les being blocked, and the Western frontiers forbidden, there remained only the 
long route, very expensive and uncertain, by the East through Russia and the 
Arctic sea. 
Her neighbourhood with the Russian Empire rendered the situation o 
neutral Roumania, which already was hard enough, still more difficult, and the 
consequences of this neighbourhood, were painfully felt by Roumania, as in 
the neutrality period, in the war period and in the period after the war. 
This first neutrality period can be reckoned also amongst the periods of 
sacrifices and charges, as on the one hand it prevented the progress of her 
economical development, which she had enjoyed up to then, while on the 
other hand it necessitated those enormous expenses and sacrifices, for the 
common cause, for preparing the proper material, and for continual mobiliza 
tion which took away from their useful work so many producing forces. 
SECTION II 
The war period (4916—1918) 
After two years of neutrality, which were spent by Roumania in such 
hard conditions, her effective entering the war was decided. 
Roumania, on the day and the hour agreed upon with her allies, entered 
into the fray without hesitation or reserve. 
From the first moment she drew on herself all the fury of the enemy, 
and consequently the greater part of their forces, disgarnishing in this way, 
(which was the chief object for her joining) the allies' front, at the precise mo 
ment when this dirgarnishing was most necessary on account of the attacks on 
Verdun. 
The importance of the aid afforded by Roumania is clearly acknowledged 
by the commanders of the enemies themselves in the different publications 
which have appeared since then , ). 
Isolated from her allies from the beginning, by her geographical situation, 
Roumania supported the powerful offensive of the enemy, all along her very 
extensive front (nearly 2.500 km.) a frontier which constituted a geographical 
inferiority, and could not be defended without the aid of the Russian armies. 
The aid, which the allies —at Salonika —and more especially our nearest 
ally at our East — Russia — ought to have given us, operated only 
i) The hostile effective forces opposed to Roumania, from absolutely certain data were: 
On december t- $t 1916 Germans . 13 divisions of infantry. 
» . 2 » » cavalry. 
Austro-Hungarians .... 8 » » infantry. 
» » .... 5 brigades » » 
» » .... divisions of cavalry. 
Bulgarians 3 divisions » infantry. 
» 1 » » cavalry. 
Turks 2 » » infantry. 
That is a total of 25 divisions, 5 brigades of infantry and 8 >/, divisions of cavalry.