Evening star., 1916-01-09

and Austrians. realizing how vital firm
resistance means to their future well
fare, are fighting with frenzy. That
the Russians have been forced to sac
rifice tens of thousands of men in their
present effort is affirmed in Vienna and
Berlin. while even Petrograd has been
forced to admit that severe casualties
have been suffered in the past ten days.
X
Field Marshal Won Mackensen, who
was actively in charge of the advance
of the central
Won Mackensen powers into
Again on Russ Line. sarhi. sau 'oes now ,s
at Czernowitz, the center of the most
terrific engagements. This fact indi-
Gates that the Russian threat has
caused the central powers to draw
back their wisest military leaders and
great reinforcements to the eastern
line.
1t is declared that the Russians have
gained the dominating heights at
Czernowitz. which is the capital of
Rukowina, and Petrograd says that the
Austrians have evacuated the city. This
fact, however, is stoutly denied both in
Berlin and Vienna. The fall of Czerno-
morale of the Teutonic troops, 1t is de-
clared, and would fire the Russians to
further effort. 1t. is said that even
though the city is not yet in the hands
OF the Slavs. they have wrested control
of the important railway from Czerno-
witt to kolomea
Dispatches from the eastern arena
indicate that it is the present intention
or the Russians to cut the German line,
striking between the center and the
a "a N hn I
this attempt prove successful. it is de-
clared that the influence upon Rumania
would be so great that her participation
in the war on the side of the allies
could be expected within the course of
the next few weeks. 1t is most GER
tainly true that should Rumania hurl
her forces into the fray at the present
juncture the result would be almost IL
not completely disastrous to the Ger
man endeavor to hold the Russians
in leash in the east.
Rumania has a force of nearly 900, 900
there when
Rumania Has the German
100000 Men Ready. serbia rhS,0h heg,p p'
Their advance on Austrian soil would
force the detachment of great forces
from the Austrian line in the Bessara-
bian front, and this would prove a Sc
we're blow to the Teutonic cause, for it
is admitted that Germany cannot at the
present juncture withdraw more troops
from the west, because of the threaten =
ing situation along that 'front.' while
such forces that have been left in Ser
bia must remain there to maintain the
advantage gained should the allies
move northward from Saloniki and
the rejuvenated Serbians, in conjunc-
tion with the Italians, move in from
Albania in attempt to once more press
the Teutons and Bulgars from Serbian
soil. Rumania now has a force of 150.-
900 men on the Serbian line, which, it
is declared: could meet successfully
such forces as Bulgaria or Turkey
might detach against them,
Rumania's participation in the war
is eagerly sought by the allies, and it
is asserted in entente capitals that
strike now and strike heavily while
the opportunity lasts.
Owing to the energy of the present
Russian offensive movement there is
no reason to expect that there will be
a lull on the eastern line, and particu-
larly because Russian commanders
during the recent lull fired their men
with the determination to press the
enemy from Russian soil once the next
offensive started. 1t is admitted in
London, Paris and Petrograd that the
Russian offensive has opened up a new
phase to the present war. and the sue
cessful continuation of Russian efforts
may change the whole aspect of the
military situation.
Operations of the Russians along the
middle Styr are particularly impor-
tant. The cars men are moving out
of the marshes and continuing series
of engagements. more properly bat
ties, which have been going on for
weeks. 1t was in the region that the
Russians lost so heavily during their
precipitate retreat last summer and
fall A gigantic concerted effort at
this point would force the Germans to
withdraw more forces from the Bes-
sarahian front and the Russian