The Washington times., 1916-01-02
RUSS DRIVE IN
GALICIA LIKELY
TO Be DECISIVE
Cars Thrust May Bring Rou-
mania on Allies Side-Fer-
dinand Awaiting Outcome.

LONDON. an. Am official Russian
war office statement to the effect that
"herce fighting" is in progress south ot
the Pripet in Galicla. coupled with Fot-
roprad advices telling of the concentra-
ton of 100000 German and Austrian
. troops on the Russian frontier, indicate
that a decisive battle in Galicla is iin-
minent. 10 not already begun.
Both the central powers and Russia
have been for months trying to influence
Roumanla to intervene on their side.
Russia. having failed to obtain 'Rou-
manian consent to drive through her
territory for an invasion OF Bulgaria.
sent the large army which had been
massed in Bessarabia to the Galiclan
= front, with the object, It Is believed.
Of winning over King Ferdinand by
infiicting decisive defeat of the Aus
tro-German troops there.
Strip Lines In Macedonia.
The Austro- Germans. II the latest Pet
rograd dispatches are correct have
taken counter measures and themselves
heavily REINFORCED their Galician lines.
Germany and Austria have stripped
their lines in Macedonia and have drawn
on the other fronts to send up heavy
re-enforcements to meet the new Rus
sian drive
The Germans say Russian attacks
near Burkanow have been beaten back
as the result of fianlking movement.
Petrograd gives out few details Of
the situation. but indicates that the
struggle although OF the most desper-
ate character. has only Just begun. and
intimates that further tremendous con-
flcts may be looked for in the near
future.
The Russians admit they are en-
ploylng a vast army in their new Of
fensiVe, and say 1t Is well provided
with guns and ammunition. Many
fresh troops have been sent to the
front.
Without giving figures, the Russian
experts cali ette ntion to a semi-otfic!al
ttetement recently Fiven out al Petro-
grad that tho Gar would have for the
thoroughly trained and fully equipped.
Massing At MOnastir.
It was then said that once the cam
paign was renewed the Russians would
not count on local victories or sporadic
successes, but would depend on
smashes al lalong the line and on every
front
Field Marshal Won Mackensen is III
COuIudHu Oh lIle AuStTO-a1eTIuan fOfCeS,
with General P0anger as his chief OF
etaff.
The situation in Macedonia has again
forced itself to the front. The German
and Austrian forces are massing at
Monastir, in southwestern Serbia, near
the Greek border. Prime Minister
Radoslavofr, of Bulgaria, is quoted as
saying the Bulgarians will soon begin
an advance into Greek territory to at
tack the French and British at Sa-
lonilIi.
1t Is officially announced that the
British troops captured a portion of the
German front line trenches northeast OF
AImentieres In the fighting on Friday
Germans In West Re-enfOrced.
No official report from British head
quarters was given out, and the de-
tails of the British success are eagerly
expected. For several weeks violent
artillery combats have marked the
operations in the west, particularly in
the northern section, where the Ger
mans are faced by the British. The
artillery bombardment assumed in
creased intensity during the last few