The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-29
RUSSIANS COLLECT
FULL TOLL FROM
ADVANCING TEUT0NS
At Many Points Cars Sol
diers Succeed in Hating the
Ninth Army Veterans
VITAL CONFLICT ON
FOR SERETH LINE
British Tanks Prove Helpful to
Defenders-Braila Is Under
Heavy Bombardment From
Many Busy Berthas'

Teutons and Russians are embat-
tied in one of the most fateful strug-
giles Of the war on the 40-m't- front
south of the FocsamiBraila line, which
forms the last fortified barrier to the
Teuton advance before the final on
slaught on the Sereth line can be
undertaken.
With the embittered stubbornness
of troops trying to ward off the men,
ace of invasion OF a vital part of
their empire. the Muscovite forces, re-
inforced by fragments OF the shat
tered Rumanian army, are selling ev-
cry inch Of ground at the price of
blood-their own and their foes
and in many parts have succeeded In
stemming the Teuton tide.
Win in Vital Sectors.
In the vital sectors, however, the
invading wave sweeps on irresistibly,
reaping the fruits of the great break
through" that crowned the five-days'
battle of Rimnicu-Sarat The Teu-
tons have pushed beyond that rail-
head and are driving at Focsami.
Braila, the last Rumanian Danube
port, already Is bathed in a steady ram
CT snciis from giant skodas, hnwiiz.rs
and busy Berthas."
Up to yesterday 10000 Russians
had been captured since the great
drive against the Sereth line began
While the Teuton center is storm
ing forward against the line OF pow
erful bulwarks built by Rumania for
the event % Russian invasiol The
tween Focsami and Galat., both mod
ern fortresses), the invading right
formed by the Dobrudja army and
part OF the Danube forces. is fight
ing its way forward across the Dam
ube swamps and lakes in a north
easterly direction. Macin. the strong
Danube bridgehead. is the last OBJ
stacle in their road. 1t has been I'M
der bombardment for three days now.
The Teuton left. fighting in the noun
tainous regions OF the Transylvanian
edge, is encountering stubborn resis-
lance from the Russians.
Retirement Admitted.
The abandonment of Rimnicu-Sa-
rat was indirectly admitted by Petro-
grad yesterday when the war Office
conceded a withdrawal of the Russian
lines to the river of that name.
ou Inc lTpnt UttWeeN dldSHutCe and
Sem. 20 villages. it is furthe- admit
ted the invaders pressed back our
attachments and occupied a series OF
heights" South of Sezmezo the Teu-
ton advance was stopped by the Rus
sian fire.
Evidently in an attempt to force
the Russians to spend ammunition.
the Germans and Austro- Hungarians
are keeping up alternate heavy she'll
ing of the Muscovite lines. now in
volhynia, now in Galicia. In the last
thirty-six hours the big Teuton. how
itzers violently bombarded the Rus
sian front in the region south Of Bro
dy. damaging the Russian trenches
in places" according to Petrograd.
The Russians on their part carried
out a successful raid on the Narayuv-
ka River and frustrated IN attempt
to cross the Dneister.
Won FAllxcnhayn tn IAmeaight.
For the first time In weeks tho
name Of General Won Falkenhayn was
again mentioned In the German war
Office report yesterday. The Ninth
Army. which won tho battle Of Rim
nicu-Sarat--the same army that laid
the foundation for all the Rumanian
victories by forcing the Transylvanian
passes-is still under the immediate
command of the former chief Of the
great general staff.
Prussian and Bavarian infantry
forces are taking the main part in tho
pursuit of the Cars forces beyond
Rimnicu-Sarat. The overthrow OF
hastily constructed new Russian posi-
tions Is described by Berlin as
stampede"
British "'anks" are Of great aid TO
the Russians west OF the Danube, tho
Russian war Office reported yesterday.
Tribute Is paid to the heroic. conduct
of commander Of one OF the big
motor cars who. though wounded in
Tuesdays battle, led his tank into
the fray again the following day.