The sun., 1916-12-25
DRIVE Is BEGUN
ON BESSARABIA
Tcutons BOmbad MuscO-
yites on Russian Side
Of Danube.
FIGHT IN CARPATHIANS
Cars Troops Storm Peak on
Moldavian Frontier, Cap
turing Guns.

LuNp"S. Dec 2i.--Von Mackensen'.
Dohrudja army may celebrate Christmas
on Russian soil German cannon are
preparing for n crossing OF the Danube,
throwing shells across the river into
Russian trenches on the Bessarab bian
bank.
Gen. sakharoff Is losing his last foot
hold on the tiny peninsula In northwest
ern Dobrudja. Berlin announces to-
night that the Russians have been driven
from Isakcha.
The Russians in the trenches on the
Danube that the Germans are sheljinp
are in a tight corner. They are exposed
to gunfire from three sides. an enfilad ding
FIRE extremely difficult to endure. They
will be hard put to II to hold tl>rir posi-
tons and prevent German. Turkish and
Bulgarian infantry from crossing.
Germans she'll TuItcha.
German guns are sheNing the north
bank OF the Danube on both sides Of
Tultcha. the large Dobrudja town which
the Germans took yesterday. Tultcha
is at the apex Of small peninsula
formed by southwark bend OF the
Danube. On this peninsula are the Rus
sian positions, exposed to fire from
Tultcha In front and from either side
OF the peninsula.
The peninsula and the ground about
II 10 at the upper end Of the Danube
delta and very swampy. Beyond are
many small lakes and lagoons dotting
the country to the north as far as the
Kiia. the northern Of the three Danube
arms. Fifteen miles north OF the penin-
sula is the large Bessarabian town Of
lsmail.
A little further to the weS Of Tultcha
there is a more favorable spot for a
crossing. where only the main stream OF
the Danube would have to be crossed.
still further west in the region OF
lsakcha. which has just been occupied
BY the Teutons. n crossing could be made
toward the Bessarabian town of kartal,
where the bank is not so marshy.
Fear Felt for Odessa.
In this situation grave fears are felt
for Odessa. the great Russian port on the
Black Sea. which Ii only 1e5 miles from
Tultcha. II the Teutons cross they will
he able Also to sever important routes by
which men and munitions are being sent
from Russia into Rumania. One Of these
runs south through Bessarabia to REM,
on the northern bank OF the Danube. only
fftceu miles west Of Isakcha.
While yielding ground In the Dobruja
the Russians have made another attack
In the Carpathians. with some success. A
mountain peak on the Moldavian frontier
was s,ormed by Russian troops. who
struggled to its crest through deep snow.
They captured five officers and 100 men
and three machine guns. The Germans
admit this Russian success. which they
say was won after an unsuccessful ad-
vance"
In Great waliachia there was indeci-
eive flghting. in which the Germans used
heavy artillery to cover desperate attacks
upon the Russian positions. Heavy fight
ing continued all day, but without deci-
sion. Al another point the Teutons made
fve attempts TO attack. all of which the
Russian statement describes as weak
and says were repulsed.
The Capture of Isakchs.
The German statement tonight an
nounred the taking OF Isakcha. The
German day statement follows:
Army group Of Field Marshal Won
Mackensen: by the operations OF the
Dobrudja army the enemy has beeh
pushed into the northwestern corner
Of the country. The north bank or
the Danube Oh both sides OF Tultcha
u under the fire ~ our guns.
Front OF Archduke Joseph: In the
artillery fre temporarily increased In
the Ludova and Kirlbaba sectors.
North OF the Uzul Valley the Russians
again launched an attack After an
unsuccessful advance they gained
footing on n height OF the Magyaros
ridge.
The Russian statement on the Ru-
manian front follows:
Throughout the day the enemy was
active In tho region between kassina
and Zaballa villages.
Russians In Hot Fisht.
In the region Of Galberenul and
Orogul the enemy. under cover or MS
heavy artillery. repeatedly attacked
US Desperate fighting continued
here throughout the day. In the
region of Batogu and Nilinu we re-
pulsed five weak enemy attempts to
assume the offensive.
In the Dobrudja the enemy con-
tinued to attack our troops. who with
drew toward Isakcha.
Some airplanes dropped bombs on
the region Of the Yanka railway sta
tion Great Wallachia) on the Buzeu-
Braila line. German airplanes landed
and an officer and two soldiers were
made prisoners.
In the wooded Carpath.ans. after
srtillery preparation. we attacked
enemy trenches on the heights north
OF the River Cussa (CasuiuD and cap
tured some of them after violent hand
10 hand fighting. taking three machine
guns. five officers and 100 men. We
are consolidating the slopes south OF
the captured height
Tho Russian statement on the front
IN Galicia and Volhynia reads:
After an attack by artillery and
f4ne fire against our bridgehcad near
the village Of Boldura the enemy at
tempted an offensive, but was dis
persed by our fire. Enemy attempts
against our advanced posts on the
Bystritza in tho region Of the village
OF Aachovicky. south OF Bohoro-
dozany. were easily repulsed. Near
the village of Kablonka, west of
ZOlOMlmY. our acOutA surrounded and