Romanian Campaign of 1916,Defending the Carpathians

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Chapter III

1.The Germans Prepare the Invasion of Romania

Northern front crisis

The Romanian offensive over Carpathian Mountains has been the prologue of the War.The enemy has answered with the manoeuvre in Dobrogea .Its success had as effect the weakening of the Romanian action in Transilvania .Taking advantage of the new situaton created,the enemy has taken a powerful counteroffensive on the Northern Front,rejected the Romanian Army which invaded Transilvania and threw it into the Carpathian Mountains.It was obvious that this was only a first stage of the German campaign plan ,after which it had to follow the second one:the trial of the enemy to breakthrough the Carpathians barrier and occupy Romania.

The experience of the war until now ,has proven to the Great Romanian Commandment ,the missfortunes of our Army and showed the path to follow.The great peril was in the Carpathian Mountains .In Dobrogea ,the front has been somewhat stabilized;although the Romanian counteroffensive failed ,it did not seem probable a great threat from this part.What had to be conjured with any price was the eminent attack from the direction of the mountains.All the forcings of the Romanian Commandment will tend to ,strenghtening of the resistance until the arriving of the winter.The big snows ,which will fall on the mountains ,will stop the operations .The interuption caused by the winter will give us the needed time for tending to our wounds and learn the war.It will be possibele to select commandments ,there will be brought cannons ,machineguns ,aeroplanes ,the whole equipment which was missing and set us to inferiority ,there will be prepared men from deposits ,prepearing a new army ,with another spirit and another value.

The difficult times , which we were living ,were tormenting the spirits.Tere were systems accused,persons were found guilty,solutions were being proposed.Out of the initiative of the King,it has been held at the Royal Palace,at 10th of October ,a Council of ministers at which participated also the chiefs of the opposing parties ,with the purpose of a national government.The trial did not reach any result ,because some of the ones consulted have declared that they cannot assume the responsibility of a situation which they did not created.The chiefs of the parties in oposotion have,however, asked for the replacement of General Iliescu from the real Command of the Army,by General Averescu, maybe even General Culcer.The ideea was sided such that ,not to be going on the road of political Generals.

The attention focused over the organization of the defence of the Mountaineous Frontier.There were 500 Miles to be defended ,with a heavy trialed army.The I-st Army was greatly exhausted in the wake of the fights at Jiu and of the defeat at Sibiu;the II-nd Army almost completely disorganized;the IV-th Army was the best kept ,as physical and moral strenght,but has remained isolated.The Sector Oituz-Buzau,held between the armies II-nd and Northern,was empty,unoccupied by any troops;it has thus become the most vulnerable point from the whole dispozitive of the frontier defence,uncovering thus the internal wings of the two armies.The situation was more grave,as wee did not had strategical reserves .Broken in one point of the front ,wee did not had with what to fill this empty space.These two questions primed in front of all the others:filling the empty space in region Oituz-Buzau and forming up a Strategical Reserve .And for finding the necessary forces ,the question of the Russian aid imposed as a necessity without question.General Alekseev communicated at 11th of october to the Great Romanian Headquarter that,after his informations,the Germans are planning a runthrough action in Galati direction.Considering the Oriental Front as unique ,he decided to sent significant aids to the North of Moldavia ,to conjure the danger of turning of the right flank ,Russian.At 17th of October ,the Russian Generalisim returns ,saying that he decided the sending of Four Army Corps in region Falticeni-Piatra-Roman,for to enterprise a Russian offensive towards Bistrita,conform with the military convention with Romania at our entering in the War.Late decission,which the events happened till now made it almost inutile!Because will now be able the Romanian troops ,exhausted already,demoralized ,to make the huge forcing of crossing again the Carpathians ?In any case the arriving of the Russian aids will have the effect of permitting us to take out from the Carpathian Front of the two Divisions of Northern Moldavia ,the 14th and 8th ,to form up the Strategic Reserve ,so much indispensable. Until the arriving of the Russian aid,which will not happen before 15-20 days , Alekseev asks to the Romanian Commandment to hold well the Front.The hope of this resistance is based on to the Northern Army,the one scratched the least ,and with the most rose up moral ,of them all,Romanian armies .

Forr filling the gap between Oituz and Buzau,it is lifted from Dobrogea the 15th Division ,it is send the 7th Mixt Brigade ,Colonel Sturza and is constituted ,behind the Northern Army,in the region Bacau-Tirgu Ocna ,a mobile reseve,made out of the 8th Division,which is taken out of the Front.The II-nd Army will alaso be consolidated by the 12th Division from Dobrogea and the 16th Division at the Danube River.

In foreseeing of any eventualities ,the Great Headquarter disposed the evacuation of the sedentary parts of Oltenia and Muntenia toward Moldavia,as well as beginning the military evacuation of Bucharests.

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General Berthelot and the creation of strategic reserves

General Berthelot,the Chief of the French Mission,has arrived at 16th of October.In the atmosphere of moral depression,provoked by the defeats of the Army and of the dark perspectives of the future ,the arriving of the eminent soldier of France was bringing a revigorating ray of sun.Receiving him in Peris Train Station ,Bratianu(Romanian Primeminister) saluted him with these words:"Wellcome Sir General.I salute in your eminence the Chief of Staff of Romanian Army,if you accept it".

Out of delicacy,Berthelot has declined this offer,keeping the role of councelor ,which has been given to him from the beginning.

Being aquainted with the situation of the Fronts,the Chief of the French Mission has presented to King Ferdinand ,after few days,a plan of action ,in which it was foreseen ,firstly throwing out of the enemy from the Kingdom and an organization,definitive,strong ,to ensure the mastering of the Carpathian Mountain Passes.After this it will follow ,the passing to offensive ,with the concur of the Russians ,to push the II-nd Romanian Army and Northern Romanian Army on the line Olt-Homorod-Superior Mures,and form up ,then,strong reserves in Birsei Country.Bertherlot thinks also necessary to be started a great offensive against Bulgarians ,with the help of a powerful mass of Russian troops ,which will become available by the arriving of winter and interuption of operations on the Russian Front.In any case,the Fernch General insists that the chief of preocupations of the Romanian Commandment may not be other than forming up a strong Strategic Reserve ,by taking out from the fronts of several divisions.All the plans which are elaborated are function of our resistance ,until the arriving of long expected Russian reinforcements.But this Russian aid was problematic.General Berhelot ,passing towards Romania on his way,had a meeting with Russian Primeminister Sturmer and with General Alekseev.Both saw with bad eyes the French Mission and her role in Romania.Alekseev did not want to know anything about an offensive in Bulgaria;his all preocupation was to obtain war material from the Allies.As about Romania,Alekseev,in a very bad disposition,answered to General Berthelot:"As Romania keeps on having you,to bee in good luck;But make Romanians understand that Romania is not defended in Carpathians ,but on Siret River!"In other words ,in the time when Romanians were defending with vigor in Carpathian Mountains passes,the Russian Generalisim adviced the retreat and abandoning of the greatest and richest parts of the Kingdom,together with its capital city(Bucharest).

General Berthelot has seen things just.The organizing of resistance to defend the passes was made heavily by the fact that the entire Romanian military Commandments have engaged on to the fighting fronts the totality of the Romanian Army.The urgent necessity was forming up of reserves behind the front ,by taking units from the armies on the Front.But taking out troops in the middle of the fights ,and from units already weakened ,was a very delicate operation.Still,it was very necessary and reclamed time,forcing and the good heart of the Russians.

Will we be able to maintain this resistance?This was the unresting question,which tormented the souls of the Commanders and Chiefs of the Kingdom.Because in this time ,the enemy was in full offensive ;he was attacking on the whole line of the Front ,with strenght ,not giving the slightest moment to breath,and this was the proof of his decissiveness to exploit the tactical advantages ,given by until now victories ,to destroy us and end as soon a possible the campaign ,with a resounding success.

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The Romanian front becomes the principal front of the European War

Romanians had all the rights to be concerned by the turning that the War has taken.The Big German Hedquarter decided an offensive in great style against Romania.Germania had absolute need of the Romanian wheat and petrol,to be able to go on living and to continue the War.The enemy felt here easy prey and rich and was focusing in this part all its attention and efforts.The Campaign against Romania was looked now as rentable enterprise ;the expedition of punishment (Straffexpedition) was becoming a campaign of prey(Beutefeldzung).There was also for the Germans the need to shorten their fighting front ,which Romanians felt ,as well.The defence of the Line of Carpathians and of the Danube River ,making a Front which strapped Romania on a lenght of 750 Miles was a strategic impossibility.It mobilized numerous troops ,which were reclamed by the decissive fights on the other fronts.It was thus indispensable to to replace the long and sinuous Line of the Political Frontiers of Romania,by a short natural Line.This could have been ,for the time being,the Line of Siret River or of Prut River.The Mountain Passes has ,thus to be forced and Romania occupied before the winter -which was closing in-to make difficult and obstacle the operations.

The relative calm which dominated the whole European Fronts gave the Germans the possibility to focus over Romania.

On the Western Front ,the big actions ceased;there were only small offensives with limited objective ,without veleities of breaking of fronts.The Italians have obtained the victory of Gorizia[1],after which,then,the fights entered a period of stagnation.The same was on the Russian Front ,after the last bloody convulsion ,which ended with the failure from Kovel[2].Operations in Macedonia had a local character ,at the left wing,around Monastirului;the Army of General Sarrail was not capable of an offensive in great style to threaten the enemy front ,so that it wouldn't incommode with this face the Romanian one.Not being seriously threatened nowhere,the enemy was in the situation to be able to draw considerable forces from all fronts ,to send them against Romania.The Romanian Front was becoming ,at this epoch,the principal front of the Great European War.

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The German operation plan

The strategic plan conceived by the German Staff,resulted from the geographical configuration of our Kingdom:the first glance over the map ,imposed it.Muntenia was making a big proeminence towards West,giving an unfolding of frontier of almost 500 Miles.It was strangled between Carpathians and Danube ,like a stretch of land of 219 Miles in lenght and 63 Miles wide.The operation necessary to obtain the shortening of the Front ,was by cutting of this proeminence.An action started by Falkenhayn at North and by Mackensen at South ,was imposed as the most elementary strategic operation.

Choosing the region were it had to be operated the cutting of Muntenia ,have given the occasion of discussions in the Big German Headquarter.It was obvious that,as much as it would have been done towards East,the cutting,the more advantageous it would have been ,because it would have isolated a bigger surface of land in West ,separating in this way the Romanians by the Russians and making prisoner the Romanian Army, cut in this way by the supporting base.That is why,the first plan conceived by the Big German Hedquarter ,was the most daring one.The Group of Armies in Transilvania had to enter by Southern Carpathians of Moldavia on the line of Siret River ,to shake hand with Mackensen which,on his part,had to cross the Danube River in Dobrogea at Galati.The final result of this daring operation would have been the destroying of the principal part of the Romanian Army from Muntenia and taking in mastering ,at once,of all its rich territory.This plan"so beautiful" as Ludendorff names it,seemed to the Big Hedquarter , too risky;it was even inexecutabil at that epoch,because the Romanian -Russian Front from Dobrogea was maintaining intact on the line Rasova-Cobadin-Tuzla.That is why,it has been abandoned"with regret".It has been agreed over another plan,of which dispozition were communicated by Hindemburg to General Falkenhayn ,even in the day of 8th of October ,in the deccisive day of the Battle of Brasov.This strategic plan was made out of three opeations:the first operation was exploiting as fast as possible the success in Transilvania ,to obstacle the arriving of the Russian reinforcements.A stroong troop had to occupy the Passes in Southern Moldavia.This troop ,made out of Infantry and Cavalry ,belonging to the IX-th German Army ,was to touch in the shortest time possible Tirgu-Ocna ,then to advance in Moldavia with direction South-East ,along Valleys of Trotus River and Siret River,destroying the communication lines and the telegraph.The second operationwas to be executed in the same time .Under the protection of the falengard in Trotus River Valley,the mass of the IX-th Army was to open up the road over the mountains ,towards Bucharest ,on the shortest way,such "that the whole Western territory of Muntenia to be cut as by a knife."

If this operation succeeded ,was to begin the third stage .Mackensen was supposed to cross the Danube River in a point which had to be determined by circumstances ,to shake hand with Falkenhayn,and complete the Romanian desastre.

A new separation of the enemy troops begins.The I-st Austro-Hungarian Army was taken from under the orders of Falkenhayn,which remained only Commander of the IX-th German Army.The two armies ,together with the VII-th Army (von Koevess), in Bucovina Carpathian Mountains ,and with the III-rd Army(von Bonthrrer) from Southern Galitia,have been united in a Group of Armies under the Command of Archduke inheriter of Austria ,Carol of Habsburg.For the purpose of the offensive ,which had to begin,the Big German Headquarter has set to Falkenhayn dispozition new units and namely:four Bavarian Divisions ,two Alpine Brigades Austro-Hungarian and two Cavalry Divisions.Of the four Bavarian Division ,two hasve been assigned under Command of von Arz Army,remaining the other two ,to the IX-th German Army.These measures have scored a mark ,on the surface of the ego of the German Generalisim(Falkenhayn) and determined a state of permanent tension between him and the Commander of the Group,to which he was subordinated.

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The attack of the Mountain Passes will be given by surprise

In the evening of 9th of October Falkenhayn gave the order for attacking the mountain passes.The operation has to be executed by surprise.Without giving a minute rest to Romanian troops which were retretating ,the enemy wanted to stalk them ,and taking advantage of the desorganization in which he thought they find themselves,-like any army in retreat-to attack them,to obstacle them of estabilising on positions on the mountaineous ridges ,and to cross the frontier in the same time with them.Consecvent to the dispozitions of the Big German Headquarter ,and to his own thoughts the principal attack will be given in the direction of the Mountain Passes which open the shortest way towards Bucharest:Bran,Predeal,Bratocea,Buzau.In the same time there were also attacked all the other mountain passes .Falkenhayn was expecting important results especially from the operations in Olt Valley.

The German General looks to ,as a mistake ,the ordered action against Oituz.It takes forces from him ,which would have been more utile in the decissive attack,and cannot see the use of an attack in a excentric direction ,which separates him by a mountaineous region of over 63 Miles wide.But an order is order;it has to be executed .Especially that the Austrian Commandment of the Group of Armies of Archduke Carol had his vissions ,entirely different of those of Falkenhayn,pretaining the importance of the Moldavian Front.So as Falkenhayn was making preparations for forcing the Passes of Muntenia(the mountain passes),von Arz was making ,on his part,preparations for forcing of the Moldavian Mountains .At 12th of October ,the offensive for crossing the mountains by surprise was unleashed along the entire frontier.The Great Battle of the Passes has begun.

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A little military geography

Defending the Carpathians was made in conditions of great strategic inferiority,for us.All the advantages drew from the geographical form of the Romanian frontier ,have passed on the enemy side;all the disadvantages were now on the Romanian side.The enemy was finding himself now inside the Carpathians Arch,enjoying the advantage of manoeuvre on interior lines.Three railways ,streching like cords of the arch ,one along the Olt Valley,another one along in Tirnavei Valley and the third one in Mures Valley,were making direct lines of communication ,which permitted quick movement of troops from one point to the other of the Carpathian Front.Another line was going parallel with the Mountains of Moldavia ,at 19-25 Miles distance from the frontier.

The Romanians were on the exterior line of the Carpathians Arch,having at dispozition only one railway ,with a trajectory made out of zigzags ,which was increasing the distance between the points of the frontier ,at fantastic figures.In this way,for example ,the distance between points Turnu Rosu and Predeal was,through Ardeal,of a lenght of 88 Miles on the direct line of Fagaras(Fagaras Mountain Massif).The same journey ,made by Romanian train ,had to pass through Piatra Olt ,Pitesti,Chitila,Ploiest on a distance of over 250 Miles.The same thing for all the other points.

In a war of movement ,like this one ,when the line of border could not be occupied on the whole stretch by an uninterrupted cordon of troops,was obvious ,a great advantage to be able to move the troops with greater haste than the adversary,either for defence,or,especially,to give surprise attacks.

The lack of preparation of Romania for the eventuality of a war against Austro-Hungary was manifested again by an enormous strategical inferiority .It wiil prove fatal in the unfolding of defending the Carpathians.

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In the eve of tragic moments

The curtain has not fallen at the end of the Dobrogean act of Romanian tragedy.A new tragic spectacle begins now on an other stage .Along the Carpathian Mountains ,a giant was leaping over the midget which jumped into the fight ,only with the power given by the conscience of the justice of the cause and the trust in the Ally.The drama has been played one year before on the Serbian Theatre of War,with tragic ending.

The fate and honesty of the Kingdom are put into the hands of the Romanian soldier .To him addresses the King of the country in a moving appeal:

"Soldiers.

After seven weeks of War ,as long as you held your chest against the enemy with manhood ,today begins the aprig fight at the border of the Kingdom against the enemy armies ,which seek to invade us.In these moments ,I feel as a duty to remind you that the holly land of our country has been always defended with honesty and bravery under our Great Voievozi and watered with the blood of our ancestors ,which have beaten the invaders.

I expect from all ranks ,to make their duty now again with hollyness ,defending with any price ,until the last breath ,the threatened Kingdom.No unit to held back,but to keep with any means the fighting positions;wherever the enemy is weak ,to be attacked and repulsed.A lost position ,to be imediately attacked and reconquered.

Our mountains ,which thoulsands of years have been tha cradle and guard of our kind,to be the unseizable wall where the steel waves of the enemy to crush before the bravery of the defenders.The virtue of the army and saving the Kingdom ask for it.

Ahead ,thus , with God and the victory will be yours.".

To the Allies , King Ferdinand explains ,by an interview published in a big English newspaper ,the circumstances which made Romania enter the War,the sacrifices made by her ,the endured sufferings ,and ends asking for their help by words inspired by the most noble sentiments:"Romanians will remain tide by the Allies cause.The enemy will not be able to kidnap their faith in just Anglia ,in France ,the Latine fate and in Russia,their close neighbour.But the Romanians ask the Skies that,with all their actual preocupations and problems they have to solve,the Allies to not let to pass, even the slightest ,in second row in their minds the matters of Romania".

Unfortunately the circumstances wanted otherwise.They have imposed to the Ally powers the role of helpless spectator.No one has turmoiled the tragic spectacle which was unfolding before the compassionate eyes of the public which filled the stairs of the European amphitheatre.

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2.First Battle of the Passes

a)Attacking the Moldavian Gates

I-st Austro-Hungarian Army against Northern Romanian Army

The Austro-Hungarian Commandment did not want to content with the role of Second of Falkenhayn.The War against Romania was first of all Austro-Hungarian's.Her fate played now ,as well,when it seemed that the difficult times have passed and success begins to show face,the Austro-hungarians wanted their share at the victorious revanche.That is why,Archduke Carol ,the Commander of the Group of Armies to which it belonged the Army of Falkenhayn ,decided that the I-st Austro-Hungarian Army -under Command of von Arz -to participate at the offensive against the Mountain Passes.The goal of the Austro-Hungarian offensive will not be only to occupy the mountain passes of Moldavia ,to receive an eventual advance of the Romanians ,which would have threatened Falkenhayn back.The ambition of the august son went far:the Austro-Hungarian Army was supposed to push the whole front of the I-st Romanian Army and go in depth in Moldavia Country.The I-st Austro-Hungarian Army was made now of three corps of army ,of two divisions each.The mission given to this Army was ;occupying the passes and advancing on the Moldavian territory with the left ,until Bistrita ,and with the center until Bacau.At the right wing ,Southern ,of the Army of Arz ,in the region of Oituz,was formed a group of troops constituted esentially by the 71-st Austro-Hungarian Division ,which although it belonged to the IX-th German Army of Falkenhayn ,still his operations would have to unfold in tight connection and and with the same direction with the Ist Austro-Hungarian Army.The role of this Group ,to which it had been attached also the two Divisions of Cavalry of Schmettow,and as reserve, the 8th Bavarian Division ,was to occupy Tirgu -Ocna in Trotus Valley ,making thus easier for the VI-th Corps to occupy Bacau ,then to advance along Siret River ,to separate the Romanian Army from Muntenia(central-Southern part of Romania) ,by the Russian Army ,which was gathering in Moldavia(Eastern part of Romania).A new Bavarian Division-the 10th -was expected to increase the size of the general reserve of the Army.

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The plan of the simultaneous double offensive ,of the IX-th German Army towards Bucharest and of theI-st Austro-Hungarian Army in Moldavia ,unhappies deeply Falkenhayn.The German General considers "unfortunate" the ideea of this attack given in two divergent directions ,one towards South and the other towards East ;it will bring a scattering of the forces and compromize the success.* To the I-st Austro-Hungarian Army ,of a strenght of nine Divisions of Infantry and two of Cavalry,would have to held chest the Northern Romanian Army,Commanded by General Prezan,defending thus the Gates of Moldavia against the invasion.

The Northern Army,Romanian was finishing her retreat in complete order and was occupyintg the ridges of the Moldavian Mountains and its passes.

Of the units constituting this Army ,the one further to the North was the 14th Division,General Vasilescu Paraschiv.This Division was occupying the region of Bicaz and of Bistricioara,making the connection with the left wing Russian;she has remained beyond the line of the frontier in Ardeal territory,with the center at Tulghes.

At South ,the 7th Division ,General Istrat,was occupying the positions which dominate the Trotus River Valley,neighbour with Gimes-Palanca Pass ,until Uzului Valley,including.

A little to the South,the important Valley of Oituz had to be occupied by the 2nd Romanian Division of Cavalry,in retreat from Transilvania and by the 15th Division which was arriving from the Dobrogea Front.At the Southern extremity of the Moldavian Front ,was constituting a new unit ,the 7th Mixt Brigade,Romanian ,Colonel Sturdza,made out of three Regiments of Infantry-(Horea ,Closca and Crisan-the ex-fortress troops , and the remains of the 2nd Graniceri Regiment,destroyed at Turtucaia),six artillery batteries and a Company of Cyclists ,which would have to defend the Vrancea Region,with the center at Soveja.

The 8th Romanian Division,General Patrascu ,has been retreated from Bistricioara and taken at Piatra-Neamt;it constituted the Reserve of the Northern Army.In total,thus ,the Northern Army had to defend the passes of Moldavia with four Infantry Divisions , a Mixt Brigade and a Cavalry Division.At 14th of October ,almost all units of the Northern Army were on their position, on the frontier;the enemy,kept to respect by strong arierguards ,most of the times counterattacked ,was left behind.The contact have been broken and the troops of von Arz were climbing with difficulty the roads by the mountains ,with the bridges destroyed by Romanians.Only at the Southern extremity ,the 2nd Cavalry Romanian Division ,covering he retreat of the thick of the 7th Romanian Division ,was keeping tight contact with the enemy Cavalry ,as well as with the 71st Austro-Hungarian Division.That is why the Battle for the Moldavian mountain Passes will begin at this wing in the day of 12th of October ,and then it will propagate on the whole stretch of the mountaineous frontier ,to Dorna.

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The offensive operations would have to follow with the next face:at the Northern Extremity ,in Dorna Region ,the XI-th Austro Hungarian Corps ,which has been part until then from the VII-th Army ,neighbour, -Commander Feldmarshal von Habermann-was supposed to attack in the mountaineous region Saru Dornei-Brosteni,having to fight with the Russian troops from the left flank of Lecitki Army and with the troops of Bistrita Group-Colonel Colori-of the 14th Division.The XVI-th Corps ,Austrian made out of Divisions 74th and 72nd -Commander Feldmarshal Fabini -made out of Divisions 61st and 39th -was supposed to attack passes Ghimes and Uz,defended by the 7th Romanian Division.Finally ,Oituz Group,Commanded by German General Schmettow having also the 71st Division,Austro-Hungarian and the 1st Austro-Hungarian Division and the 3d of Cavalry,German,had to force Oituz Pass ,defended by the 2nd Cavalry Division,supported on the left side by the 7th Mixt Brigade ,which was forming up,and behind of the 15th Division,which was arriving from Dobrogea .The reserve of Arz Army was made of Divisions 8th and 10th Bavarian,kept at Tirgu Secuiesc and at Miercurea -Ciuc ,to be introduced in the point where the breaking will occur.

*The Germans explain the intention of Archduke Carol to attack in Moldavian Mountains ,by the care of the inheriter of the Austro-Hungarian Throne to put to safe shelter Transilvania against a Romanian-Russian occupation.That is why the preoccupation of this one was more for the defensive towards East ,than for the offensive towards South.

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In Suceava Mountains

At the Northern extremity of the Romanian Front ,the Austrian offensive has not given any result whatsoever,that is why the XI-th Austro-Hungarian Corps has been passed again to the neighbour army ,the VII-th ,from which it has been taken in the first place.The Romanian Group of Bistrita,which was occupying Paltinis Sector -Piscu Stejaru(Oak Peak) was also passed under direct orders of the IX-th Russian Army-General Lecitki -for a better coordination of operations .Besides,at 18th of October ,the whole 14th Romanian Division which front was stretching towards South till superior Valley of Tarcaului ,has been attached operatively to the IX-th Russian Army .On the stretch of this front ,the Carpathian Mountains are rove through in two points by the lateral valleys dug by the afluents of Bistrita River ,making thus ,two passes ,the points for entering in the Kingdom.The northern one is Bistricioara Valley ,which enters the Kingdom at point Prisacani;on the Ardeal side of the frontier is Tulghes Village.The Southern one is Bicaz Valley ,which passes in Ardeal through the big Romanian Village of Bicaz and enters the Kingdom through the steep canion/defile of Bicaz.Tall mountains surround the two passes.This side of the old frontier ,the two valleys surround ,one by North the other by South ,the majestic Massif of Ceahlau .The positions are of a charming beauty.But in the romantic valleys ,made like on purpose to be able to hear only the sound of the waters and the whistle of sheperds ,will thunder now cannons ,and the crystaline waters will be dirty with blood.

All the attempts made by the Austro-Hungarian troops to close in to our positions have been either stopped at distance by the precise firing range of the artillery ,or repulsed with heavy casualties by the infantry fires.At 17th of October ,an Austro-Hungarian detachment has been surprised at Bolovanis Picket and entirely destroyed,taking off also 2 officers and 65 soldiers prisoners.The Commander of the 74th Brigade of Hanovezi was glad that he is able to keep the positions at Bilbor and Corbu,on the Ardeal side of Bistricioara Valley,evacuated by Romanians during the retreat.To participate ,however, at the general offensive ,Feldmarshal Bandini ,the Commander of the 72nd Division,has received the order to force Bicaz Pass.

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.........Battle at the Moldavian Gates,Sectors of Trotus River and Oituz

C. 6 A.U.=the Vi-th Austrio-Hungarian Corps;D.39 A.U.=39th Austro-hungarian Division;D.1 Cv A.U.=1st Cavalry Austro-Hungarian Division ;D.71 A.U.=71st Austro-Hungarian Division;D.3Cv.G.=3rd German Cavalry Division;D.8 Bav=8th bavarian Division;

M.Ciuc=Ciuc Mountains;Muntii Oituz=Oituz Mountains;M.Bretcu=Bretcu Mountains

Bg.7 Mixta=7th Romanian Mixt Brigade;D.15.R.=15th Romanian Division;Det Boian=Boian Detachment

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The attack of Tipches Mountain

In the right side of Bicaz Pass ,and towards East of the Ardeal ,Village of Damuc,Mount Tipches rises his snowed peak at 1359 meters ,dominating the entire Bicaz Valley. In the day of 19th of October an enemy column ,made out of three battalions of infantry with machineguns and with a battery of cannons ,under the Command of Colonel Sander ,atacks by surprise the Mountain -occupied only by a Company of the 54th Infantry Regiment-and rejects the Romanians .From here,the enemy descends towards Croiesti ,trying to turn the Romanian position, and to enter in Bicaz Valley ,on the communication line and of retreat of Romanian Bicaz Group.Tarcau Valley is also threatened to be occupied by the enemy .Faced with this danger ,the Commander of the 14th Romanian Division constitutes the Detachment Colonel Gherascu,of three battalions which,united with the two Companies of the Sector and supported by a Section of cannons of 87 mm of the 24th Rimanian Artillery Regiment,to counterattack and reconquer the Mountain .Even in the evening of the day,the enemy ,lighting the field of battle with projectors and with flares ,restarted a violent fire ,over the position of Croiesti and attacks it with a battalion ,three times consecutively.But the two companies of 1877 Commanded by the old Major Rogobete ,were on watch;they have received with fires the attacks and repulsed them vigorously .In the same time ,the enemy was organizing the position ,strenghtening it with entrenches.

At once,after midnight,late,sounds behind the position,from Ata Picket ,trumpets and shouts of Urra!Left at 12 o clock from their positions,the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion of the 86th Romanian Regiment have climbed hard the steep ribs and forested of Tipches at 4 in the morning,flamed by the words said by Chiefs and trumpets, which were sounding the attack,have fall over the enemy position.Overwhelmed by panic ,after a short resistance ,the Austrians start to run away,leaving two mountain cannons and three machineguns.The elan of the soldiers is so big ,that even those who had assignements,outside the battle ,are dragged into the fight .Platooneer Balmischi Petru ,which was leading the food convoy of the Battalion ,has left his big pots and pans and the wagoons with meals and haste in the spin of the skirmish ,capturing the enemy cannons .Attracted by the noise of Urra! and of shots ,Rogobete starts in his turn on to the slopes of the Mountain ,taking a multitude of prisoners.

Waking up from the panic which overwhelmed him ,the enemy recollects ,gathers his ranks and start a counterattck against the adversary ,much inferior,in front of him.Efstaide Battalion resists for two hours of heavy fight then,arround 8 in the morning ,begins to hit in retreat ,taking with him the prisoners ,throwing into the abyss(ravine) the canons and machineguns captured.But the principal column of the Romanian Detachment ,made out of two battlions of Regiments 27th and 54th,coming from the East,from Tarcau,on the path Fundului-Smida Floare-Tipches Hill,have started the bombardment of the enemy poition.Almost the whole mountain has been reconquered by the enemy.In savage shouts and sounds of trumpet,as the enemy is surprised,dizzied and terrified.The cannons have to stop their fire ,the rifles shoot no more,because no one has time to reload and aim.It is only a total stir, a savage body fight .The enemy soldiers lose ground ,are taken out of the entrenches and throwed beyond the ridge .The whole terrain is covered with dead bodies ,between them the Commander of the Detachment ,Colonel Sanders ,hevily wounded.The long column of the prisoners is brought to the Romanian lines ;the Austrian soldiers are very joyful that they escaped the War and haste with greed to the bread offered by Romanians.

Two days before,the position on which Sanders Column retreated ,is also taken with assault by Romanians.

The desastrous defeat at Tipches had a depressing influence over the Commandment of XXI-st Austro-Hungarian Corps.The action ,offensive,which he has planned ends here.No other important attack took place aganst the Front of the 14th Romanian Division,but only bombardments of artillery and patrol actions .After a month,the 14th Division is withdrew in reserve and then moved on Olt Front ,and her place was taken by the Russians.

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The attack of Trotus Valley

Trotus Valley is one of the most important lines of communication and strategic of the Kingdom.She is the gate most circulated for crossing from Ardeal Country in to Moldavia Country.It is well populated with villages wich chain themselves,one after the other.It is rich ,with numerous industrial exploitations ,mining,forests ,mineral waters.It is roved through on the whole lenght by a driveway and a railway which,at Ghimes Pass ,connect with the railways of Transilvania Country .She also has a very interesting particularity from the strategical point of view .On a stretch of almost 32 Miles ,she goes almost parallel with the frontier ,from which it distance away only slowly ;in general this distance maintains between 4-10 Miles.Numerous lateraly valleys cross the mountains and give access in Trotus Valley.In this way,enumerates at South of Ghimes Pass:Sulta Valley,Ciobanus Valley,Uz Valley,Dofteana Valley,Slanic Valley,Oituz Valley and Casin Valley.Some of them are foreseen with good driveways or more mediocre roads ,others have even particular railways ,for forest exploitation.

Von Arz handed to VI-th Corps Austro-Hungarian ,the mission of attacking Trotus Valley by the superior valleys ;through the inferior valleys will attack Schmettow .

Feldmarshal Fabini gives up to the direct entering through Gimes pass ,which seemd too well defended and which extended to much the line of entering.That is why ,he has given the attack through the lateral valleys.In the day of 16th of October ,Fabini took the offensive with both Divisins of VI-th Corps .At the left ,the 61st Division -Commander Genreal Gallert -separated in to two columns ,have gone with one column the short road on Sultei Valley and decsended in Trotus Valley,where he occpied Agas Village,station of railways.The other column has followed Ciobanasului Valley and close in to Goioasa,in Trotus Valley.In the same time at the right side and at the South ,the 39th Division-Commander General Molnar-has begun the advance through Uzului Valley.

The Commander of the 7th Romanian Division,General Istrati ,decided ,in his turn,to defend himself counterattacking.He took advantage by the lack of connection of the enemy columns ,which followed separated valleys ,by rows of mountains ,to attack and beat everyone, in part.With this goal,Uz Group have received the order as ,for the time being,to resist with strenght on positions ,not giving up the terrain but ,only step by step.The first offensive will be taken by Trotus Group,against the enemy which have already entered at Agas and Goioasa .Against this group,the Romanian Commander organized two detachments:Detachment Lieut-Colonel Ioan will attack the enemy by the front towards Goioasa ,and Detachment Colonel Boian will attack him behind,at Agas.

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Boian Detachment,made out of three battalions of Regiments 14th and 16th Infantry,leave at evening of 16th of October on Asau Valley and walks the whole night ,passing in Agastinului Vallei,then in Agasului Valley until the confluence of this one with Trotus River.Here he stumble,in the morning of 17th of October ,over the regimentary trains of the enemy column.The Romanians attack violently with bayonet ;the enemy troop is scattered and all the war material is captured.The Romanian Detachment continues the advance along Trotus Valley ,towards Agas ,captures six howitzers of 150 mm,attacks and spreads out three escadrons of Cavalry of the enemy.Drunk with success,Colonel Boian advances imprudent,without taking precautionary measures ;the Detachment reaches Agas Village ,where it is received with machinegun fires and of cannon.The enemy,which was advancing towards Goioasa ,finding out about the danger threatening from behind ,has returned and occupied our own trenches around Agasului,in this region.Boian Detachment is now in a very difficult position,being attacked from all parts :by infantry with machineguns from Beleghetului Hill,at North;by the Austro-Hungarian artillery from Cotumbelor Hill,at South;by another column coming from Palanca ,from West .The Romanians begin a desastreous retreat towards Asau Valley.Beaten by the artillery of the enemy,surrounded,they suffer heavy casualties.The Commander of the Detachment ,Colonel Boian,falls himself prisoner together with some hundreds men.The rest of the Detachment have brought back 320 prisoners.

In the same tme ,the Detachment Lieut-Colonel Ioan attacks the enemy by the front ,with the rest of Regiments 14th and 16th ,starting from Asau towards West.At Poiana Edera(Edera Clearing),the enemey is violently attacked at bayonet and,although was superior in number,is repulsed towards Goioasa with heavy losses.Romanians capture 200 prisoners ,machineguns ,horses and pursuing the enemy which was retreating ,they occupy Goioasa ,advancing towards West.Piles of dead bodies of the enemy showed the size of the defeat.Unfortunately,the desaster of Boian Detachment has changed the situation.The enemy reconstitues himself,gathers great strenghts and comes again to attack.Ioan Detachment,in inferiority,has to retreat at at Asau.

The result of the fights at Agas-Goioasa is,with all the failure of Boian Detachment,that we have made prisoners three officers ,two cadets and 680 soldiers,but especially that the 60th Division Austro-Hungarian,made out of 16 battalions ,has been disorganised because of the big losses and was ,thus, forced to retreat on its positions.

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The fight in Uzului Valley

In Uzului(or Uz) Valley ,General Molnar has attacked with the entire 39th Austro-Hungarian Division .The Romanians had in this region the 27th Regiment of Infantry with a battery of the 8th Artillery Regiment.At 14th and 15th of October ,the enemy cannot make big progresses;he is repulsed from the frontier by artillery firing shots.An entire battalion of infantry ,Hungarian,massed in a ravine and prepared for attack ,has been destroied by our fire ;between the dead was also the Commanding Major of the Battalion.But the enemy puts in the line the entire forces of the Division and gives violent attacks ;he succeeds to occopy at 20th of October Poiana Uzului(Uzului Clearing),from where Romanian troops retreat towards Salatruc.

With the arrived aids ,the Romanians begin the counteroffensive ,attacking by the front ,along the Valley ,and also by the flanks ,on the elevations.The enemy resists with determination;the center of his resistance is a strong redoubt ,build before by Romanians ,perpendicular on Uzului Valley,West of the Village Poiana Uzului.By strong assaults ,the village is reconquered by the Romanian central group;the lateral columns cannot however advance.Encouraged by this beginning of success ,Fabini sends again the 61st Division to attack ,towards Gimes ,as the enemy artillery was attacking Goioasa .The attacks are ,though ,stopped by the Romanians and are not able to evolve.Grallert waits that the success on Uzului valley to open up the road.

In this time however,Istrati has build at Comanesti a detachment of three battalions ,Lieut-Colonel Catanescu,which starts in march towards Poiana Lapos,to fall behind the enemy position of Poiana Uzului;the action will unfold in the same time with a frontal attack.As the Detachment advances with difficulty,with numerous resistances,the frontal attack advances more to the left ,where it occupies Nemira Mountain.

At 27th of October,the 4th Hunters Regiment under the Command of his worthy Chief -Colonel Gherculescu-attacks frontal the strong position of the enemy.Companies 1 and 2 advance singing "To arms!".In repeated assaults ,the brave hunters succeed by evening to take out the enemy from the advanced positions.During the night they acomplish the victory ,Companies 3rd and 4th occupy allthe works at poiana Uzului,conquer the formidable redoubt and captures the entire garrison.The enemy,beaten,retreats in disorder on the whole front ;he leaves on the terrain a great number of dead ,numerous prisoners and big quantities of war material.Only in this day have been captured 4 officers and 650 soldiers prisoners.The Hunters push the beaten enemy until Poiana Lapos.The 39th Austro-Hungarian Division has suffered a felt defeat.Although Catanescu Detachment ,mobilized by the resistance of the enemy,could not enter in Uzului Valley,the enemy has to retreat on the frontier line.

The entire 39th Division seals the definitive defeat of the VI-th Corps.The plan of Forcing Trotus Valley through the lateral passes had fell,thanks to the troops of the 7th Romanian Division,she has payed the victory with four officers and 1463 soldiers missing.The enemy ,exhausted by the losses suffered and with both Divisions disorganized remains quiet on Trotus River Front and gives only small local attacks ,which are easy to be rejected by our artillery.

All hopes of Arz remain hanged by Oituz Pass,were it unfolds a life and death fight.

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b)the Battle at Oituz

Oituz Valley

Of all the lateral valleys ,which open up Trotus River Valley,the most wide and accessible is Oituz Valley.A good driveway roves it in lenght ,uniting Tirgu Secuiesc with Onesti,on Trotus River,6.25 Miles towards East from Tirgu Ocna ;the driveway crosses the frontier at Poiana Sarata(Salt Clearing) and passes through Villages Hirja,Fierastrau,Grozesti and Bogdanesti.This Valley has been chosen as ax of advance by Schmettow Group.It has been set a great importance on the action of this Group .And by all means.Because occupying of Onest Village would have turned the entire Romanian Line of Trotus River ,cutting it from her base and opened to the enemy the access imediate in Siret River Valley.It was the principal ideea of plan of the Group of Armies of Archduke Carol.Schmettow Group was constituted bythe 71st Division,Austro-hungarian-General Goldbach-,at the left the 1st Division of Cavalry Austro-Hungarian ,general von Ruiz,was making the connection with the Group of Buzau Pass.Behind the Group,has been brought as reserve the 8th Bavarian Division at Tirgu Secuiesc and was directed towards there also the 6th Cavalry Division German.This massing of forces ,especcialy of Cavalry,corresponded to the important strategic goal of the blow which was planned at Oituz.The operations of Schmettow Group for conquering of Oituz Pass ,carries the name the Battle from Oituz,a glorious page in the history of our War.

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The fight at Magherus

The 2nd Romanian Cavalry Division ,Commanded firstly by General Basarabescu,then by General Sinescu making the Flank Guard of South of the Northern Romanian Army,was retreating on Oituz Valley.She has avacuated Tirgu Secuiesc at 9th of October and was finding at 10th of October occupying the position at Magherus Mountain,between Villages Bretcu and Oituz,making resistance to the enemy ,which was stalking her close by.In the same day were beginning to disembark at Onesti ,the first elemnts of the 15th Romanian Division,which was supposed to form up with the 2nd Romanian Division of Cavalry ,the defence Army at Oituz.The mission of the Cavalry Division was to keep on hold the advance of the enemy,until the troops of the 15th Division would occupy the positions from Oituz Pass.The Command of the Army of Oituz was handed to the Commander of the 15th Division ,General Eremia Grigorescu[3];he wiil become one of the glorious names of our War.The 15th Division has been,at the beginning of the War sacrificed whithout any calculus ,at Turtucaia.After the desaster ,has been partialy remade;it was in truth a Brigade ,the 30th -made out of Regiments 53rd and 65th-strenghtened with a Battalion of the 80th Regiment and with the 25th Artillery Regiment .After this remaking it was send to Dobrogea ,where it fought with success at Arabagi.From full fight ,she has been taken from the Dobrogea Front and send to stop the enemy advance at Oituz.Commander and troop will proove at the height of the hard situation.The first detachments arrived at Onesti are send not only in Oituz Valley but also in the two lateral valleys with this one;Casin Valley at the left and Slanic Valey at the right side,to support the Cavalry Division ,strongholded on the positions of Magherus .

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(prisoners column on Oituz Front)

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In the evening of 11th of October ,the two adversaries made fighting contact .A Group of Cavalry with mounted artillery -Colonel Rusescu-occupies the advanced position on the elevation on which is the monument build by Hungarians to the former Empress Elisabeta[4],North-East of Bretcu.The rest of the troops of the Division -under the Command of General Greceanu -is on a line a little behind and occupies the heights from North and from South of driveway Oituz.The unmounted troops are installed in the entrenches .The two artilleries bombard eachother with ferocity till evening falls,when the enemy artillery ,forced to cease the fire ,our cavalry men get out from the trenches and haste over the enemy in counterattack ,charging violently ,with the lance at the waste .The sight is of a pitoresque archaism :it is the fight of the old Romans Legionaries .The enemy is repulsed and throwed to Bretcu.At 8,30 in the evening,the enemy strenghtened with new forces ,comes again to attack and forces Rusescu Group to retreat from the monument on Magherus,passing in the reserve of Greceanu Group.All night of 11th -12th of October ,the enemy gave numerous attacks in both sectors ,to North ,as well as South of the driveway ,without any success whatsoever.With the arriving of dawns of the day,the attacks intensify,sustained by a strong artillery and numerous machineguns.The batteries of mounted artillery of the Division of Cavalry fire splendid;they surprise the 3rd enemy Cavalry Division,which was forming up for attack and scatters it away in disorder on to the field between Bretcu and Lemina.In their trenches the cavalry men ,with all the unusuality of fighting pedestrian,sustain the enemy attacks and,lacking the rifles with bayonet ,they counterattack with lance.Troops of Regiments 65th and 53rd begin to arrive on position.General Grigorescu leads personally the fight .The Commander of the Northern Army ,General Prezan has arrived himself on to the Front too.

In the afternoon ,the entire enemy heavy artillery has been installed on position and its fire ,unobstacled by our cannons of 75mm,with shorter firing range ,beat violently from front and flanks the Romanian positions.The Cavalry troops,tired by the heavy marchings executed for a week now and by the fight,new to her,resist with great difficulty.Besides,she acomplishes her mission .General Prezan gave the order as the Cavalry Division to be retreated at Hirja,from where then has been send towards the left wing ,to establish the connection with the detachments on Casin Valley.The infantry of the 15th Division occupies the Front at Poiana Sarata ,on the frontier.The mounted artillery of the 2nd cavalry Division ,which rosed to the occassion ,is kept on the fighting front ;she will sustain the infantry at preserving the Passes.

In the Fight at Magherus has fallen Captain Petre Carp,the son of the old politician bearing the same name,which was bringing in this way the blood sacrifice in the War which he did not wanted and to the acomplishment of the ideal in which he did not believe.

The next day ,13th of October ,the enemy continues the advance and occupies Poiana Sarata.An impetuous counterattack of our troops reject him ,after a bloody fight on to the streets of the village.By evening fall,the troops of the 65th Regiment reoccupy the village.

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The fight at Hirja

The attack in the day of 13th of October has been only the prelude of a violent offensive ,which has unleashed in the following days with strong forces .From the Romanian part it is send in the aid of the 15th Division ,too weak ,faced with the power of the enemy ,the 15th Brigade of the 8th Division (Regiments 13th ,25th Infantry and 8th Hunters) which was held at Piatra -Neamt ,as reserve of the Army.The enemy has attacked in the beginning only in the cente rof the sector .Seven enemy battalions ,sustained by a numerous artillery in which,ech day ,could be determined biger calibers ,have hasten against the Romanian positions,defended by three battalions sustained by a divizion of artillery ,mounted.Hirja Village burst into flames and burned entirely under the fire of the enemy artillery.A surrounding movement on both flanks of our position at Hirja ,has been discovered in time ;the enemy flanks have been attacked by our lateral detachments in Slanicului Valley and Casinului Valley.After a ferocious fight ,which went on the afternoon of the 15th of October till late in the night ,the enemy has been throwed back and pursued with bayonet till Poiana Sarata.

However,over the night and in the morning of the next day ,strengthened with fresh reinforcements the enemy attacks furiously five times our battalions ,exhausted by powers and reduced at some 200-300 men.The fight becomes almost general,by advancing into the fire of all available forces .The enemy ,attacking on three columns ,without suspending the attacks during the night ,manages to take out of position our wekened troops and pushes them on a line back.Fortunately ,the reserves of Division ,arrived in running from Grozesti ,arrive in time,reject the attack columns ;the enemy maintains only on a height North of Hirja,Staneica Mane ,on which he manages to fix himself.It is noticed that the enemy is foreseen with a wealthy mountain artillery and that he has set in position four howitzers of 150 mm and two of 210 mm.

The fights continued with the same stubbornes in the day of 17th of October.The Commander of the enemy wanted by any means to make the breach.The enemy succeeds one moment to reoccupy Hirja and sends a detachment between valleys Slanic and Oituz,to go around the Romanian position,falling behind it.The things go exactly upside down.The Romanian Commander reaches the news and sends ,in his turn,1st Battalion of the 13th Regiment wich falls ,itself,behind and in the flank of the enemy detachment which he destroys;what has escaped alive,three officers and 100 men,has been taken prisoners.

With all the ferocious rain of shells and grenades ,the Romanian soldiers ,spirited by the personal example of the energic Commander ,General Grigorescu,which all the time conducts the fight from the midst of the troops ,maintain their position and succeed in reocupying Hirja.Together with the Commander of the Group ,Colonel Rujinschi the Commander of the 38th Brigade ,distinguish himself by the fermity and cold blood he knows to spirit the troop with.The report of a Commander of Company from Regiment 65th ,send to the Commander of the Division,in the midst of fight ,it is a dociment of the circumstances in which the fight ws given :"It is impossible to sit on one place.The cannons beat us even in the valley in which we are.We are left with 20 men,the rest dead or wounded.The Forest went on fire in two parts .The smoke chokes us .It is inferno.We do not have the strenght to carry on.Please ,order the retreat".The Commander did not order retreat ,the troop stayed on position ,fought and conquered.

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The great attackof 18th of October

The intentions of the enemy were now very clear for the Romanian Commandment ;it was not about local skirmishes ,but about a big battle ,given for an important strategic goal.The gathering of the Bavarian Division at Tirgu Secuiesc -known by Romanians from the prisoners depositions -and the transport of troops of aid with trucks from reserve on to the front ,whenever it was needed ,setting into position of numerous cannons of great caliber ,were indices that did not let a shadow of a doubt over the intentions of the enemy.

The horrifying fight had lessen and weaken the strengths of the Romanian troops ;the companies have been reduced at 40-80 men.That is why the Commander of the Army has send in the aid of the heroic 15th Romanian Division another Brigade from the 8th Romanian Division;the 37th (Regiments 69th and 77th),together with a divizion of howitzers and one of field.This Brigade has especially the mission to prepare a resistance line between Onesti and Tirgu Ocna on which,eventually,to be made the retreat.

The day of 18th of October was one of the hardest for the defenders of Oituz .The dicissive assault for conquering Oituz was given in this day in the presence of Archduke inheriter Carol and of the Hungarian Primminister Tisza.The enemy artillery have executed all night and all day a bombardment of an intensity not known till then.All kinds of projectiles ;shells of all calobers ,shrapnels ,grenades ,maginegunnings were coming over th Romanian positions.The bombardment was interrupted only so they could give assaults at which the Hungarian troops ,drunk and fantezist,were throwing ahead in the sound of the musics,shouting patriotic songs.The troops of four enemy regiments have started in waves to assault ,starting with 8 in the morning until midday and restarting at 1,30 ,to repeat the attacks ,with a unsurmonted fury ,till 10 in the night.But the heroic Romanian Group has formed a rock ,by which the attacks collapsed,crushing.Exterminaded almost,by the fires of the enemy artillery and overwhelmed by the number of the attackers ,the rests of the troops had to leave one ridge for to occupy another further back,invigorated ,they hastened at attack with bayonet,and regained the position back.And this game of death repeated itself till late in the evening on the Manes of Manoila and Staneica ,on Peaks Sarosa and Bolovan ,on Ridges Feschii ,Lusentului and Vrinceanului.Especially on the Hill and Forest Vrinceanu,defended by two Battalions of the 13th Stefan cel Mare Regiment ,are the theatre of a furious fights.The forest is a graveyard .The tree tore and thrown to the ground ,or ripped all together from their roots .On the ground only holes ,in which are dead bodies horrible mutiladed .The bullets of machineguns have tore the young branches of the trees ,which fell,covering the bodies with a blanket of old leaves.The Romanian soldiers have counterattacked at bayonet ;the Forest Vrinceanu has remained in their hands .The savage offensive of the enemy has been rejected on the entire line.By evening,only some edges of hills have been abandoned by Romanians ,to occupy others ,imediate ,behind the first ones.A night attack ,made by Romanian troops with success,has fixed up the Front again on the line elevation 1120 meters -Feschii Peak,Lesuntului Peak-towards Staneica Mane.

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The Romanian counteroffensive

During this time the Romanian Aid Brigade ,37th has arrived at Onesti and is set in reserve.General Grigorescu dispose now of aproximately 20 battalions with the divizionar artillery strengthened with four sections of howitzers of 103 mm and a battery of mountain of 63 mm.The Romanian forces are separated between two sectors ,parted by Oituz Valley and of Slanic ;the one in the left ,between Oituz Valley and Casin Valley.The terrain is very bad and forested ,proper for surprise movements.

The Romanian Commander ,which has resisted splendid in defence,thiks he can pass now to offensive .This will start at 19th of October and it will unfold for four days under the eyes of Prince Carol,the inheriter of Romanian throne .For four days General Grigorescu manoeuvres in the mixed up terrain with wit ,using one by one the troops at his dispozition ,giving them by rotation ,the necessary rest.In general,12 battalions were on the attack line ,and eight were held in reserve.The principal Fighting Detachments have been Commanded by Colonel Rujinschi,Colonel Piperescu and Colonel Gorski.

On their part,the Austro-Hungarians do not want to let from hand the initiative of the fight.Their numeric superiority is incomtestable.Thirty battalions take part into the fight and the refreshing of the troops is much more active than at Romanians.At 20th of October ,in the middle of the fight ,the enemy brings with automobiles two Battalions of Bavarians of the 8th Division from Bretcu.In the numerous fights in the days of 19th-22nd of October,the Austro-Hungarians manage to obtain at night advantages of terrain ,thanks to the strong bombardmnt of their strong artillery and of throwing into the fight of fresh forces ;during the day ,however,the Romanians attack at bayonet and,repulse the invasioneers ,reconquering the positions.

In the day of 22nd of October th Romanian offensive ceases ,because of the extreme exhaust of the troops .The enemy ,gives some more attacks in the right sector -Slanic Valley;they are rejected on the whole line .In the evening of the day,the enemy finds himself on the frontier line close to the same positions were he was at 13th of October.The hills and valleis are filled with the dead bodies of his soldiers.Discouraged and weak,he ceases the attacks as well.

In the eve,in the evening of 21st of October Falkenhayn ,who was the Commander of Oituz Group,reports to the Big German Headquarter ,at Pless"The power of attack of the 71st Division ,after 14 days of unstpped fights ,it is so weak ,that a short break is absolutely necessary,and only if it would be strengthened with new forces ,would be capable to obtain decissive successes".In his memoirs Falkenhayn ,somewhat satisfied by the failure of the plan of the Big German Headquarter and of the Austrian camarads ,which he has foresaw,adds the comentary:"The gentlemen of Pless must be warned that the hope of opening up the road through Oituz Pass ,or by the I-st Austro-Hungarian Army is completely unfounded".

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(Ambulance section on Oituz Front)

Retaking the fight .The enemy is throwed over the border.

Suspending the Battle at Oituz ,in the day of 22nd of October ,was very short as duration.In truth ,the fights did not stop completely.The Romanian Commander has stopped any offensive action because of the great tiredness of the troops ,in the morning of the day.But the enemy ,attacking all through the day ,the Romanian troops have stayed in defence.Only in the evening ,the enemy troops ,tired ,have interrupted the action ,such that in the evening of 22nd -23rd of October has been the first quiet night after 12 days of continuous fights.

Short rest,forecasting of new storms.In the day of 23rd of October unleashes again the Romanian offensive .Its aim is throwing definitively over the border of the enemy ,which has succeeded to infiltrate with small detachments and to fix through the twists of the terrain of this accident-ed region(bad terrain).With the reinforcements received from the 8th Division ,General Grigorescu has now some 26 Battalions of Infantry ,sustained by eight field batteries ,four batteries of howitzers and a battery of mountain cannons.The 2nd Cavalry Division with her Divizion of Mounted Artillery ,continues to be part of this Group.The sector occupied by General Grigorescu stretches in Slanic Valley ,at North,where it connects with the troops of the 7th Division ,which occupies from Dofteana Valley ,until Casin Valley ,including,at South,where it connects with 7th Mixt Brigade .

The offensive of General Grigorescu is given with willingness in the days of 23rd-27th of October.The enemy is taken out everywhere from its strongholded positions and rejected far.The central detachment reoccupies ,in the day of 24th of October ,Hirja Village and the greatly disputet Staneica Mane,pursuing the enemy till Poiana Sarata.At the right wing Cernica Peak,the key of Oituz ,is occupied by an assault ,impetuous .It is also occupied the Dobului and Paltinis Ribs in the region of Slanic,Lesuntului Valley and Fata Moarta in Casin sector.The enemy is throwed all together over the border ,in his old positions from the North and South of Poiana Sarata .Romanians have taken 11 officers and 600 soldiers prisoners ,as well as a great number of machineguns .

At 27th of October the action stops and quiet reestablishes at Oituz.The victory of the Romanian troops is here complete .Not only the enemy could not acomplish his important strategic goal ,for which he did bleed for more than two weeks ,but he has been throwed back behind over the frontier .The defeat at Oituz is sincerely confessed by the enemy in his official publications*.

We have payed dearly the victory.The soldiers of the Moldavian Regiments ,which have defended Oituz ,have spilled streams of blood.Especially the Ieseni(men from Iasi) of Regiments 13th and 53rd and Vaslueni (men from Vaslui) of Regiments 25th and 65th.The tradition of Penes Curcanu** had to be honoured .By the ambulance of the Division ,installed at Onesti ,have passed over in these frightening days ,only from the regiments of Vaslui 729 wounded .Some other hundreds have remained to stiffen forever the Gates of Moldavia so dear to them,in the face of invasioneers ,together with their brothers from Counties Iasi,Botosani and Dorohoi.

The Battle at Oituz was over.The enemy has suffered a painful and bloody defeat .The invasion plan through the Pass of Oituz has collapsed.The 15th Romanian Division -strengthened with aid brigades of the 8th Romanian Division -have won the glorious name of "The Iron Division" and have written ,with letters of fire and blood ,on the heights which dominates the Gate of Oituz,the proud inscription:"Thou shall not pass through here!"

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*"At the extreme left wing of the IX-th German Army ,the 71st Austro-Hungarian Division pursues without rest the adversary which is retreating on Oituz driveway and forces the pass over the frontier.At 20th of October it has reached 8 Miles to Tirgu Ocna .In the wake of the forcings and of the fiercely fights ,the heavy trialed troops needed urgent few days rest.The perspective that the Division to occupy alone Tirgu Ocna ,for then to,the two Divisions of Cavalry of General Count Schmettow ,which were waiting stretched in the Eastern edge of Tirgu Secuiesc Pool,to be throwed as to flow in to the flats of Moldavia ,has dissappeared.That is why ,General Falkenhayn withdrew the 8th Cavalry Division ,as a reserve army in the region of Brasov,because he hopes to be able to open more surely the mountain Passes in another place.At 23rd of October ,a Romanian attack ,brilliantly prepared and executed on a large front ,has hit the troops of 71st Division.Again have the troops of General Goldbach did their entire duty;the superior attacker has to bleed tragicly.However ,the Division has been retreated during the night on the elevations from the frontier ,because the adversary has managed to breakthrough at South of Oituz Valley ,and from here he threatened to advance behind the defender".

**Penes Curcanu(Feather the Turkey,as curcan=the turkey bird;no connection with Turkey the Country),on his real name Constantin Turcanu from Vaslui is the name off a hero of the Independence War of 1877,former Seargent in 13th Dorobanti Regiment.Also he volunteered in Second Balkan War and WW1 at 62 of age,to inspire the troops of Vaslui County.This Dorobanti Regiment had a lot of turkey feathers at the hat;hence feather the turkey

The Fights at Oituz

[razu]

The end of the Battle for Moldavian Passes

At 27th of October von Arz ended the battle in the Moldavian Mountains with a decissive and complete defeat.General Prezan and the brave Northern Romanian Army showed themselves very hard working ,as well in the defensive,as they did in offensive.The gates of Moldavia were well guarded .Falkenhayn used this failure of the Battle at Oituz ,to liquidate this enterprise,for which he manifested from the beginning aversion.The 3rd German Cavalry Division has been retreated at Brasov as Reserve of the IX-th Army.The 6th German Cavalry Division ,newly arrived at Tirgu Secuiesc ,has been turned back from its way and send towards Petrosani,where the German Generalisim was planning a decissive hit.Also there has been send General Schmettow ,the defeated of Oituz,and General Kuhne with the Staff of LIV-th Corps ,which has been brought here with the purpose of a retaking of the offensive.The 71st Division has been passed to the I-st Austro-Hungarian Army.And for a while,along the mountaineous frontier of Moldavia ,established relative silence ,interupted only by the rare beat of the cannons and by the hiss of the wind ,which was setting piles of snow over the graves of the warriors.

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