Romanian Campaign of 1916,The Campaign in Dobrogea

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The Fight at Arabagi

Mackensen aims the principal attack towards the right Romanian wing ,between Rasova and Cobadin,with German and Bulgarian troops .At the extreme right Romanian,the German Brigade Bode attacks strong along the Danube to force the road towards Cernavoda and get his hands on the big bridge,of which elegance can be seen through the fog at 12 Miles distance.Believing in their superiority and thinking the Romanians still dizzied by the defeat in the eve,the Germans are sure that,by a a daring strike ,will get their hands on Cernavoda Bridge.On the line Rasova-Arabagi are ,though,receptioned by the first troops of the 2nd Romanian Division:The 3rd Brigade made out of Regiments 3rd Olt and 19th Romanati.The Romanians attack with strenght ,The Germans are rejected,they have to leave Poluci Village and they barely can retreat their heavy batteries which they drag with themThe left wing of the 1st Bulgarian Division ,threatened with veiling,intervenes in to the fight.In the violent fight which go on till evening ,is wounded deadly Colonel Ilie Antonescu,the Commander of the 4th Romanian Brigade.A panic produces in the Romanian troop,which receive the baptize of fire.Under the lively and precise fire of the enemy,the Romanians retreat;the 14th Artillery Regiment losses few of the cannons .But the regiment intervenes ,sustained by 9th Artillery,covers the retreat,rejects the Bulgarians and reestablishes the front.

The left of the Romanian Brigade did not succeed to link up with the right of 9th Division,in the retreat of Silistra.Through the empty space made ,at Arabagi,the enemy manages to sneak,threatening to breakhrough the Romanian front ,before it could have well strenghtened.The situation becomes critical .An heoic intervention produces,however ,in this moment.The troops of the 15th Divsion enter the fighting line.The 53rd Infantry Regiment ,from Iasi,left at 7am from Cernavoda,arrives after forced marchings ,at 12,30 at Arabagi.The Commanders of companies go in reconnisance but,before they came back,the Regiment has to start to attack.Battalions 2nd and 3rd are in the first line ,and the 1st Battalion in the second.The soldiers start with elan to attack with bayonet ,having in their temple the Commander himself ,Colonel Brosteanu.On the ridges of uncovered hills ,the enemy artillery bombards violently the Romanian troop,which advances with determination;the Commanders of Companies run ,seeking their Companies ,ahed of which they place themselves.The losses are big,the Commander fells wounded,but the troops arrive in to the enemy positions.The first Romanian line is rejected ,but the second line succeeds in occupying the elevation of Arabagi.The situation is reestablished,the 9th Division could fix herself on the elevations of Mulciova, and the 14th Artillery Regiment has regained part of the lost cannons.The Romanian front reestablishes solid at this Western extremity of the defence line.The Romanian Divisions 2nd ,15th and 9th constitute a group under the Command of General Socec.Although the principal action unfolds a little to the East ,still the fight did not burn out here ,either;for three days the Germans and Bulgarians have given numerous attacks in this region of gulleys and hills ,for to make way towards Cernavoda.At Rasova at Balta Baciului,in Cinghinea Forest ,troops of the 2nd Division, especially the heroic 66th Regiment ,and at Arabagi troops of the 15th Division have firmly defended the positions and the enemy did not pass.

A very pretious aid has given ,in these fights,the scuadron of monitors from Danube River .The monitors have bombarded the left flank of the enemy and forced him to withdraw a part of the heavy caliber artillery,which bombred our positions on the front ,to advance defensive batteries on to the shore.Under the strong bombardment of these batteies the squadron on Danube have executet,however,an offensive move behind enemy front,passing in front of Mirleanu Lake ,until close to Oltina.The squadron did not suffer any serious loss,with all the terible bombardment ,which determined Mackensen to destitute the Commanders of the said batteries.

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The Fight of Cocargea

The principal action of the enemy was aimed over the sector from Mulciova until Cocargea.Here they have to make the runthrough of the Romanian Front to fall behind the position of Cobadin.

The Bulgarians have placed here ,for the decissive attack ,the best troops they had:Divvisons 1st and 4th and brought a numerous heavy artillery and airplanes.The planned attack for the day of 17th of September have been postponed with one day ,to give time to the heavy artillery ,to assume positions ,such that the battle begun at 18th of September.The Romanian positions were occupied between Mulcova and Cocargea by two Brigades of the 9th Romanian Division withdrew from Silistra;at Cocargea was also the Serb Division.In the morning of 18th Bulgarians have begun a formidable artillery fire .There were concentrated in this sector,apart from the organic artillery of the two Bulgarian divisions -field cannons and howitzers-2nd Regiment and a divizion from 1st Regoment of heavy artillery and three long batteries,German.The answer of the Romanian batteries,inferior in numbers ,calibers and lenght of firing range,was weak and without effectiveness ,against the enemy artillery,which she coud not reach.When,however,towards midday,the enemy infantry started to show in bands ,sneaking through valleys ,hiding behind bushes and terrain crests ,the Romanian cannons started to beat with power and with effect,forcing the enemy groups to scatter and spread and run behind shelters .By evening,the fight lasted without any success ,but with big losses from the part of the attackers .The Bulgarians could not rove through the Valley Diordingi-Orman,in front of the Romanian positions ,where they left only crowds of dead and wounded.The violent attacks ,given with the troops of the 2nd Sofia Brigade and with the left wing of Preslav Division against Cocargea Village ,had a partial success.After ferocious fights and bloddy counterattacks ,the Romanians and Serbs had to withdraw in the positions North of the Village.Thinking they have found here the key of success ,the Bulgarians have attacked the next day,19th of September ,early in the morning with forces of heavy artillery and with the whole infantry of Divisions 1st and 4th,in sector Mulciova-Cocargea.The height Cogeaiuc-147m -was especially the target of the enemy attacks .Numerous aeroplanes and a captive ballon were directing the aim of this formidable artillery.Inferior to the enemy artillery,the Romanian artillery ,installed on the Hills Carasu,Cisme and Pribei,was of a frightening precission faced to the infantry attacks.Overwhwlmed by the killing fire of howitzers and shrapnels ,the waves of enemy attacks which were advancing in the terrain,uncovered ,were cut down,disbanded and mixtured with the Earth.Piles of dead bodies and wounded covered the Valley Diordingi-Orman.

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In Cocargea sector the Bulgarian troops ,exploiting the succes in the eve ,have given violent attacks towards Spapunar.The Romanian Brigade Frimu of the 9th Division and the Serbs have oposed a fiercely resistance .In the midst of the fight arrive the Romanian reinforcements ,waited with anxiety.There are two Regiments of the 12th Division ,which have disembarked at Cernavoda in the eve by evening and which have marched all through the nigt in a stretched pace.The 68th Gaiesti Regiment ,Commanded by Colonel Meleca ,is enterd the fight at West of Cacearnac,and the 60th Teleorman Regiment -Colonel Stoenescu-at Spapunar.Both regiments attack with furry;overwhelmed by the fires of the enemy the soldier only stop to throw them ahead again.From Cogeaiuc Hill ,the artillery of the 22nd Regiment and especially a battery(four cannons)of howitzers of 150 mm ,commanded by Captain Dragalina ,support the fight of the infantry ,making ravages in the enemy rows.After three very bloody attacks ,the 68th Romanian Regiment has occupied all the hills line Caceamac-Orman,seizing the Bulgarian positions ,and the 60th Regiment has reoccupied Hill Dichilitas and Cocargea Village.The right wing of the Serb Division which,being surprised and caught by the violent fires of the enemy,has started to withdraw ,was received by the of the 12th Romanian Division,sustained and fixed on line Biubiuc-Mazarlic-Bair.the Bulgarian attacks against the height Cogeaiuc have been ,as weel bloody rejected.The 31st Varna Regiment has been almost entirely destroied ,its remains set to run in disband.The Romanian and Serb troops have entered the Bulgarian artillery line and have captured a battey of howitzers and some field cannons.With great difficulty the Bulgarians could regain few of the cannons.

The Bulgarian offensive was broken.The faith of the battle turned entirely .At 12,30 pm the Bulgarian General Draganov reports to the Commander of the III-rd Bulgarian Army that the situation of Sofia Division is desperate....."With great difficulty we maintain the positions ,neither I nor the Commanders of Brigades have no more support;the projectiles have ended ;the position we keep with hte last forcings....".At his turn,General Kiselov ,the Commander of the 4th Preslav Division ,reports at 19 hours,that he is forced to begin retreat,and to the injunctions of his Commander to maintain the position with any price ,he replies:"We will acomplish your order of dying on position,but my duty is to bring to your knowledge that the units are in a crisis and ,2-3 attacks more by enemy part ,an every thing could be lost ...".In truth,this sole Division has lost in this day 46 Officers and 2568 men,dead or wounded as well as 43 cannons taken out of the fight.Only in the front of the Serb Division were collected,amongst other trophees ,more than 5000 rifles.

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Unfortunatelly ,from our part ,the exhaustion of the troops ,the lack of connection between troops of first line and Commandments ,and the undecissiveness of the High Russian Commandment,did not permit to apreciate the importance of the obtaied succes and its expoatation,A part of the troops of the 12th Romania Division were exhausted ;they have been brought in forced marchings and send to the fight directly,so by evening they had to be taken out of the fighting front and brought back for rest.Some units of the 61st Russian Division,from reserve ,heave been brought to the front to replace the Romanians.But to convince the Russians to go on the front line ,it was needed to set the artillery in to position against them.This from the order of Russian General Semanski himself!

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Serb Division

In the Fight of Cocargea,near the Romanian troops ,have fought with heroism and have suffered heavy losses the Serb Division.It was a troop of volunteers ,recruited from prisoners of Serb origin and Croat.They fought in the Austr-Hungarian Army but,at the first favorable moment,have left the flag of the opressor to surrender to the Russians;they have embraced with enthusiasm the ideea of forming of a volunteers corps,to fight together with the allies for the cause of liberation of enslaved people ,their own cause .To assigne them,it has been brought Officers from Corfu Island ,were there were in remaking the rests of the Serb Army,saved by the retreating desaster through Albania.The first Serb Division has entered in Romania since the first day of general mobilization.Made up of men who lost almost everything :country,family,home,dominated by a patriotism fanatic which was not equaled, but probably by the hatered against the enemy perfid and savage,they will constitute the elite element of the Russian aid.The Commander of he Division is Colonel Stepan Hagici,to which the French writer Robert de Flers,which accompanies the General Headquarter of the Army in Dobrogea,makes a pitoresque description:"(...) A famous man,with wide shoulders ,with round face and a thick black mustache ,with the air in the same time friendly and terible.He shines of health and courage.He is a fat hero".

In the days of 18th and 19th of September ,the Serb Division has fought with heroism against the fiercely attacks of Bulgarians at Cocargea.The Commander of a Serb Regiment,Colonel Matici,wounded at the hand,continues to Command the troop and dies,receiving a second bullet in the open mouth to shout to his men words of spirit for attack.

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The Fight at Cobadin

As the Bulgarian center suffered the defeat at Cocargea,the right wing,made up of the 6th Division of Vidin,the Dobricene troops and the Cavalry Division,were attacking the Russian -Romanian positions from Cobadin, until the Black Sea.The 6th Bulgarian Division had especially to give the big hit;conquering Cobadin.The whole day of 18th of September the Bulgarians have exhausted in sterile forcings against height 137 in front of Cobadin.However,the initial success,reputed in this day at Cocargea ,have given them courage;for the second day,19th of September ,the fight had to be restarted with outstanding vigor,on the whole line until the Black Sea.Cobadin had to be seized regardless of price,by the combined attack of the Divin Division and of the Dobricene troops .These last ones,have been strenghtened with a Turkish Brigade and with German artillery.Defending the central position at Cobadin was handed to the 61st Russian Division;in her right at Caceamac was a Brigade of the 5th Romanian Division;in the left were other Romanian troops of the 5th Division and 19th Division,forming up a group under the Command of General Hartel. The morning of 19th of September had drain down in a reciprocal bombardment of artillery.The Bulgarian attack has produced near midday;12 battalions of the 6th Bulgarian Divison and seven battalions of Debricene troops took part in the attack.At Ceamac,the 8th Buzau Regiment,Romanian, suffers heavy losses ,but rejects the enemy attack.In front of Cobadin,the 35th Vraca Regiment ,Bulgarian,is almost completely distroied and cannot trial a second attack.The 6th Vidin Division begins a precipitated retreat.The column in the left of Dobricene troops ,which had to concur at the attack of Cobadin,had to face up towards North-East at Osmancea to the attack of the Romanian troops of the 19th Division.A little to the East,the Bulgarian Cavalry Division ,which had received the order to execute a wide movement of going around in the left Romanian flank ,at East of Topraisar,have been receptioned by Romanians with cannon fires and rifles ones ,wherever they presentet .Noticing that this flank has stretched until the Sea ,the Bulgarian Cavalry has been forced to take measures for own defence.

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Bulgarian retreat

In the evening of 19th of September ,the situation of Bulgarians had become critical.The Bulgarian center:2nd Sofia Brigade ,the 4th Division and th 6th Division Vidin,were decissively beaten,disorganized and incapable not only to fight in attack,but to resist in defence agins an eventual attack.All the enemy troops were now disposed in a cordon and without any reserve behind.Demoralized and scared by the threat of a desaster ,the Commander of the III-rd Bulgarian Army gave the order of breaking of the fighting contact and of general retreat.Even during the night of 19th-20th of September ,the enemy started the retreat towards the strenghtened positions he has prepared at 6-8 Miles behind the fighting front .The retreat of 1st Sofia Division has produced in the midst of a big panic and disband .As a result of the two days of fiercely fights ,it has only remained an imense field of war material ,scattered all over the place.The villages are arsoned by the troops in retreat;toungues of fires and thick columns of smoke are the sign of envy and fury of the defeated one.

The enemy offensive against line Rasova-Cobadin-Tuzla has ended.Mackensen could write at the passive of his military career the first defeat.And the enmy official communicates of 17th and 18th of September announce the beginning of a new battle on the whole line of the front which,ofcourse,"unfolds in our favour".The German communicate becomes ,all of a sudden modest at 19th of September ,announcing that"are given violent fights with variate result" and that"the enemy opposes the most stubborn of resistance".At 20th of September ,the Germans announce laconically:"In Dobrogea ,the fight has stopped".

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The Offensive of the 19th Division at the left wing

In the day of 20th of September ,the Bulgarian troops have occupied ,in their retreat,a line which started from Danube River,at Aliman and passes through Enigea,Chioseler,Carabaca,Merdvelipunar,-height 134-Cearaliuc,on the road Cavaclar-Sofular,Amzacea-Perveli-Black Sea.The right wing ,from the Sea,of the Bulgarian Front ,constituted esentially of cavalry,being weak,has been strenghtened with Turkish troops ,newly arrived ;Regiments 59th and 75th de Nizami[24] from 25th Turk Division have occupied the position between Erebler and Azaplar,to be able to intervine in the case of an attack between Dobricene troops and the Cavalry Division.Her also begun to gather the 15th Turk Division which was put under the Command of Hilmi Pasa,the Commander of the 25th Turk Division.

Under the impressions of the victory reputed at 18th and 19th against the Bulgarian offensive,encouraged by the fact that the 115th Russian Division begins to disembark at Constanta,the Commander of the allied troops in Dobrogea calculated that the moment is favorable to enterprise a counteroffensive .The day of 20th of September has been left for rest.At 21st,the counteroffensive begins at the left wing -of East-by the Romanian troops of the General Hartel Group.The offensive movement was made on three columns .The most Eastern column ,leaving from Musurat,occupies Muratan and establishes on a height South of the village.At the center ,the 17th Brigade,Colonel Stan Poetas leaving from Topraisar ,has defeated the enemy and seized Amzacea village ;wanting to advance more to the South ,it is received by intersected fires of enemy artillery from direction Azaplar and Carachioi.Supported only by a battery with fast firing and one with slow shooting,the brave soldiers of the 9th Hunters Regiment and 40th Infantry Regiment attack the enemy and away it from Carachioi Village towards Mustafaaci.The Romanians advance ,repulsing all the time the troops of infantry and cavalry ,Bulgarian,ansd arrive on the line Mustafaaci-Azaplar.By evening,the Bulgarians try a disperate charge with two escadrons of Cavalry,but Romanians ,which have advanced to much with this column,retreat at Carachioi.The column inthe right side is made up by the troops of the 5th Mixt Brigadet;leaving from Engemahale ,they attack and seize Enghez Buiuc Village.Here,however,the Brigade falls in the middle of a violent concentric artillery fire ,especially of heavy artillery and is attacked by numerous troops of infantry with machineguns ,against which,our cannons with slow firing are of no aid.The troops of the Brigades 5th and 17th remain on the conquered positions ,with all the heavy casualties , and retrench before the nightfall.The troops of the 36th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Romanian Division,which were waiting in defensive ,at the right side of the 19th Romanian Division ,are attacked by the enemy-Dobricene troops and the 74th Turk Regiment -from the direction of Sofular and Enghez.With all the attacks that the enemy is making until midnight ,he cannot make any progress and it is continuously repulsed by artillery fires ,strenghtened with few Russian batteries with fast firing.

The Russians does not take part at this offensive action:the 3rd Russian Cavalry Division,which is at the left side of the Romanians ,as well as the 61st Infantry Division ,which is at the right side of Romanians ;they stay unmoved ,although big movements of Bulgarian troops are made in front of their front ,to concentrate against Romanians.At the invite of General Hartel,General Zaioncikovski replies that it has been decided,in the wake of talks with General Averescu,to not engage any major battle on this front.

With all the beautiful success on on line Enghez-Carachioi-Amzacea,faced with this situation and of the danger of being attacked from behid in the advanced position of Enghez,where the enemy has a considerable superiority,numerical and of artillery,General Hartel suspends the offensive and retreats the right wing in the start position.Amzacea remains ,however in our hand.The line Amzacea-Perveli,conquered at 21st of September ,is strenghtened in the following days ,even under the fires of the enemy.

From its part ,the enemy establishes itself in front of our positions,stretching its front through Preveli until the Black Sea,strenghtening its front line in the whole stretch with deep trenches and with strong obstacles of wire entanglements.

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Comments over the Battle of Rasova-Cobadin-Tuzla

The great offensive of Mackensen has finished with a definitive fiasco.The attacker had to crawl back in to the trences,in waiting fore some better days and of greater reinforcements.It is characteristic for the much trumpeted German probity,the total silence with which was now covered this great failure.The official descriptions ,published by the Great German Headquarter ,pretend to ignore entirely the big battle.They talk pure and simple about an inevitable "rithm" of the advance movements ,which the German armies had to present also in Galitia campaign,Polonoa campaign and Serbia campaign,explained by the difficulties of the organization of services behind the front.The German correspondent of "Frankfurter Zeitung",Major Endres ,gives a relation more sincere of the battle:"Mackensen did not weak the pursiut of the enemy.Already ,at 16th of September,lively fights were engaged on the front of the Romanian-Russian positions.The Russians and Romanians managed even ,in the terrain in front of their defence line and namely at South of line Cobadin-Topraisar,to repute tactical successes and,by this,to give the impression ,for few days(!) that the offensive crossed on their side.But already,at 20th of September,our daily communicate could announce that the fights have ceased".

It is of great interest the explanation which Ludendorff gives in his memoirs to the enemy insuccess:"Feldmarshal von Mackensen kept his left wing along the Danube and exercises over this point the greatest of pressures which he could make.The forces of the enemy,which were concentrating on the line Oltina Lake -Caraomer,had to be pushed towards the coast of Black Sea.The German Bode Detachment ,which was at the left wing ,pushed this position by a daring leap and continued its advance,descending along the Danube River.But the Bulgarians had not been ready fast enaugh.They had attacked ,as well,but the enemy could retreat at 15th of September,in order.The III-rd Bulgarian army have missed the ocasion to repute an admirable success.The enemy could establish again in position Rasova-Cobadin-Tuzla,fortified before the war.It is renaunced soon (?) at the trials made for taking this position.The offensive force of the Bulgarian-Turk forces ,that were there,were not sufficient for this goal".

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With all the clear defeat of the enemy and with the fact that,thanks to the arriving on the terrain of the 115th Russian Division,our superiority over the enemy started to afirm,General Zaioncikovski did not find of use to enterprise the pursiut of the defeated enemy.Either because he thought his troops weakened,by the continuous fight which these ones supported time of three weeks,or because his soul structure did not permit him daring initiatives,or he subjected himself to some misterious suggestions which paralised any energic action on our front ,the Russian Commander of the ally forces in Dobrogea edged himself to notice the defeat of the enemy and to look impassive how ,under his eyes ,this one proceeds at strenghtening of his front and at the methodic prepearing of future actions.

With the Battle of Rasova-Cobadin-Tuzla it ends the first phase of the fights in Dobrogea .Started under such tragic conditions,it has been reached an equilibrium of forces and to a stabilization of the front .Mackensen did not succeed -truly-to crown his masterpiece.The Bridge "King Carol the I-st",Constanta Harbour and the line of metal roads which unites them,were in the hands of Romanians and served as base of revitalizing of the forces which kept strong a powerful defence line -the new wave of Roman Emperor Traian-against the barbarian hoardes of invasion.

We have ,however, to confess that the operations in Dobrogea brought to the enemy an important strategical success.He forced us to focus our attention over the Southern Front and to diminish our forces in Transilvania,just when there , prepearing the big offensive of Falkenhayn started.Then,our military force and,together with it also the moral force which results from the self confidence,have received felt blows.We have lost two divisions ,two fortresses have fallen:the enemy reached the heart of Dobrogea .He surrounded the flank of Muntenia(Wallachia),kept on stop numerous forces ,of ours and of our allies ,from a strong position and on a shortened and threatened front,permanently on the important artery of our communications ,connecting us with the Black Sea.

The victory on the line Rasova-Cobadin-Tuzla was only a happy episode which permitted us to breath for a moment and recollect ourselves.The situation continued to remain unrestful in the heighest degree;it pressed our souls like a bad dream.In the general conscience of the public opinion ,it feelt that had to be ended by a daring strike.The offensive of General Averescu on the Southern front answered to some spiritual needs as much as it corresponded to military necessity.

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7.Romanian Counteroffensive on the Southern Front

a)Flaminda Try

General Averescu offensive

At 2nd of October the Romanian official communicate brought a senzational news;"The Romanian troops have crossed the Danube,between Rusciuck and Turtucaia".and,"In Dobrogea we attacked on the whole front...".

An entusiasm without borders overwhwlmed the whole Kingdom.The laconic news was in the mind of every Romanian,the prelude of glorious events ,which had to clean up the shameful spot of Turtucaia and to bring an end to the nightmare in Dobrogea.

The daring offensive was connected to the name of General Averescu,and the General had in front of the army and the public of a very big credit.By the clearness of his solutions ,by his great strenght of work,by the safety and calm which he could maintain in the most critical moments,but especially by the need of the masses to put their trust,in critical times,in a providential character ,General Averescu awoke in the masses of the army,as those of the people,a trust translated by a popularity without equal in the Romanian Army.The public opinion reclamed him from one front to another,where the situation was critical and his presence in front of an army rose the moral of the soldiers and counted as a sure element of success.With all the discretion imposed by the military operations ,in Bucharest was not a secret anymore that at the Danube is prepeared a" hit".The indiscretions of the officers which came with different assignements in Bucharest,the locvacity,especially of the women,which found out from relatives or friends -undoubtfully under the strictest secrecy-the preparations made at the Danube,had as result that in Bucharest the operation at Danube was expected by everybody with cold aprehension,but also wit an explicable unrest.The news about the success of crossing the Danube made to reborn in every heart the hopes ,which the rows of endured dezasters blew them away.The iremediable optimism ,which the dissapointments have atenuated a bit,it reflamed with power and,on the streets of Bucharest,one hour after the reading of the sober communique ,everybody knew that Rusciuk and Turtucaia were in the hands of Romanians,and the Romanian Cavalryis at Razgrad!

The Supreme Romanian Commander,King Ferdinand of Romania,adopting the proposal of General Averescu,put to his disposition,together with the Commandment of the Groups of the Southern Armies ,also the most formidable military force which was given to a General in the Romanian War:17 divisions,of which 10 divisions (six Romanans and four Russian) made up the Dobrogea Army and seven divisions formed up the III-rd Romanian Army of Danube-more than half of the totality of the operations army.The size of this army was in raport with the pursued goal.

General Averescu conceived the plan of this offensive with the next face:with the Debrogea Army to attack the enemy frontal,to throw him to the South.In the same time it will attack him in to the flank and back with the III-rd Army,croosing over the Danube,South of Bucharest,at fFaminda.The complete success of the hit would have had incalculable consequences:the III-rd Rmanian Army falls behind and over the communication lines of the Bulgarian Army in Dobrogea,the entire enemy front in Dobrogea was turned over,Mackensen in deroute.Dobrogea free.Even if it would succeed in part,meaning if it would succeed in creating a bridgehead on the Southern shore of Danube,it was a nail thrust in to the rib and back of the enemy ,which would have obstacled or paralised its actions.

Not everybody trusted General Averescu trust in the planned strike.General Alekseev brought to attention through Colonel Tatarinov,the Russiam military attache ,that the operation seems risky to him.The enemy should be thrown out of Dobrogea by the action of the Russian-Romanian Army in Dobrogea,and if it is talk about crossing the Danube ,it would be preferably to trial by Rahova,in direction Berkovica -Sofia.Averescu replied that"the fights in Dobrogea will have more chances of success ,if the III-rd Army would be able to thrust a nail as weak as it be in to the rib and back of the enemy.As of a passing through Rahova ofcourse that General Alekseev did not consulte well the map".Same reservations were expressed also by the French attache Desprez ,and even Bratianu(prime minister) confessed that "he trembled when he heard the exposition of the plan for an expedition in Bulgaria with two or three divisions".

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Romanian Army attacking Grivita Redoubt during Pleven Siege in Russian-Turk War 1877

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Prepearing the counteroffensive

The principal action in this counteroffensive came to the new III-rd Romanian Army,created at the Danube .It was given to General Averescu three new Divisions:the 10th Division,General Vaitoianu,the 21st Division, General Lambru and the 22nd Division,General Aristide Razu.The 10th Division was made out especially of Vlasceni(men from Vlasca) and Dobrogeni(men from Dobrogea);she constituted till here the General Reserve of the Army.Divisions 21st and 22nd were new formations ,organized after the beginning of the War of regiments taken from other divisions.The three Divisions constituted the V-th Army Corps .Next to the V-th Corps the III-rd Romanian Army comprised also the VI-th Corps ,made out of Divisions 16th and 18th ,divisions of second hand ,made out of a small number of battalions ,all formed after the War Declaration,troops tasked with the guard of Danube River,as well as the 1st Cavalry Division -24 escadrons .In total,the III-rd Army had 53 battalions ,24 escadrons ,48 field batteries ,seven heavy batteries and one A.A battery.There were also two Fixed Detachments ,with artillery destined for defending the left shore of Danube.It was also examined the possibility of calling the 23rd Division from Olt Front.

A comission,prezided by General Vaitoianu ,the Commander of the 10th DIvision ,prepared the works necessary for the offensive.In 12 days were build roads for access to the Danube through the field full of water holes, with water, of Flaminda;it was gathered material for the two bridges which had to be thrown over the Danube River ,as well as some 250 boats for troops transport ;it has been taken measures of precaution against an eventual attack of the enemy river monitors,which were hidden in Belene Channel ,South of Persina Islet.These last measures constituted especially of installing of an infantry and artillery post in Cinghinelor Islet,(ostrov=Islet),in front of the exit from Belene Canal ,downstream and of building a dam ,by drowning of barges in Tabanu Canal ,7Miles upstream of Flaminda.There were also set explosives mines ;there were however defectous constructed and their installation made -by premature explosions-grave accidents.Before they become dangerous for the enemy they proove dangerous for those handeling them.

What forces could Bulgarian oppose to these five divisions of infantry and one of cavalry,to defend the back of the front in Dobrogea?The recconnissances made with airplanes in the days of 28th and 29th of September ,noticed that,apart from the small garissons from Rusciuk and Turtucaia there was no other enemy troop on a ray of 19 Miles in depth.The Commander of the III-rd Army thought,as such, that he may count on surprise and on the imense superiority of the Romanian troops,as safe elements of success.A coincident happening made that Bulgarians to have in the region of passing through,a small number of troops ,with which to face the first attack.At 29th of September ,Marshal Mackensen orders the retaking of the enmy offensive in Dobrogea against the line Rasova-Cobadin;to increase the effectives of the attack army,disposed the sending on the front of the seven battalions which constituted the garrison of the strenghtened ponts Turtucaia and Silistra.In their place had to come other troops of militia (police) from Rusciuk and Varna ,and in the place of these,were brought other detachments from Sumla and Burgas.As the Bulgarian troops executed the marchings ,forced by these movements,fell unexpectedlly the bomb of crossing of the III-rd Romanian Army of the Danube.

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Crossing the Danube

In the evening of 30th of September ,the marsh of Flaminda was ant-ing with Romanian troops .The moral was one of the highest between officers and soldiers :the victory was sure.The troops of the 10th Division were in the first line ,stretched on Danube shore in fron of Lung Islet and Coreia Islet,ready for embarkation;the 21st Division in the second line ,was coming on the driveway Prundu Belu-Flaminda;in the third line was the 22nd Division at Comana.The VI-th Army Corps was in zone Jarcaleti-Fratesti,and the Cavalry at Prundu Belu.

At 3 in the morning,in the day of 1st of October,200 boats loaded with soldiers from the Infantry Regiments ,5th Vlasca and 20th Teleorman ,detachet from the Romanian shore,at the tail of Lung Islet and slipped in silence through darkness and fog which covered the Danube ,towards the Bulgarian shore.After few minutes,the convoy entered the arm of Big Danube .Ant then the cannons on the Romanian shore begin the bombardment of the shore in front ,and especially Villages Reahovo,Bobovo and Breaslen.Under the protection of this firing range ,the Romanian troops disembark on the Bulgarian shore ,away a weak enemy detachment and occupy Rehovo Village.The convoys of empty boats get back to take some more troops.All through the morning the small boats and portices cut through the shine of the Danube water ,in an unstoppable coming and going;at 11,30 ,all the five Infantry Regiments of the 10th Romanian Division are on Bulgarian shore.At 10 begin to cross on boats also troops of the 21st Romanian Division;by evening croos four battalions of the Regiments 61st and 46thof Infantry with a machinegun company and a battery of small cannons of 53mm.In the same time,as under the protection of the cannon of artillery,infantry troops were crosing the Danube on boats,handy pontooneers and daring sailors begun the stretching of the bridge,which had to connect strong the two shores ,to make possible for the other troops the crossing,of infantry ,cavalry and artillery,convoys of wagoons.The pontoons have been brought from Galati by train and then with wagoons and kept hidden in the wood behind Lung Ostrov(Lung Islet).The operation started at 5 in the morning and,at the beginning all went well,although a little slow,because the dragging motor boats did not have enaugh power.A strong wind started to blow in the afternoon ,making work difficult.By evening the situation begun to get worse.Big waves ,rose by the wind more and more violent,threatened to turn over the boats filled with men and obstacled the works for the bridge.In the same time ,appear the enemy aeroplanes ,throwing bombs over the bridge and over the line filled with men.We did not have aeroplanes to combat them.The aerian defence ,which had to have 14 planes in the morning of 1st of October at Mihai Bravu,could not constitute.Two airplanes "Nieuport" piloted by French aviators have forced landing on the road and broke down;the Russian squadron ,made out of five planes ,arrived only on the 20th of September,and the Romanian plane ,concentrated in the same sense,2 "Nieuport" and 4 "Voisin" could not defende the bridge effectivelly ,being few in number and of older types than the foreign planes.In this way,the foreign airplanes have planed for four hours over the bridge and mursh,making numerous victims and producing panic and the delay of works.With this occasion it has distinguished General Lambru,the Commander of the 21st Division which,taking the Command of the works of the bridge ,after the wounding of the Commander of the pontooneers,have given proves of courage and cold blood,sitting all the time of the bombardment on to the bridge and encouraging ,by his example ,the soldiers.Officer Warodin Dumitru from the Staff of the 21st DIvision has worked all through the night with unfearful energy,helpping himself of the improvised pontooneers ,at the reparation of the damages caused by the storm and by the bombardment*.

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With all the hardships ,at 7th in the evening ,after 14th ours of work,the bridge was ready.As if the trials over the day have not been enaugh,over the night ,the gale became stronger ,transforming in to a violent storm,acompanied by torential rain.The waves tore the bridge in two places ,separating it into three blocks.With unsaid difficulty the blocks have been tide up together.Towards the morning ,the waves gave to the bridge very strong lateral oscillations ,the rain wich fell into curtains made the bridge slipery,putting in danger the crossing of the horses and carriages.Around 4 in the morning the waves ripped off the anchor of a portice and ,taken over by the current of the river it smashed the bridge into the Bulgarian shore,breaking it again. The new reparation,necessitated by this accident ,was executed till 6 in the morning when it begun to crossing the infantry troops of the 21st Division,the artillery of the 10th Division and the cannons of all the regiments of the two Divisions.Great difficulties were met also at the establishing of the "dead head"-the beam of shore, on Bulgarian shore-because the waves were eating the ground thrown and the terassament has to be supported at all times as the bridge lasted.

Anyway , the operation succeeded.In the morning of the 2nd of October ,two Romanian Divisions were on the Bulgarian shore.

At the Headquarter of the Army of Mackensen ,the surprise had been complete.The Germano-Bulgarian Commander was emotioned.The friendly press was jubilee.The daring strike seemed to change all of a sudden the faith of our War on the Southern Front,so cruel until then.

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* "I have build the bridge at Flaminda(18/19 November 1916),all the pontooneers officers being dead,helping myself with reservists ,Lipoveni(men from Lipova) ,pontoneers of Regiments 33th ,and 73th reserve Tulcea ,and dragging boats "Catina " and "Rindunica".

I have worke time of 2 days and 3 nights under bombardment of 8 German enemy aeroplanes and of the Austrian monitors, which closed in ,to a Mile of the bridge,masking themselves behind an islet in the middle of Danube covered witha marsh and thick vegetation and being continuously blasted by the shrapnels which broke at about 80-100 meters above the bridge and pontoons,which killed the pontooneers ,but gravely ,they made heavier the pontoons whch threatened to take water ,sink and together with them the bridge.

(I have ordered special teams under command ,which with all the fiercely enemy attacks,which intensified all the time with the aim of defeating our tenacity and determination and produce disband and panic,they went on shore and brought branches from which we made caps and covered the holes of the pontoons).

The danger increased any minute and threatened to become catastrophe,touching the final goal of the enemy,meaning breaking the bridge(eventually blowing it up )and the try of the pontooneers,by the mines launched by the enemy monitors on the stream of the water and by the wodden-vessels filled with gunpowder ,which the same monitors were launching in the midddle of the river,where the Danube had the greatest torrent.

The 75 mm field artillery bombarded hitting in full the monitors ,but these ones being protected by cuirasses ,the bombing had no effect whatsoever.In exchange,the enemy avition killed over 200 officers and 1000 men and set panic into the troops of the bridge head(troops already on the other shore).

Everywhere you could only hear the curses and blastings of the mutilated soldiers ,against the ones who send them to war with empty hands,to be able to steal and get rich.

All these happened during a storm which made the bridge to move 50-100 m laterally and 6-10 meters in elevation..Eye witnesses:Generals Lambru Dumitru,Stefanescu Amza,Berlescu,Stefanescu Stefan,Lt Colonel Vasilescu Stefan from Intendence,witnesses:Rasuceanu and Berlescu.

Also ,myself,I have turned around the Brigades of General Petala which had advanced towards Turtucaia and arrived 40 Km from the Bulgarian territory and the 10th Division of General Vaitoianu which had already been crossed over in boats as troops of "bridge head" and occupied the region Rahova,Babovo,Malo-Vranovo,Breslen-Tetevo.Eye witnesses:Generals Petala,Vaitoianu,former prime minister,Amza Stefanescu,Argeseanu and Colonel Marcu Ulpin.

With this occasion ,myself had also two wounded horses with me,for which I have been covered by the Great Staff with two horses,no extra charge ,from the horse deposit of Muftiu.

To myself is owed that the panic has been stopped between the pontooneers and the troops were able the next day at 5 to croos the bridge.The 1st Art.Brigade of Colonel Peteus Petre ,which has objected in the beginning to General Lambru,the Commander of the Division,that he does not assume responsibility to engage the cannons of the brigade, on a bridge made by a cavalry officer unspecialised(in bridges).

Asked by general Lambru,as to what opinion do I have about the solidity of the bridge ,I replied:"If something goes wrong ,tie me up on the tree and shoot me".

The troops and the artillery have crossed forward and backward without anything bad to happen.

I took part and lead the troops to Hohenward-Brasov,Manenhof and Klein-Predeal,although i was officer of Staff,were on horse back and with the revolver in hand I turned in the head of Runners-Escadron of the 21st Division Inf.,pushing with lances from behind ,the troops of the 4th Division ,which overwhelmed by panic started to retreat in disband.

It has been resisted in the mountains some 40 days more after this turn of pozition.

I have Commanded Reconnoitring Escadron in region Stilpu-Epuresti(1000 Germans killed)and I have contributed in effective mode at the first retreat and at the second retreat of the 21st Division on Arges River,and olso at the offensive turn at 18th-19th of November in region Gageni,balaria,Stilpu-Epuresti,Ghimpati,letca Veche,Camineasca.Finally I was the last element of arierguard of the 21st Division Inf.which covered the general retreat of the Army.

We were the last escadron of the Army which after receiving German parlamentaries at the Bragadiru Bridge,I have retreated through the middle of Bucharest,which prepeared to receive the victorious armies of Mackensen,passing over the bridge in front of Church Domnita Balasa on Bratianu Boulevard,on Calea Grivitei and B-dul Basarab,were we had a collision with the patrols of German Ulans ,which entering through Prahova Valley were coming from Chitila.Reaching Tunari,the head of the column of 21st Inf. Division ,which was made out of artillery has been attacked by other patrols of Ulans and,myself,with the escadron galloped to the head,we attacked and made them prisoners.

All I have enumerated here are small episodes from the War.

Dr.Colonel

Warodin G.Dimitrie

Brevetted Officer of the Staff

and Commander of Runners Escadron of the 21st Division

Romania

II-nd Army Corps

21-st Division

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Captain Warodin Dobre

This captain appeared to me during the night when I was busy with stretching of the bridge over the Danube,on a torential rain and in a critically moment when a portice from up river ,of which anchors have been ripped off by the storm,hit the bridge displacing another portice(boat) exactlly in the moment when I had finished .The sailors and pontooneers have dissappeared because of the toughness wind .I was just about to turn them back and restart the operation when Captain Warodin appears offering me his help and asking me to tell him what to do.I have satissfied his wish and made him of use.I was astouned...I have never seen a man more energic and devoted ;he worked hard and at 6 in the morning I manged to cross the trops .It is curious how this man with so much military temperament ,had no Command in the Regiment;at the bridge ,he was as a liaison officer of the Cavalry Division.

I have asked him from the Great Headquarter and I have obtained him at the Division as informer officer ,where,defying dangers and the intensity of perils he aquited himself with the conscience of patriot by the hardest tasks.

He is succeeded a the Superios School of War.

Please ,I ask that he is given the Romanian Star , Officers Stage.

Commander of the 21st Division

General (ss) Lambru

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The Fights of the right shore.

Setting the foot on Bulgarian shore,the Romanian troops were full of elan,thirsty to revenge the humiliations and cruelties endured from Bulgarians.The advance was made on two directions:towards South in direction Mah-Kaia and Sarnubekioi and towards East,in direction Breaslen-Turcsmil.A third detachment has occupied solid Reahovo,the central point of disembarking ,strenghtening it such that a bridgehead could be organized.Although ,to some extent,obstacled by the lack of artillery-which could not yet have crossed the Danube-,the Romanian troops occupy the Bulgarian villages one after the other ,running through bayonet the weak troops ,as well as the armed polulation of the villages ,which was looking to delay the advance.

Surprised by the unexpected wave,just as the offensive in Dobrogea was unleashed as well,the Germano-Bulgarian Commander is looking to gather everything in his reach ,to dam the advance of the enemy.It was a small thing.The battalions -seven-which started from Turtucaia and Silistra towards the Dobrogean Front,are stopped turned around to make stand from the East.The mobile reserve of the bridgehead Rusciuk and the marching battalions and milita(police),which were heading to Turtucaia,had to attack from West.The first esalon of the 217th German Division,which was gathering into the fighting zone,was embarked in trucks and automobiles and send to Turtucaia,as well as a German escadron and many heavy field batteries ,German,Austrian and Bulgarian.

In the evening of 1st of October ,all the set objectives by the Romanian troops have been met;the enemy was retreating South,making a thin line before our troops.The next day,the action has been restarted and with all strong fire of enemy artillery ,the troops of the 10th Division occupy towards South Kasikler(Slivopol),Mak-Kaia and Sarnubekioi,as the the troops of the 21st Division occupy towards East Babovo,Gulema-Varnovo,Breaslen.At 9,30 produces an event which changes the face of things.Two Austrian vessels have appeared at the Western corner of Lung Ostrov(Lung Islet) and opened over the bridge.Another two ships ,stopped a little up the river,near Tabanu ,opened over the Romanian troops which were engaged on the right shore of Danube in fight with Bulgarians ,as well as over the reserves which were waiting on to the left shore the moment of embarkation.

What happened?The torential rain which fell in the afternoon of 1st of October and all through the night ,has risen the waters of Danube River.Taking advantage by the rising of the level of Danube ,a group of two monitors and two vedette of the Austrian fleet could get out of Persina Channel and,crossing over the obstacles seeded in front of them,have appeared in the close by of the passing point(the bridge).

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The darkness, the storm and the rain have obstacled the army posts on the shore to see and signall the coming out of the fleet .Monitors "Bodrog" and "Koros" could not however force the dam of Tabanu and settled to bombard the shores ,the bridge being outside the fleet cannons firing range.At 3 in the afternoon the two monitors ,gravely avariated by the precise fire of Romanian artillery had to retreat and with great difficulty ,have re enterd by evening of 3rd of October in Persina Channel.The two small vedettes could sneak between the dam and the shore ,because of the rising of waters and appeared at Lung Islet and fired on to the bridge , but without touching it.Organizing the defence against the monitors was hard to acomplish.The torential rain and the quick rising of the water level of Danube has transformed the whole marsh of Flaminda in to an imense pond.It could be used for circulation only the driveway.The cannons ,especially the heavy ones coud not be inched anymore to be brought into the new positions ,up the river,from where to keep in respect the enemy monitors.Conscious by the gravity of this turn of things,the Romanian Commander calculated that the continuation of the operations it is impossible and that the new situation imposes the modification of it.At 11 a.m. General Averescu gives the order to suspend whatever moves on to the left shore ,and went to Peris to confere with the Great Headquarter.The offensive at Flaminda had lived.

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King Ferdinand of Romania uniform and some personal belongings.

[archangel9]

WOW!! Brilliant razu

John

[Borden Battery]

Here is a website of interest to Romanians. Regards Borden Battery

Armata Regală Română - The Romanian Royal Army

There is very little information on the Romanian Royal Army during the Great War. This is a very short summary of the Order of Battle. [CEF Study Group - April 2006]

http://www.geocities.com/dangrecu/

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Thank you B.B. I'd have a look latter.

Andrei

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The retreat

The decision of the Great Romanian Headquarter was that,faced with the threat of destroing of the bridge by the Austro-Hungarian fleet and by the momentan impossibility to away it,to be suspended for the time the crossing of the troops ,to retreat the infantry and a part of the artillery on to the left shore and to keep on the Bulgarian shore only the bridgehead Reahovo-Babovo,which to be stronglly strenghtened ,to serve as a supporting point until the bettering of he weather and away-ing the Austrian fleet will permit the restart of the whole operation.The troops of the 10th Division ,which were the most advanced ,have received late in the night, the retreat order;they broke contact with the enemy and begun the marching towards the Danube River.The next day,at 3rd of October ,in the morning,the enemy have continued the trials of destroing the bridge.The Austro-Hungarian fleet has launched on the river a big barge filled with dynamite .The bardeg,floating along the Bulgarian shore ,has been taken under our artillery fire from the left shore,hit in full and sunk by explosion.Instead of the two damaged monitors ,appeared another two monitors ,which gave the fight with the Romanian batteries and troops ,unable to reach the bridge.From the right shore,though,the enemy released in to the water current mines ,pontoons ,bardges,etc of which some had hit the bridge damaging it,stopping thus the crossing of the troops.As the Romanian Commander was trying to repair the bridge and was asking to bring the Romanian fleet of monitors from Hirsova,arrived a new order from the Great Romanian Headquarter,which forsee the stopping of the offensive ,retreating of the troops and rising up of the bridge.It was the wake of an examination of the general situaion on the both fighting fronts(Carpathians and Dobrogean).The unfolding of our War has entered into an accute crisis.It was the 3rd of October.In Transilvania the enemy counteroffensive begun to become desperate.We had lost the Fight at Sibiu and we were finding in retreat towards Brasov.The Romanian troops in Ardeal,weakened by taking some of the Divisions from there,to strenghten the Dobrogean Front,were opposing not enaugh resistance against to the strong enemy .A new defeat ,and the enemy would find clear path through the Carpathian Mountains Passes.The Great Headquarter found that it is prudent to strenghten the positionsin Carpathian Mountains with new troops.Because we had no available reserves ,it has been taken the grave decission to stop the offensive at Flaminda ,and to make use of the troops destined to this operation to face the threat to the North.The penible and tearing decission ,but dictated by elementary prudence .The future will show soon how based was this decission.Ten days latter,Divisions 10th and 21st were those who stopped the enemy at Predeal,and the 22nd Division stopped him at Bran.They were the Divisions from Flaminda !Instedad of offensive at the Danube ,the troops of the III-rd Army had to wage defensive fight into the mountains ,to defend the Kingdom from invasion and rid of the shame of a quick and too easy ocupation.

The leaving of the Bulgarian territory has been made in the days of 4th and 5th of october .There were retreated all the men and almost all the wounded,part of them over the bridge ,part in the boats ;the small matrial which could not be withdrew has been destroied by the artillery fire from the left shore.During the night of 4th-5th Octber,the bridge has been taken down and retreated .During this time,our troops had not suffered almost anything from the enemy part which,having too weak forces ,was happy to obsreve us from distance ,attacking only the arierguards which remained on the Southern shore ,to protect the embarkation ant crossing of the last of the troops.The afirmation from the enemy communicates ,that the failure of our action at Flaminda it is owed to"the Germano-Bulgar forces" which,coming from Rusciuk and Turtucaia ,would have "given a veiling attack" against Romanian troops ,rejecting them in to the river,it is pure fantasy.It is invented from the need to disimulate the emotion through which the enemy went .

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The disproportion between te weak militia(police) troops which the Bulgarians could oppose faced with the 6 Divisions of the Romanian operations Army,was crushing ,to be afirmed seriously such a thing.Also ,very curious is the afirmation of Ludendorff which did not understand the aim of this crossing"which could not change the situation neither at the Danube ,nor in Transilvania".There are also Germans which realized that the enterprise was nor "desperate ",neither "foolish" and which especially have the will to say it.Major Enders confesses that "the technical part of the operation was solved by Romanians in brilliantly way".and an anonimous historiograph of the Danube Army writes :"Romanians have tried during the campaign in Dobrogea to cross the Danube .The date of the crossing was judiciously recocnized;the crossing point well choosen .It has been a well thought enterprize for which they used powerful means and plenty of tecnical ones."In the face of these afirmations made by the enemy of good faith,based on the observations made personally,at the site ,the pretention of Hindemburg in his memoirs,that at the hearing of the news about crossing of the Romanian troops at Reahovo,he 'd have given the order"Arrest those troops!" appears like a fanfaronade or as a joke of doubtful taste .It remainds the joke of same quality of the German Kaizer which,soon after the breaking of the European War ,announced that he will send the Geandarmery from Berlin to "arrest the ninuscle British Army".Tosev ,the Commander of the III-rd Bulgarian Army ,tasks himself to answer to these questions ,confessing sincerely the peril of the situation created to the enemy:"If the Romanians would have managed to widen the bridge head and cross some more units over to the other side of the Danube,then wee all would have found in a difficult situation,even Ludendorff himself".

Stopping of the operation at Flaminda it is ,such,the result of our own free will and it is the effect of the critical situation on the Transilvanian Front.The missgivings of preparation noticed have caused only making difficult the operations and,what is to be cried about,numerous victims.Such was the lack of organising of an aerian defence and,especially,the insuficiency of defence against the enemy monitors.Few days before,at 8th of October ,the Austro-Hungarian escadre ,together with troops of disembarkation,have attacked the Romanian bridge from Cinghinelor Islet,installed there to observe and close the way of the enemy fleet .The small garisson ,forgotten there ,without connections and aids,has been masacred after a heroic resistance ,in which a young navy officer ,Sublieutenant Izvoranu,died like a hero,after he fought like a brave.The survivors -two officers and 150 soldiers -have been made prisoners ,together with 6 cannons .It was the sad epilogue of the Battle of Flaminda.

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His Majesty King Ferdinand of Romania and His Majesty King and Emperor George the V-th of Great Britain,in London