calmatuiul lowlands. Two thousand prisoners have been brought in. The Danube Army is pressing, forward without cessation in a north-easterly direction. In the Dobrudja the Russians have given up their most southerly positions. Bulgarian, Turkish, and German troops, in rapid pursuit, have crossed the Cogealae-Cartal-Harsova line about eight miles north of the line hitherto held by the Russians.
SUNDAY. The Buzeu sector has been crossed on a broad front. In addition to 1,160 prisoners, 19 locomotives, about 400 railway wagons (most of which were loaded) and innumerable vehicles fell into our hands. In the Dobrudja the rapid pursuit of the enemy, who offered only local resistance, brought our allied troops close to the region of the wooded district in the northern part of the country, where resistance is expected.
SUNDAY EVENING. The main bodies of our armies have crossed the River Buzau and the Lower Calmatuiul. The Dobrudja army gained ground northwards.
Bulgarian report, Saturday: In Eastern Wallachia our divisions are advancing In the regions north of the lower Jalomitza. At the railway station of Fetesti we seized the wagons, and at Tchulnitza Station 41 wagons, four engines, and : wagons laden with petroleum.