THE PARTICIPATION OF SCOUTS AT BATTLES FROM DOBROGEA (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1916). THE BATTLE FROM AMZACEA

Headnote

Abstract: The reserch of the present study was based on original documents from the document collection of the "Alexandra ftefulescu " Museum of Gorj County in Târgu-Jiu in regard to the scouting in Romania. This study was dedicated to the anniversary of one hundred years of scouting in Romania and also to the participation of scouts Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu, nephews of lawyer Constantin Dumitru Brätuianu from ficleni, Gorj county, at the battle of Amzacea (the southern part ofDobroudja region) in the autumn of 1916.

Key words: scouting, First World War (WWI), Dobroudja, Amzacea, Gheorghe Rasoviceanu

This study is dedicated to 100 years since the first scout units have been founded in Romania and it particularly refers to the participation on the brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu, scouts from the Constanta City and nephews of Lawyer Constantin Dumitru Bratuianu from Ticleni, the Goij County, to the fighting that took place near Azamcea, where Romanian- Russian and German, Bulgarian and Ottoman troops clashed.

The first scout units from Romania were founded a few months after the Second Balkan War, once the peace treaty from Bucharest was signed, treaty which stipulated the integration of the south of Dobrudja within the Romanian boundaries. According to the Peace Treaty signed in Bucharest on 28 July/10 August 1913, Bulgaria ceded o part of Macedonia to Serbia, the south of Macedonia and a part of Thracia to Greece, while a part of Oriental Thracia was ceded to the Ottoman Empire. As a result, Bulgaria lost access to the Aegean Sea and was, also, forced to cede the south of Dobrogea to Romania, up to the strategic line Turtucaia-Ecrene1.

Romania's involvement in the Second Balkan War would lead to a distancing from the Triple Alliance and a gradual closing to the Antante, while Bulgaria was encouraged by Austria-Hungary and Germany in its revisionist intentions.

The first scout groups were organized in Bucharest by the initiative of Professor Gheorghe Munteanu-Murgoci, during the year 1913, after he liad visited England, where he took his inspiration from the English scout organization and from the work "Scouting for Boys", elaborated by General Baden Powell and edited during the year 19082. The first scout unit from Romania was founded in November 1913 by Marin Demetrescu, director of the "Gheorghe Lazar" Highschool in Bucharest3.

Referring to this event. Professor Marin Benghius, bom on 5 November 1903 in the Cretesti coimnune, the Falciu County, former director of the school from the Upper Cretesti village, the Falciu County, scout coimnander and inspector at Iasi and Chisinau and technical counselor within the coimnanding quarters of the Great Legion of the "Romanian Scouts" Association, author of the paper "Romanian Scouting Institution. The History of Scouting", manuscript preserved in the collections of the "Alexandra Stefulescu" Goij County Museum from Targu-Jiu, stated that "first communication about the scouting institution was made in 1913 by Professor Murgoci at one of the <<Sportive Association» meetings, when the foundation of a «boyscouts» department was also adopted, following the example of those in England"4. As a result, "this department is called «scouts» from the «éclaireurs», the name of the young French scouts5. Shortly after that, "in the first months of November 1913, Gabriel Giurgea publishes a small brochure about the scouting, sending it to all the principal's offices of the secondary schools from the country"6.

In this atmosphere, "several pupils from the «Gheorghe Lazar» highschool, inspired and charmed by an article from the French magazine «Lectures pour tous», describing the wonderful life of the French scouts, found the first scout patrols"7. This initiative "is joined by several teachers, writers and enthusiastic officers, who, under the leadership of deputy colonel Gheorghe Berindei, establish the Romanian Scouting Institution, closely watched by King Charles and Prince Ferdinand, who take it under their protection"8.

Professor Gheorghe Munteanu-Murgoci founded in Bucharest, following the model of the English scouts, the "Romania's Pandurs" Association, which, at the proposal of Prince Charles, would be renamed the "Romania's Scouts" Association. It was created on 12 May 19499.

In 1914, Prince Charles organized the first scout formation from the Prahova Valley, which trained in the "Scout Camp" in Sinaia under the close supervision of the Crown Prince. Marin Benghius suggests that "this camp constitutes the beginning of the methodical organization and experience based scouting institution in our country"10, and, as a result, "the example of the Crown Prince is following by the founding of scout units in every town and in many villages"* 11.

The "Romania's Scouts" Association was led by Grigore Berindei, while Prince Charles was commander of the Great Legion. The "Romania's Scouts" Association was under King Charles' high patronage and, after his death, under that of King Ferdinand I.

After the foundation of the "Romania's Scouts" Association, 34 legions and 58 formations were founded in the country's 34 counties, recording a number of 192 commanders and 12 966 scouts12.

During the year 1914, scout legions were founded in the county capital towns. Thus, at Constanta the "Queen Elisabeth" legion was founded, comprising formations at Constanta and Megidia13. In the Tulcea County, the "loan Voivode the Terrible" legion was founded, comprising formations at Tulcea and Macin14. Gradually, throughout the year 1915, scout legions and formations were founded in all the 34 counties of Romania.

The collections of the Archeology-History Department of the Goij County Museum recorded, on 13 August 1996, the acquisition of two black and white pictures, glued on cardboard support, one of them showing the scouts Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu, wearing their scout uniforms15, while the second showed General Gheorghe Rasoviceanu, wearing his uniform16.

The first photo shows brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu, wearing scout uniforms, together with sub-lieutenant Cristache Iacob from Regiment 9 Mountain Rangers, having aside the two scouts who took part at the Amzacea fights. The picture is dated 1916, its lower back side bearing the dedication: "To General Rasoviceanu Gheorghe, as a sign of devotion, from the former little scouts from the Amzacea fights 1916, with the 9th Ranger Regiment". This picture was taken in Constanta in the year 1916. The dedication was written by the brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu on 12 June 1938.

Also on the 13 August 1996, the patrimony of the "Alexandru Stefulescu" Goij County Museum recorded the acquisition of a black and white picture of General Gheorghe Rasoviceanu. This picture also appears on the cover of the memoirs written by retired colonel Cristescu G. Gheorghe, M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs) pensioner, in the summer of 1974, memoirs which are typewritten and book bound17.

In this work, Gheorghe Cristescu mentioned that "ever since March 1915 I was part of the «Ovidiu» scout formation from Constanta together with my brother Mihail and our private tutor, the VIII grade pupil of the «Mircea cel Batran» highschool from Constanta, Cristache Iacob"18. Cristache Iacob, "the son of a householder from the Cilibichioi commune, the Constanta County19 lived together with the two Cristescu brothers "in their parents' house" from the city of Constanta. Starting with March 1915, "besides our educational occupations, we also spent our time by preparing ourselves as scouts for the national was which was about to start"20. The brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu were the nephews of the lawyer Constantin Dumitru Bratianu from the Ticleni commune, Goij County.

Gheorghe Cristescu mentioned that within the "Ovidiu" scout formation from Constanta, "our instructors were professor Nicolae Constantinescu-Pana, the commander of the «Ovidiu» formation, lieutenant Hanes Gheorghe and lieutenant Gheorghe Buricescu, both from the 34 Infantry Regiment Constanta"21.

The appointment of Mr. Nicolae Constantinescu as "Instructor and Commander of the «Ovidiu» formation"22 was announced in the "Scout" magazine of the "Romania's Scouts" Association from June-July 1915.

Moreover, Gheorghe Cristescu mentioned that "our instruction consisted in sports, marches and camps (...) we were making tents, fire from maximum three matches, patriotic songs and national-patriotic education"23, all these activities taking place on Sundays, "regardless of the weather condition"24.

Referring to the instruction of the sanitary and stretcher bearer scouts, Gheorghe Cristescu "showed that "we were doing it at the Military Hospital Constanta, three hours a day, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, when a medic was instructing us as sanitary personnel, in order to replace the personnel apt for the front, in case of mobilization"25.

The scouts Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu were often visited at Constanta by their uncle, Lieutenant Stefan Nicolau from the 9 Ranger Regiment, unit which had its garrison at Bazargic, while he was on a mission26.

Gheorghe Cristescu belonged to the "Stag" scout patrol, unit which would receive, during the year 1915, "as mission from captain Stanescu Vasile, the commander of the Border Patrol Company Constanta, to follow (...) the bakeries from the city which were preparing buckets (war bread) during the night and smuggled it towards Constantinople by the ships anchored in the Constanta harbor"27. Finally, "after four stakeout nights, around midnight, I noticed at two of the indicated bakeries a number of 12 wagons which were loading some bucket sacks and which were heading towards the Vide Noi Cliff (5 km from Constanta) on a lane, while the night was thick as coal"28.

The "Stag" patrol scouts informed the captain of the Constanta Border Patrol Company and he sent a patrol in the area and a border motorboat in order to take control of the smugglers' ships. As a result, "the operation finished quickly (...), the smugglers were arrested, the ships searched and unloaded and, after thorough investigations, the vessels "were forced to leave the Constanta harbor"29.

When Romania entered the First World War "on the same day of 15 August 1916, the arranging of the hospital intensely begins. The desks were replaced with the normal school pupils' beds, while the director and administrator, o medic and a team of two soldiers and three scouts go to the sanitary material warehouse where they come with barrack equipments, sheets, medicine and bandages"30. Later on, "we are brought from the firemen department five wagons with mattress straws and from the supply unit food for the kitchens"31.

The same day, Cristache Iacob is sent to 9th Hunters Regiment, Mihail Cristescu as medical scout at the "Carol" hotel transformed into hospital, while Gheorghe Cristescu received "No. 112 Mobilization Order of 15 August 1916"32 and is sent to " No. 312 B Constantza Hospital (the Primary Teachers' Highscool) ",33

Romania participation at WWI began after the signing of the military and political conventions, on 4/17 August 1917. The military convention provided that Russia had to start a powerful offensive on the Austrian- Hungarian Front in order to ease the Romanian offensive in Transylvania. Meantime, the Allies accepted to begin an offensive on the Thessaloniki Front against Bulgaria on 20 August 1916.

The military support for Romania from the Russian ally consisted of two infantry and one cavalry divisions. Despite the fact that the Romanian Army General Staff expected 200 000 troops in order to defend Southern Dobruja34, "Russians sent only 42 000 troops by argumenting of not enough enough soldiers - although they had strong reserves in the back of the front - and, secondly, with being useless to increase the troops as Bulgarians would refuse to fight against their liberators'" 35

The military and political conventions, signed by Romania and the Entente on 4/17 August 1916, provided for Romania the right to unite with the territories inhabited by the Romanians found in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, guaranteed national integrity of Romania but Romania had to declare war to Austria-Hungary until 15/28 August 1916. Meantime, Russia had to start a powerful offensive in Galicia and "to insure the defence of Constantza harbour"36

In regard to Romanian-Bulgarian relations during Balkan Wars Era, Romanian historian Constantin Kiritcscu considered that "Romania never had hopes in order to conquer territories in the Balkans. Aromanian population was scattered and too far of our borders and we did not think to unite it with Romanian State. The interest showed by Romania for our brothers in the Find appeared from our solely concern to keep this people, closely related to us, and to abandon nof 31

On his turn, Nicolae Iorga considered that "Bucharest Peace (1913), with its guarantees for [Balkan] Romanians cultural and religious development, did not make possible (...) a cure to a critical state of things of Bakan Romanians, who remained at their chimneys despite being exposed to the most intense persecutions" ,38

Soon after the handing-in of Romanian War Declaration to Austria-Hungary, in the evening of 14/27 August 1916, 2100 hours39, the mobilized Romanian Army counted 833 758 soldiers and 18 000 officers.40

The combative forces were compounded of 378 infantry battalions, 299 artillery batteries, 104 cavalry squadrons and 281 240 horses. The number of mobilized and the ones found under the orders of War Ministry represented 15 % of the population, aged 18-45 years.41

Romania implication in WWI contributed to the failure of siege in the case of Verdun, stopping the conquest of this strategic position by the German Army. Soon after Romania attacked Austria-Hungary (on 29 August 1916), the German Empire declared war to Romania and sent 5 infantry divisions and one cavalry division provided with heavy guns and aviation on the Transylvanian Front.42

In order to stop the offensive of Romanian Army in Transylvania, on 19/31 August 1916, Bulgaria declared war to Romania; meantime, German Field Marshal August von Mackensen, who became the commander of German-Bulgarian-Turkish Forces on 15/28 August 1916, was ordered by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, the new Chief of German General Staff, to attack Dobruja frontier.43

The IIIrd Romanian Army had the 17th Division at Turtucaia, the 9th Division at Silistra and the 19th Division at Bazargic; 72 000 soldiers and officers formed the personnel of these three divisions. These divisions received the help of two Russian infantry divisions and one cavalry divisions commanded by General Zaioncikovski. The amount of Romanian-Russian forces in Dobruja rose to 83 infantry battalions, 34 cavalry squadrons and 40 artillery batteries.44

While the Romanian Army prepared its final organization due to the state of war, German and Bulgarian troops were already found at Dobruja frontier. Subsequently, August von Mackesen attacked Turtucaia, defended by the 17th Division, the latter with 20 000 personnel, among whom 15 000 infantry that had to defend a 30-kilometer front.45

The combats started in the night of 1 to 2 September 1916 as unexpected attacks46. Later, the military actions extended in the areas of Silistra and Bazargic obliging Brigadier General Nicolae Arghirescu, the commander of 19th Division, to evacuate Bazargic on 21 August/3 September 1916.47

Colonel Cristescu Gheorghe, medical scout at No. 312 B Hospital of Constantza, noted in his memories that "in the dawn of 20 August, an enemy plane (Taube), with a Teutonic Cross under its wings, threw several bombs, one on the cruiser «Rostislav» (former «Potemkin») killing and injuring 14 sailors"48; later, the same German plane bombarded No. 213 B Hospital of Constantza killing "three of the most worthiest scouts (Cräcanä, Buzatu and Moise Mozefi".49 Consequently, the scouts patrol "Cerbul (the Deer) " lost three of the total of six scouts and they "swear to avenge the ones fallen in duty, especially by the fact the pilote broke all international rules as the hospital had on the roof a 4 m x 4 m red cross".50

On 15 August 1916, Cristache Iacob was sent at the 9th Hunters Regiment, with the garrison at Bazargic, where Lieutenant Çtefan Nicolau, the uncle of brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu, was also located.51 The 9th Hunters Regiment belonged to the division commanded by General Scariçoreanu.52

The 9th Hunters Regiment took part at "hard and fierce battles around Bazargic53 from which first wounded of the front appeared (...), especially officers and soldiers of the heroic Serbian Volunteers Division, commanded by the Lieutenant Colonel Hagici, which participated at the Romanian front in Dobruja".54 When they arrived at Constantza, "the debarcation and the wounded was made by the stretcher bearers of scouts' teams from all hospitals of Constantza with 80 litters ".55 The wounded of Bazargic battles "were interned to the civil hospital «Dr. Sion» ",56

The battles of Bazargic started in the morning of 5 September 1916, when the Russian-Romanian troops arrived in front of Bazargic stiffenings.57 Taken by surprise by the enemy troops, General Nicolae Arghirescu ordered the retreat of Romanian-Russian troops in the direction of Caraormer, despite the fact that the 9th Hunters Regiment started a new attack on the town but it was not supported by other military units and the 9th Hunters Regiment had to retreat. The retreat of the Romanian-Russian troops stopped at Nebicuiusu - Cerchezchioi - Ciobancuiusu line.58

Subsequently, a war council held at Silistra in the night of 7 to 8 September 1916 decided the evacuation of Silistra on 8 September 1916, the decommissioning of the flying bridge that was connected to Calara si and the retreat of the 9" Division at Cuzgun. Soon after, on 10 September 1916, Silistra was occupied by the German and Bulgarian troops.59 The new front line was organized on Rasova - Cobadin - Topraisar line with a 100-kilometer length.60

Named the commander of the IIIrd Romanian Army at the end of August 1916, General Alexandra Averescu considered that the improvised military units and the amount of reservist soldiers and officers leaded to the defeat.61

On 2/15 September 1916, General Averescu became the commander of the Army Group South. The next day, Averescu inspected the front of Dobruja and informed Russian General Zaioncikovski of his intention to pass the Danube at Flämända in order to determine Bulgarian troops to retreat with the purpose of defending their Fatherland.62

On 18 September/1 October 1916, while the offensive of Romanian-Russian troops was progressing in Dobruja, the passing of Romanian IIIrd Army started over the flying bridge of Flämända.63 After this process ended, General Averescu organized a line for the new front from Rasova, next to Danube shores, and continued to Arabagi, Mulciova, Enigea, Cocargea, Cobadin, Topraisar si Tuzla, at the Black Sea.64

Subsequently at the beginning of October 1916, the Romanian-Russian troops had 124 infantry battalions (80 Romanian and 44 Russian), 31 cavalry squadrons, and 89 artillery batteries being superior to the enemy65, who had 79 infantry battalions, 29 cavalry squadrons, and 62 artillery batteries.66

The battle of Amzacea began after the officers of the 9th Hunters Regiment were told by a Serbian patrol "they discovered that the enemy found in front of the Regiment change a German division to a Turkish one61" and "while the German and Turkish officers give and get the sectors, the troops gather up (...) the food carloads came to them".68

This opportunity made Major Gheorghe Rasoviceanu, the commander of 1st Battalion of the 9th Hunters Regiment, "to order to three companies to be ready of an immediate charge with bayonets, without fire or noise".69 One infantry company and one machine gun platoon remained in the trenches commanded by lieutenant Ferhat. The charge being very quick, the enemy was surprised as a part lost any combativity and a part retreated in a tumble, provided by darkness. A group of enemy officers was taken by surprise by a Romanian unit in a coffee shop of Amzacea and taken into custody.70 Later, 1st Battalion troops of the 9th Hunters Regiment, commanded by Major Rasoviceanu, "advance to the direction of enemy artillery line and capture five cannons ".71

The three companies from the 1st Battalion of the 9th Hunters Regiment joined "several units of the 4(fth Infantry Regiment, that help to the transport of over one thousand prisoners, the cannons, and the over five thousand captured weapons".12

The battle of Amzacea ended "at dawn ", when "a order was given so that fights should ceased and the troops should retreat to the previous positions, with the purpose of making impossible enemy reserves to interfire" 73. Çtefan Nicolau, brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu's uncle, told them about this first battle of Amzacea, when he was sent to Constantza in a visit.74

The village Amzacea was situated in a strategic position allowing the control of the Mustafaci-Caraormer road, being "tremendously fortified with deep ditches with many barbed wires".75 The 25th Ottoman Division had its garrison here, and was provided with the help of several Bulgarian units, with a powerful artillery.

Two days after the beginning of the battle of Amzacea, the location could not be conquered by the Romanian-Russian troops. The third day, they got the help of a Serbian Volunteers Regiment, who fortified the right flank of Romanian-Russian troops.

In the dawn of this day, a new charge of the 17th Romanian Division began on the position. The 9th Hunters Regiment actioned on the right flank, while the majority of 40eth Cälugäreni Regiment was in the left flank, next to Russian and Serbian troops. In regard to Major Rasoviceanu, Gheorghe Cristescu admired him as "he was a commander, whose energy could not be greater excepting the ardour and contempt over the death "16

The charge of Romanian-Russian-Serbian troops happened under the Ottoman fire, protected by the trenches of hill Eski-iuc, behind the network of barbed wires. The enemy was conquered and they captured 7 cannons, 2 flags, over 300 Ottoman soldiers and 5 officers.77

The troops of the 9th Hunters Regiment occupied the village Amzacea, while ''the 25th Turkish Division abandoned the location and began an unorganized retreat towards Mustafa-aci".ls This fact determined the commander of the IIIrd Bulgarian Army to send to Amzacea all Bulgarian troops that he could spared of. After a battle on the streets of village Amzacea, the troops of the 9th Hunters Regiment retreated to a location situated on the north of Amzacea.79 The battle of Amzacea allowed the Romanian troops of Dobruja Front to advance as far as 10 kilometers on some parts of the front.

In these conditions, in the night of 3 to 4 October 1916, Russian General Zaioncikovski reported to General Averescu that, the following day, he was going to send in battle the last reserves of the 9th Romanian Division and the rest of Serbian Volunteers.80 During the day of 4 October 1916, bloody fights happened at the nord of Amzacea, but finally the troops of the 9th Hunters Regiment No. 9 Regiment were retreated at south of Topraisar.81

During the counteroffenssive in the timeframe 1-5 October 1916, the 19th Romanian Division, commanded by General Scäri so rearm, lost 3 150 soldiers and 45 officers. 2 Despite this human sacrifices, ''the failure of the Danube and Dobruja offensive - where we had superior forces in comparison with the enemy - was our luck83 ", historian Constantin Kiritcscu considered as "it helped us of a disaster ".84

Scouts Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu would participate at the battle of Amzacea, who, the following day after meeting their uncle, Çtefan Nicolau, at Constantza, decided to go to the front after "we supplied with enough medical equipment (...) taking advantage of his aide who was going to the front with clothes"83 The two brothers walked 25 kilometers, from Constantza to Topraisar! At north of Topraisar, they stopped "at a gate keeper's cabin, near the road, where the quarters of Division General Scäri§oreanu were, of which part the 9th Hunters Regiment was"86 In these conditions, they even met General Scäri so rearm as ''to our fear, we asked by General Scäri§oreanu himself, the commander of division, where we are walking"81 Later, the two scouts walked on a country road to Butäräscu farm, where the train of the 9th Hunters Regiment was located.88

As the front line happened to be at 4 kilometers of Butäräscu farm, the two brothers Cristescu would meet there ''two British ambulances, that had to transport the wounded to Constantza ",89 Behind the front of the 9th Hunters Regiment, Gheorghe Cristescu could see ''the enemy location, found at 1130 meters of us, on a uniformed hill, having five rows of barbed wires"90

The following morning, the two scouts saw the trenches of 1st Battalion of the 9th the 9th Hunters Regiment. By an order of the commander of the 9th Hunters Regiment, they were moved "in the 2nd Company, commanded by our uncle, Lieutenant frefan Nicolau "9l

The following days, "our activity meant 15 wounded, to whom we offered intensive care"92 On the other side, "we extended the activity as messengers between Company and Battalion and (...) observers of machine gun plattoon (2 pieces) (...) used by the 2nd Company "93, commanded by Lieutenant Ferhat.

Noticing that the trenches of the 9th Hunters Regiment ''were separated by those of Serbian brave volunteers by a 20 meters band of land without being connected through ditches" and after visiting the trenches of Serbian volunteers "we handed the invitation, written on the Colonel Hagici 's visit card to Colonel Velescu and Major Rasoviceanu, and the following day, the ditches were united and the connection very easy".94 In these conditions, "in a few minutes, we all were friends, and this first visit contributed to the soul connection that made from the 9th Hunters Regiment and the Division of Serbian Volunteers a block of heroes and the main front of defending the line Tuzla - Topraisar - Mârleanu ",95

The fights began "in the morning of 5 October 1916"96, when ''the enemy troops started a very intense bombardment over our reserves, from the sea to the Danube, (...) with a clear intention to begin the offensive" 91

In this situation "at 7,00 hours in the morning of 6 October, we are called [by Colonel Velescu, our addings] and, without explanation, we are ordered to go to Constantza with a sergeant"98 During our trip to Constantza, ''being closely to the village Agigea, when we saw, in direction of the sea, many wounded Romanian soldiers of the 11th Infantry Regiment as they retreated to Constantza. Meantime, in the front line Tuzla-Techirghiol it took place "a powerful gunfire of enemy artillery, to which responded a powerful artillery bombardment, fom the sea, belonging to the cruiser «Rostislav», that helped our left flank".100

On 7-8 October 1916, the evacuation of the wounded from Constantza was already started and "in the night of 8-9 October 1916 we got the order to evacuate the city with all equipment, that we could carry out, and the last wounded"101 with the help provided by "a goods train that left Constanta the last one, to Fetefri -Bräila, without stops "ua

Constantza was occupied by the Central Powers as their offensive, started by Field Marshal Mackensen on 6/19 October 1916, was successful and resulted in the occupation of Topraisar and Cobadin and broke of the front line Ccrrm oda-Constanta.* 1'3

The battle of Amzacea preceded the battle of Jiu bridge, where a large number of Goij County scouts participated in order to stop in a hopeless attempt the advance of German Army, among whom Ecaterina Teodoroiu, ''the Heroine of Jiu ", would remark. Just like Ecaterina Teodoroiu, brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu would follow Romanian troops in their retreat to Moldavia, continuing the activity of taking care of the wounded.

On 16 October 1916, the scouts evacuated from Constantza were ''gathered at the quarters of Cohort « Vlad fepef » from Bräila by the commander of Cohort «.Ovidiu» of Constantza, professor Nicolae Constantinescu-Panä (..., who sent them at different cohorts in Moldavia, in according with the wish of each scout".lM

The patrol ''Deer", commanded by scout Gheorghe Cristescu, became a part of Scout Patrol ''Mihail Kogälniceanu " from Husi. Arriving on Husi on 17 October 1916, the scouts of patrol ''Deer" were sent at the hospital No. 41/C found at the Girl School and started their activity, the same day.

In October 1916, ''the bridge over Borcea was blown up"105 by the Romanian Army in order to stop German troops of Dobruja to unite with the troops advancing towards Bucharest, after the battle of Neajlov.

In the timeframe 15 August-1 December 1918, ''excepting the three scouts fallen in duty, hurried two in the heroes ' cemetery of Constantza and one in the Jewish cementary, to whom the bronze insignias of the scouts from the war between 1916 and 1919 were applied on their graves"106, subaltern Cristache Iacob in the battles of Vrancea Mountains, captain Çtefan Nicolau in the battle of Máráscsti. lieutenants Gheorghe Hanes and Gheorghe Buricescu, instructors of scout cohort ''Ovidiu " of Constantza, subaltern Davidescu and Major Vârtejanu were also dead.107

The Scouts Association of the War betweeen 1916 and 1919, formed in the summer of 1928, erected at Constantza, in the yard of Primary Teachers' Highschool (the former Hospital No. 312 B) near the Street "Scarlat Vârnav ", a cross in the memory of the dead scouts of the WWI. Meantime, in the memory of Serbian Volunteers that fought in Dobruja in the year 1916, a monument was erected in Medgidia. When inaugurating it, a large number of Serbian Volunteers and Romanian old-timers of the 9th Hunters Regiment participated, several years before WWII.

Volunteers Division that fought, along Romanian and Russian troops, in the autumn of 1916 in Dobruja was formed of Serbians, Croats, Slovenes from the Austrian-Hungary Army, that were taken prisoner by the Russian Army and enlisted volunteers to fight on the side of Russian troops. Landed in August 1916 in the harbour of Constantza, the division was sent to the front, near the town Bazargic. They would prove "a legendary heroism, starting with the battles of Bazargic, Topraisar, Amzacea and continued to the north ofDobruja".108

As a sign of homage to the memory of Serbian heroes fallen together with the soldiers of the 9th Hunters Regiment, the latter unit would receive, during Interwar Era, the name the 9th Hunters Regiment ''King Alexander of Yugoslavia ".

Gheorghe Rasoviceanu was bom on 12 December 1877 in the village Arcani of Goij County.109 On 15 August 1916, as Major, he was the commander of the 9th Hunters Regiment, being also the chief of staff of it.

In the timeframe 1912-1914, he was student at the Bucharest High School of War and, between 23 June and 31 July 1913, participated as a company commander in the 52nd Infantry Regiment at the Second Balkan War.110

After completing his studies at the High School of War, Rasoviceanu was appointed battalion commander in the 40eth Infantry Regiment* 111; on 1 November 1914, he was advanced to the rank of Major in this unit. After Romania entered WWI, on 1 November 1916, he was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel, becoming the commander of the 9th Hunters Hunters Regiment.112

For the acts of bravery of the 9th Hunters Regiment in Dobruja, this unit was named ''King Ferdinand I (of Romania) " and was bestowed on the Order ''Michael the Brave", IIIrd Class. Rasoviceanu would distinguish in the battles of Mustafa, Amzacea, Nazarcea, Topraisar, Stâlpu and Bäläriile.113 Later, he took part at the heroic battles of Máráscsti. as commander of the 9th Mountain Hunters Regiment.114

For acts of bravery in July 1917, Rasoviceanu was decorated with the Order ''Michael the Brave ", IIIrd Class, by a Royal Decree signed at Jassy by King Ferdinand I115 on 18 August 1917. On 1 November 1917, Rasoviceanu became Colonel and got a brigade command in the Mountain Hunters Corps.116

During the campaign in Hungary in 1919, the 9th Mountain Hunters Regiment, commanded by Colonel Rasoviceanu, was the first Romanian unit that crossed over Tisza.117

Beginning with 1919 in all 71 counties of Greater Romania, the lily, symbol of the scout movement, was applied on all the flags of scouts legions. 220 scouts cohorts were formed in those 71 counties and they counted to nearly 100 thousand scouts.118

The Association of Former Scouts in the war between 1916 and 1919 was funded in the summer of 1928 and had as mission statement ''Work, Honesty, Love and Justice!" ,119 The Association was formed at loan Dumitriu - Buzäu's endeavour, who was to become the first president.120 At the association endeavour, monuments dedicated to the memory of the fallen scouts were erected at Barbosi. Tecuci, Iasi and Brada. The statue of Ecaterina Teodoroiu, at Brada, was erected at the association request in order to commemorate ten years after the end of WWI; the statue was made by sculptor Ionescu Varo.121

As a conclusion, the unpublished memories of the former scout from Constantza, Gheorghe Cristescu, the study dedicated to the scouts movement by Professor Marin Bcnghius. both found in the Archealogy-History Section of Goij County Museum 'Alexandru Stefulescu " of Târgu-Jiu, and a series of black and white photos depicting brothers Gheorghe and Mihail Cristescu and Gheorghe Rasoviceanu, the Goij countryman from village Arcani, determined us to present a sequence of the scouts' contributions to the defense of Dobrudja against German, Bulgarian and Turkish troops in the autumn of 1916.

Footnote

1 *** isi()na Românilor, vol. VII, tom I, coord, acad. Gheorghe Platon, Editura Enciclopédica, Bucurcsti. 2003, p. 286.

2 Zenovie Cârlugea, Zoia Elena Deju, Arethia Tätärescu. Marea Doamnä a Gorjului intebelic, Editura Mäiastra, Târgu-Jiu, 2007, p. 57.

3 Ibidem._

4 Marin Benghius. Cercetâfa în România. Istoricul cercetäfei, p. 9. Manuscris aflat in colcctiilc Muzeului Judctcan Goij "Alexandru Stefulescu " din Târgu-Jiu sub nr. inv. 8 901.

5 Ibidem.

6 Ibidem.

7 Ibidem.

8 Ibidem._

9 Zenovie Cârlugea, Zoia Elena Deju, op. cit., p. 57.

10 MarinBenghiuç, op. cit., p. 10.

11 Ibidem.

12 Ibidem., p. 15.

13 Ibidem, p. 14.

14 Ibidem.

15 Fotografía este inregistratä in colcctiilc Scctici de Arheologie-Istorie a Muzeului J tide tea n Goij "Alexandru §tefulescu", sub nr. inv. 18 277.

16 Fotografía este inregistratä in colec(iile Scctici de Arheologie-Istorie a Muzeului J tide tea n Goij "Alexandru ftefulescu", sub nr. inv, 18 278,_

17 Gheorghe G. Cristescu, Amintiri din mzboiul 1916- 1919. Lucrarea memorialisticä este dactilografiatä si brosatä. O copie a acestei lucräri se aflä in posesia autorului studiului de fata.

18 Ibidem, p. 1.

19 Ibidem.

20 Ibidem.

21 Marin Benghius. op. cit, p. 14.

22 ..Ccrcctasul ", anl, nr. 12-13/iunie-iulie 1915, p. 15.

23 Gheorghe Cristescu, op. cit., p. 1.

24 Ibidem.

25 Ibidem.

26 Ibidem, p. 2.

27 Ibidem.

28 Ibidem.

29 Ibidem.

30 Ibidem, p. 3.

31 Ibidem.

32 Ibidem.

33 Ibidem._

34 Constantin Kiritcscu. lstoria räzboiului pentru întregirea României. 1916-1919, editia a Il-a, vol. I, Bucurcsti. Editara Casei Çcoalelor, f. a., p. 180.

35 Ibidem.

36 *** jstorja Pomânilor, vol. VII, tom II, coord, acad. Gheorghe Platon, Editura Enciclopédica, Bucurcsti. 2003, p. 420.

37 Constantin Kiritcscu. op. cit., yol. I, p. 93.

38 Nicolae Iorga, lstoria Românilor din Peninsula Balcanicä (Albania, Macedonia, Epir, Tesalia), Bucurcsti. Tipografía "Cultura Neamului Románese", 1919, p. 71.

39 Constantin Kiritcscu. op. cit., y ol. I, p. 182.

40 Ibidem, p. 192.

41 Ibidem.___

42 *** jstorja Românilor, vol. VII, tom II, p. 211.

43 Ibidem, p. 423.

44 ConstantinKirijescu, op. cit., vol. I, p. 359.

45 Ibidem, p. 367.

46 Ibidem, p. 371.

47 ***, IstoriaRomânilor, vol. VII, tom II, p. 423.

48 Gheorghe Cristescu, op. cit., p. 3.

49 Ibidem.

50 Ibidem._

51 Ibidem, p. 1.

52 Ibidem, p. 4.

53 Ibidem.

54 Ibidem.

55 Ibidem.

56 Ibidem.

57 Constantin Kiritcscu. op. cit., yol. I, p. 413.

58 Ibidem.

59 Ibidem, p. 423.

60 *** jstorja Românilor, vol. VII, tom II, p. 424; Constantin Kiritcscu. op. cit., p. 423.

61 Alexandra Averescu, Notije zilnice din räzboiu (1916-1918), cditia a Ill-a, Editura "Cultura National;!". Bucuresti, f. a., p. 21.

62 Ibidem, p. 34.

63 ***, Istoria Românilor, vol. VII, tom II, p. 424.

64 Constantin Kiritescu, op. cit., vol. I, p. 435.

65 Ibidem, p. 465.

66 Ibidem, p. 466.

67 Gheorghe Cristescu, op. cit., p. 5.

68 Ibidem.

69 Ibidem.

70 Ibidem.

71 Ibidem.

72 Ibidem.

73 Ibidem.

74 Ibidem, p. 4.

75 Constantin Kiritescu, op. cit., vol. I, p. 468.

76 Ibidem.

77 Ibidem, p. 469.

78 Ibidem.

79 Ibidem.

80 Ibidem.

81 Ibidem, p. 470.

82 Ibidem, p. 471.

83 Ibidem.

84 Ibidem, p. 472.

85 Gheorghe Cristescu, op. cit., p. 6.

86 Ibidem.

87 Ibidem.

88 Ibidem.

89 Ibidem, p. 7.

90 Ibidem, p. 8.

91 Ibidem.

92 Ibidem.

93 Ibidem.

94 Ibidem, p. 9.

95 Ibidem, p. 10.

96 Ibidem

97 Ibidem.

98 Ibidem.

99 Ibidem, p. 11.

100 Ibidem.

101 Ibidem.

102 Ibidem.

103 ***, Istoria Românilor, vol. VII, tom II, p. 425.

104 Gheorghe Cristescu, op. cit., p. 12.

105 Ibidem, p. 13.

106 Ibidem, p. 14.

107 Ibidem.

108 Ibidem, p. 16.

109 Constantin Ispas, Nemuritorii, Editura Centrului Judeþean al Creaþiei Gorj, Târgu-Jiu, 2004, vol. III, p. 59.

110 Ibidem, p. 60.

111 Ibidem.

112 Ibidem, p. 61.

113 Ibidem.

114 Ibidem.

115 See Addendum 4.

116 Ibidem.

117 Ibidem.

118 Marin Benghiu, op. cit., p. 13.

119 Ibidem, p. 72.

120 Ibidem, p. 75.

121 Ion Mocioi, Ecaterina Teodorolu, Editura Academicã Brâncusi, Tãrgu-Jiu, 2011, p. 179.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

[1] ***, Ccrcctasul. an I, nr. 12-13/iunie-iulie 1915

[2] ***, Istoria Românilor, 2003, vol. VII, tom I, coord, acad. Gheorghe Platon, Editura Enciclopédica, Bucurcsti

[3] Averescu Alexandru, Notice zilnice din räzboiu (1916- 1918), f. a., cditia a Ill-a, Editura "Cultura National;!''. Bucurcsti

[4] Bcnghius Marin, Cercetâfa in România. Istoricul cercetäfei. Manuscris aflat in colcctiilc Muzeului Jude (can Goij "Alexandru Stefulescu " din Târgu-Jiu sub nr. inv. 8 901

[5] Cristescu Gheorghe G., Amintiri din räzboiul 1916- 1919. Lucrarea memorialisticä este dactilografíala si brosatä. O copie a acestei lucran se aflâ in posesia autorului studiului de fat;!

[6] Cârlugea Zenovie, Deju Zoia Elena, 2007, Arethia Tâtârescu. Marea Doamnâ a Gorjului intebelic, Editura Mâiastra, Târgu-Jiu

[7] Iorga Nicolae, Istoria Românilor din Peninsula Balcánico (Albania, Macedonia, Epir, Tesalia), 1919, Bucurcsti. Tipografía "Cultura Neamului Románese"

[8] Ispas Constantin, Nemuritorii, 2004, Editura Centrului Judctcan al Crcatici Goij, Târgu-Jiu

[9] Kiritcscu Constantin, Istoria räzboiului pentru întregirea României. 1916-1919, f. a., édifia a Il-a, vol. I, Bucurcsti. Editura Casei Çcoalelor

[10] Ion Mocioi, Ecaterina Teodoroiu, 2011, Editura Académica Brâncusi. Târgu-Jiu

Appendix

(ProQuest: Appendix omitted.)