The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
Two Reverses for Teuton
Forces Officially { laimed By
Petrograd
THIRD In CARPATHIANS
UNOFFICIALLY REPORTED
Later German Official Reports
Indicate Russian Offensive
Started Too Late to Save
Bucharest

Tnree Russian victories, two Of
them claimed officially and the third
reported unofficially. served yesterday
to send rays of hope into the deep
gloom pervading London and the other
entente capitals as a result of Ru.
mania's plight.
Russia's war office announced:
Ffrst-The recapture of the western
part of the big bridgehead spanning
the Danube at Cernawoda
Second--The. recapture OF the via
lagos of Comana and Gostinari, afx@
teen miles south of Bucharest, and
the driving back of Field Marshal Won
Mackensen's Danube army.
Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd .
stated that the Russians have gained
foothold in part Of the town OF
kiriba ba, near the Capathian pass OF
the same name,
Important as each of these sue
| cesses is in itself, glance at the
map and perusal of yesterdays Gers
man war office statement issued later
than the Russian report allow OF but
one conclusion--that Bucharest's doom
is sealed.
For Annihilation OF Rumanians.
Equally inescapable is the conciti-
sion that the Russian offensive in tina
late to stave off the Rumanian dis
! aster. and that the only thing Russian
aid in Rumania may bring about 81
partial rescue OF King Ferdinand'ag
| scattered armies.
The capture OF Bucharest, II Is evt.
dent from today's official reports, 81
not the uppermost object of the Teu-
ton commanders. Evidently relying
upon the capital falling automaticaliy.s
| Falkenhayn and Mackensen are noy1a
| working Jointly for one supFeu1e EuG0s
the humiliation or capture Of HUxs
| mania's armed defenders
That the Russian report OF the sue ~
cess south OF Bucharest Is q belAfed
one Is shown by yesterdays German
| war Office statement announcing the
capture OF not less than ffty-one on
GERS and 5000 men, forty nine cans
non and 100 loaded ammunition carts
The statement makes II clear that the
Teutons broke through the Rumaniail
positions south of the capital
Russian Offensive Strong.
| The Petrograd claim Of Russian sue
cesses In the Carpathians conflicts
| sharply with the Berlin and Vienna
sian thrusts failed under terrific
| losses. Moreover. Berlin announced
the capture Of 1000 Russians At one
| point in the wooded Carpathiana.
| Both the German and Austrian war
offices admit that the Muscovite Of.
! fensive is OF the first order carried
by large masses of troops.
| In northwestern Wallachia, where
| Falkenhayn's "right-hand man." Gen.
eral Kraft Won Delmenfingen. Is driv-
ing eastward. the engagements. ac-
| cording to Berlin, are developing
into a great battle.
Further to the southeast, below
/ Pitesia, where one of Falkenhayn'1
armies is pushing toward Bucharest.
! the Rumanians once more offered bat
tie. but were decisively defeated, their
/ front broken in two
| Teutons Seven Miles From City.
AS for Mackensen's Danube army,
| it has reached the Argos River. savsss
miles below Bucharest city. and only
| two and a half miles from the outer
| ring of forts. This advance Is adj
nltted by Petrograd.
| TIE outstanding development yes
/ terday was, however. an indication
that Mackensen has effected a new
crossing OF the Danube. this time At
| the Turtukai bridgehead, described
by the great Moltke As the best point
for the purpose. Here the Teuton
! commander has been marking time
| pending the advance of his Svixtcws
| army. whose heavy artillery Ia now
we'll within the range of the Iucha.
| rest forts. From Turtukai to the
| capital is some thirty-two miles But.
! the mission OF Tuntukai force, that
! has really crossed the river al caiv.s
| is to head due north towas1 thoa
| rest-Cernawoda railway.
To Tag" Defenders In Capital.
| This railway covering some ei-k@-.
eight miles, appears now the sole ..se-
hue OF escape for the Runianian
| forces driven from Wallachia. To-
cut this rail, thus Tagging rot only
| tie Capital, but the hulk OF 'is acsss
| ,en6 ers, Is the chief task a .,es.l ~
| the 1eutons. The railway -aaninS
| north rom Bucharest no loasycr offers \
| chance of escape to King Fertls u
| inana's forces. since it leads :ato th4 !;
| Prahoya and Buzeu valleys .shafAs
Faikeahayn's northwestern ARMIES
are pushing steadily forward. OF
the russian offensive in the f.as-~
| patkians. the Austrian var ofIisc SID
yesterday afternoon that 1t consiasasss n
with "nndiminished violence. hnts
that "evelywhere the enennv was
bloodiiy ieu6lsed as on tho i4eyioEa
day"
Tho total number of troops new
fighting IN Rumana is estiH. stci ~ q
close to 100000.