Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-04
DEFENSE
SEEM|NGLYENDED
Russians Hold But Marrow.
Strip After Germans Cap
ture Matchin.
HARD FIGHTING GOES ON

By the Associated Press.
LONDON January 4-The capture' OF
Matchin is regarded here as ending
the defense of Dobrudja Tile Russians
held the Matchin brfdgehead in order
to protect Braila from the rear. Moth
ing now remains to them except mar
row strip of land between marshes
which carries the highway to Braila.
The Germans and Bulgarians are in
position to push their guns within.
eight miles of Braila. and il is as
sumed that il the invaders capture the
latter town the Russian line west of
the Danube will be withdrawn. 1t ia
taken for granted that the prolonged
resistance to the German advance has
enabled the defenders to remove the
stores of grain and other material from
Braila.
German View of Situation.
BERLIN. January a.. by wireless to
Sayville-The towns of Matchih and
Jijila. in northern Dobrndja. have been .
captured. it is announced officially.
PETROGRAD. January 4, via Lordon.
e::3O pm. British Admiralty per Wire =
less Press.-The capture by Russian
forces, on the Rumanian trout, of 500
prisoners. three cannon and sixteen
machine gums. together with some mine
throwers and bomb mortars.. is an
nounced in today's war Office statement.
This success resulted from an attack
on hostile positions on heights to the
south of Botochu mountain. IN the
wooded Carpathians..
The. Russian official report of last
night says:
"On the Moldaviam frontier the enemy
Il hA< HAFs y.
tor extending from the village of no
tumba to as far the valley of the
River Sulcha, and south beyond tnat
point. but everywhere was repuised. In
this region We resained portion OF
the trenches lost by US yesterday ON
one of the heights.
Rumanians Attack.
"On the. Rumaniai front the Ruma-
mans are conducting attacks north of
the kazino river. eight versts east of
the Hungarian frontier. The enemy in
the morning attacked the Rumanians
east of Sopchan, on the upper reaches
of the River Suchitza. but was. beaten
back and pursued by cavalry. -
The enemy. Withdrew in a westerly
direction. During the day ne resuped
his attacks with superior forces and
pressed back, the -RpInanians TO. their
n.
Finder cover OF 4 drumiire bombard-
ment With shells containing asphyxla
ling gas, the enemy in close forwation
attacked along the railway southwest OF
Focsani portion of one of our regi-
ments. Being met with our well directed
fire. the enemy hastily retired to his
trenches and did not attempt further
attack.
- Village of Gulianka Taken.
"One of our rifle. regiments took by
assault the village OF Gulianka, south-
west of the River Rimnik. and captured
six officers. two surgeons. POS men, five
cannon and eight machine guns. The
villages. of Kiovenu and. Maksineni.
southeast of the village of Gulianka,
were also captured. The enemy detach-
merits which were occupying these viii
lagos were thrust back southwark
In the Dobrudja the enemy through
out the day made a number Of. attacks
in the region of Matchin. He was re-
pulsed and hastily retired.
caucasian 'front.': West of kalkit pur
scouts broke through the Turkish guards
and by hand-to-hand lighting captured
prisoners and cannon