The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-04
BRA|LA AND GA[A1z
CONTINUED From First Page1


which is bound to spell either halt
to Maekensens offensive in the east
or n forward" into Bessarahia
Galatz and Focsami are the two
pillars of the Sereth line. While the
Teuton Dobrudja army by it's capture
of Macln and the enlightenment Of
Braila made important Roadway on
the drive on Galatz. the Ninth army
under Falkenhayn. advanced to within
four miles of FoCsami. Simultaneous
~ the great thanking movement aimed
at the Russ Rumanian Sereth front by
Won Gerek and Kraft Won Delmen-
singer, pushing eastwards from the
Transylvanian ridges against the mid
die course or the river, made sub
stantial progress.
Two. villages were captured by the
Teutons in Moldavia, one of them
fourteen miles within the border and
two others Immediately below Fo-
cSamf
West and south OF Focsami." says
tho Berlin report. troops of the Ninth
army are now standing before the
fortified position of the Russians"
The Supreme Clash.
The next forty eight hours are ex-
pccted to usher IN the supreme clash
The last thiyty-six hours were fea-
tured by remarkable rally of the
Russians and Rumanians all along the
line. Again and again they turned
on the invaders and hurled themselves
against the Teuton army chain, In
several sectors their heroic efforts
were crowned by substantial sue
cesses. An were of n local nature.
however, and nowhere did they sue
coed in piercing the ring closing in
h.. H. l..Y
be made.
A striking illustration of the mani
fest hopelessness of these belated
thrusts is offered by the fact that
late yesterday afternoon the Petro-
grad war office reported:
In the Dobrudja the enemy
throughout the day made a number
OF attacks In the region OF Macin.
He was repulsed and hastily retired"
A few hours afterwards. when the
Berlin war office issued it's night bull
ietih, 1t was able to announce that
Macin had been captured.
While the series Of local successes
recorded by Petrograd. both for the
Russians and Rumanians. can have
no bearing on the military situation
on the Sereth nor stave off the final
attack on that line which. in fact.
may be under way at this moment
1t nevertheless disposes of the theory
that the Cars forces are In head
long rout seeking cover under the
Sereth buiwarks.
The Russian statement indicates
clearly there is enough lighting spirit:
enough punch" In the defenders to
bio the Teutons a battle royal when
the decisive conflict ensues.
The Runianians. suddenly assuming
the offensive north of the kasion Ca
tween the Carpathians and the Trans
syivanian ridges, beat back some OF
Gerok's forc>s, pursuing them with
calvalry. Later In the day the leu
tons reinforced resumed their attacks
and pressed back the Rumanians to
their former position" according, to
petrograd.
Southwest OF F'ocsami. Russian ar
tillery frustrated a Teuton attack.
Further West the Russians recap
tured three villages and took 21S pris-
oners. capturing five cannons and eight
machine guns.
Russian offensive operations were
equally successful, according to the
Cars war office. on the Russian Yves
tern front. particularly I'M GaiaciA.
where they offset temporary Teuton
success by counter attack which drove
their opponents back TO their original
lines.
Two German flying machines were
brought down by the Russians. one
by artillery fire. and two others by
Auscoyits ayiatora.