Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-04
Germans Admit Gains Made
by BruSSiIoffs Offensive,
but 0bjeCtives Are Not
Reached.
CZAR'S LOSSES PLACED
ABOVE 100000 MEN
Slavic Forces in Dobrudja Sec
ton in Critical Positioni
Bridgehead Defense Most
Necessary.

Berlin, Jan. g. "Russia's four
great attacks in 1916 writes the
military correspondent of the Over
seas News agency. had no more sue
cess than did the great Anglo-F'rench
offensive on the western front.
THE March Offensive of the Rus
slams in the region north of the
Pripet marshes was stifled March 80
after lasting u fortnight. The Russian
casualties numbered 100000 men.
General Brussiloffs offensive be-
gun early in June had certain local
successes. It was planned aN part of
the general entente offensive and in
order to relieve the military weight
against Italy and to exercise moral
pressure on Rumania. This offensive
was initiated and carried out on
front of 21S miles.
losses Admitted.
THE forces of the central powers
were pushed back in the triangle of
Rovno, Dubno and Lutsk as far as
the Stokhod river, or for a distance
of about s miles. In the south the
Russians occupied the crownland of
BukoWina as far as the Carpathian
ton front was pushed back across the
Stripa river toward the Zlota Lipa
and the Narayuvka. In this region
the offensive came to a standstill at
the beginning of August.
THE general thrusts of August "a
and September 16 to the west of
Lutsk on the Carpathian front were
without success
Russian Losses Enormous
THE Russians did not obtain their
strategica objects which were Brest-
L1toysk, KnVel and LemDerg. In spite
of the sacrifice of more than 100000
Russians the front of the central
powers was not pierced
THE third offensive in September
was launched by the Russians in con-
junction with the Rumanians against
Pennsylvania 1t was rapidly and
gracefully terminated by the counter
attack of the army of Field Marshal
Won ARR.
"The Russian thrust in the Gyergyo
mountains on the Moldavan frontier
had no more effect than did the eff
forts of Lieutenant General Skharoff
against the Tchernavoda-C -Constanza
line in Dobrudia and could not pre-
vent the conquest by the central
powers of the most important Tran
sylvanian pass.
Great Offensive Fails.
"The extraordinary violent Russian
offensive in the wooded Carpathiana
and on the frontier mountains of Mol
davia, begun November 2S along
front of 1856 miles, could not turn the
fate of the Rumanians. Towards tho
end of 1916, after the annihilation of
the Rumanian army, the central
Powers had taken the offensive
against the Russians, who were COM
PEELED to extend their front to the
Black sea, and the result of the war
year just ended is that the southern
Russian wing is seriously menaccd.'
Regarding the present situation in
Rumania the Overseas News agency
critic says:
"The position of the Russians press
ed into the northwest corner of Dob
rudja is becoming more hopeless
every day The allied Bulgarian,
Turkish and German forces are push
ing back the Russians from one posi-
ton after another.
Importance of Bridgehead.
"The tenacious defense by the Rus
slams is sufficient to prove the inn
portance Of the Matchin bridgehead. !
The winding Danube here forms a |
segment of circle on |
the Periphery of which are Matchin, |
Braila, Galata, Reni and Ratchela. |
The ground is mostly swampy, and |
into it project two necks of land for |
a considerable distance, the neck of |
Orlega, which rises to a height of Ito |
meters, and that of Bugeca, to SO |
meters. The Orlega neck dominates |
Braila from the rear, while the Bug |
ecu neck is only five kilometers from |
Galata. At a distance of fifteen kilo |
meters is the Russian railroad term |
nal point at REM. /
"The Russians, who were pushed |
back on Matchin on January /, now |
have, in addition to some routes of |
no Importance, at their disposal only |
The dam road from Matchin to Braila |
and the road on the height from Bug |
ecu to Achalau which leads over |
ground"
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