The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-27
GERMANS CLAIM THEY
HAVE WON ON sOMMt
Declare Anglo French Have Lost
Power to Make Any Definite I'm
precision On Lines.
ALL SACRIFICES IN VAIN.
Great Drive Definitely stopped, While
Tcuton Forces Have Rebuilt De-
fensivc Works During Month of
Calm

Berlin. via Sayville. Dec 26--ln a
review of the general military situa-
ton, the military critics of the Over
seas News Agency writes:
For some days the headquarters
reports of both sides have scarcely
mentioned anything further of the
Somme front. The great Somme bat
tie is, in fact. ended. After the pitt
full failure of the last infantry attacks
four weeks ago. the Anglo French ar
gree that the defenders could COM
letely reconstructed their positions.
which consisted partly of RACED
trenches and grenades' hills.
-Four weeks of complete calm. in
voluntarily conceded by completely
exhausted assailants, have definitely
sealed the fate of the Somme battle.
Now complete new system of
trenches is ready on the whole Somme
front. with barbed wire even in front
OF the foremost lines, while the occu-
pants of the trenches have at their
disposal deep dugouts,
This means that all the efforts and
sacrifices OF a. five months offensive
were made in vain. If the entente
forces dare TO reopen the attack they
muse begin at the beginning
Stronger Than Ever.
But the defense lines are stronger
now than they were July /, since be-
hind the first system of trenches which
was constructed In the range of the
hostile artillery FIRE, more than one
dozen OF the strongest defense lines
have been built, with the utmost care
and undisturbed by the enemy.
The fact that quiet prevails on the
Somme even in good weather, which
allows the allies the use of their
tanks proves to what extent the
Anglo French driving power has been
exhausted. The same passivity is OBJ
served as far as aerial fighting Is con-
cerned. When the weather cleared up
German air squadrons undertook raids
westward and promptly the Dragging
about British aerial superiority ceased
The British headquarters report
OF December 81, when good weather
prevailed. stated that four British
machines were missing and only one
hostile machine was reported de-
stroyed.
Thus. the somme battle is ter
minated, with the central powers COM
plete victors."
On Balkan Front
Speaking of the Balkan front the
critic continues:
I'm a rapid advance the Bulgarians
took the Russian rear guard positions
In the Dobrudja and occupied Tulcea
The conQuerors dominate the lower
Danube and the Sulina Canal as well
as the st. George Bay from the hills
around Tulcea. Navigation on the
Danube is thus completely cut and the
Russians have only the railroad line OF
Remi and Jassy left
The extreme eastern wing of the
central powers armies rests upon q
most important point of support
which cannot be outfanked From the
East any approach is impeded by the
broad Danube Delta. From the north
Tulcea is covered by fifteen kilometers
(nearIy eight miles), of wide swamps
on the bank of the Danube.
General Sakharoff's troops have beer
driven into the extreme northwestern
corner of the Dobrudja where their
only rear guard communications lead
to Acceila and Braila. 1t is expressl,
doubtful whether they will make {
last attempt to maintain Themselves
ON Dobrudja soil"