Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-28

lies Apparently Is Fast Closing in
Upon Rumania's Oil and Grain Cen.
ter on the Danube.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 27.-(Via Lon
don. 1925 p. m.)-fn the course of an
order issued to all the units Of the
Russian army, dated Dec. 25, the en-
peror, in brief review showing how
the inequalities In the technical re-
sources for warfare as between the
allies and central powers are being
gradually removed. with the result
that the enemy strength is apparently
waning, while that of Russia and her
allies is constantly growing, says:
Germany is feeling that her com
plete defeat is near, and near also is
the hour of retribution for all her
wrong doings and violations of the
moral law. AS in the time of her
strength she declared war, so now
/ feeling her weakness she suddenly Of
fers to enter upon peace negotiations,
desiring such negotiations before her
military talent is exhausted.
"At the same time she is creating
a false impression about the strength
! of her army by utilizing her Temporary
success over the Rumanians. who lack
experience in the conduct of modern
warfare"
| Arguing that the allies are entitled
to choose favorable hour for peace
negotiations, just as Germany chose
favorable hour for declaration of
war the order says:
! This time has not yet arrived. The
enemy has not been driven out of the
provinces he has occupied. Russias
attainment of the tasks created by the
war regarding Constantinople and the
Dardanelles as we'll as the creation of
"a free Poland from all three of her
now incomplete tribal districts, has
not yet been guaranteed. To conclude
peace at this moment would mean fail.
ure to utilize the fruits of the untold
trials of the heroic Russian troops and
fleet. These trials and the still more
| sacred memory of those noble sons
OF Russia who have fallen on the bat
tlefield do not permit of thought of
peace until final victory over their
enemies.
"Who dares to think that he who
brought about war shall have power
to conclude war at any time he likes ?"
In conclusion the emperor, express
ing confidence that no Russian soldier
would desire peace until the enemy
had been expelled from Russian soil
and had given guarantees to prevent
possible repetition of a treacherous
attack, says:
LET us be firm in the certainty of
our victory and the All-Highest will
bless our standards and will cover
them afresh with glory and give us
peace worthy of your heroic deeds,
my glorious troops-a peace for which
future generations will bless your
memory, which will be sacred to
| them"
ASSOCIATED PRESS RESUME.
The net of the Teutonic allies ap-
parently is fast closing in upon Braila,
Rumania's oil and grain center on the
Danube. Having taken Filipechti, 80
miles to the southwest, Field Marshal
Won Mackensen's troops have now cap
tured the railroad town of Rimnik-
Sarat, relatively the same distance to
the east, while the guns of the Dob
rudja arm; are still hammering, and
with sone success, the Russo Ruman-
ians at the bridgehead of Matchin, on
the east bank of the Danube near
| Braila.
Prior to the fall of Rimnik-Sa the
Teutonic allies defeated the Russians
on front of ten and half miles south
west of the town, while the Teutonic
| Danube army captured several forti-
| fled villages, according to the Berlin
war office. Petrograd admits that the
Russians and Rumanians have been
forced to fall back north of Megura,
but say elsewhere the invaders were
defeated with heavy casualties.
Since December %, says Berlin,
more than $500 prisoners and 81 ma
chine guns have been captured il, Ru-
mania.
Artillery duels, sapping operations
and attacks by small patrol parties
featured Wednesdays fighting on the
front in France.
There have been sporadic battles at
several points along the line in Rus
sia and Galicia from Volhynia to the
Carpathians, but no important results
have been attained by either side.
The usual bombardment is in prog
| ress in the Austro-Italian theater. In
Macedonia comparative quiet pre-
walls.
The rehabilitation of the Greek
army in accordance with Greece's
promises to the entente allies is being
carried out, according to information
received at the British foreign office.
The Russian emperor, in an order
of the day to the Russian army deal
ing with Germany's proffer of peace,
asserts that the proffer was made be-
cause Germany feels that her COM
plete defeat Is near. The emperor
added that the time for peace had not
yet arrived and that he was confident
no Russian soldier would desire peace
until the invader had been driven from
Russian soil and had given guarantees
to prevent possible repetition of a