RUSSIANS' HOLD IN EAST PRUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2383, 12 February 1915, Page 5

RUSSIANS' HOLD IN EAST PRUSSIA

FORWARD MARCH MAINTAINED j w REPORTED RETIREMENT FROM BUKOWINA _ i London, 'February 10. The '"Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent states that the Russians are firmly holding their own in East Prussia, and are advancing between Ghorsele and "the Johanisburg front -and the lower reaches, of the Vistula. The 1 Russian advanoe on the left bank of the Vistula, at the confidence with the lSzura, continues. The Gfermans content themselves with artillery fire since their frantic attacks on Sorjimoff were checked. tChors ele is on the East Prussian border, about 24 miles north-east of Mlawa. Jotanisburg is in East Prussian territory, some 9 miles in from the frontier andbsome 42 miles north-east of Chorsele.] ~~ \ RUSSIANS STRONGLY, PRESSED IN BUKOWINA, - London, February 10. Mr. Martin Donohoe, the "Daily Chronicle's" wax correspondent, states that the Russiians are strongly pressed, .and are retreating from Bukotrina. They wiE probably attempt to holu Czernowitz. ' The High (Commissioner reports (London, February 10, 2.40 p.m.)' Router reports from Petrograd:—.Official—"The Germans in East Prussia on February 7 resumed the offensive at Chorzele and Joha-nisberg, and fresh troops also undertook simultaneous operations on the two wings at Lasdehnen, in the Szeszuppw Valley, south of the Niemen. In repulsing the German attack the Russians succeeded in exterminating almost a whole battalion. , "P n I' 1 ® bank of the Vistula the enemy are not active. Judging by tne abandoned bodies, the Germans lost in killed and wounded during the six days' attack at .Borjimoff tens of thousands of men. "The fighting; continues in the Carpathians region. At Bartfield and Svidmk, on the southern side of'the range, through from the Dukla region, the enemy retired, k'iving many prisoners. In the region of the Lupkow Pass our offensive contitaues. We captured in one day 5200 men, 69 officers, and 18 'marine-guns. Th» Germans made twenty-two massed attaoks on February 7 at Koziamaka, and 1 , seized one of «he' heights, but were dislodged after an unprecedented bayoncife fight, involving heavy losses: The foremost ranks of the Germans were stopped, and their successors' attacks were 'Supported by fierce artillery fire. The wttacks followed without cessation. All the mountain slopes are littered with tho .bodies of dead Germans. From one battalion over a, thcru-" sand dead were coutufced." FIERCE IBATTLE IN THE TUCHOLKA PASS DREADFUI'/SPECTACLE ON SNOW-CLAD HILLS. Petfograd, February 10. The Germans on Stttday brought up their best troops to reinforce the AUstrians in the Tucholka Hiss. The Germans led the attack,-and many reached the topmost position oni Koziomaka height, in order to hit under the Russian flank. The fire from the parallel heights cut off the main German forces. The Russian charge was indoecribable in its dash. The slopes of the snow-clad hills presented a shocking spectacle on Monday morning, a thousand 'bodies being in front of a pingle Russian <battalion. (Pkc. February 11, 9.50 p.iu.) . . . ._ . PetrOgrad, February 11. The Russian positions >at Koziomaku, between Stryj and Munkacs, were screened to the south by dense forests, whereas the enemy was una,ble to oross the extensive glacis fronting'; the Russians without their movements being known. Coming under a sweeping artillery fire at dawn On Sunday, the' infantry was burled forward'with terrifio impetuosity, under the oover of a furious artillery fire. They relied on the momentum of their enormous numbers, driven remorselessly and unceasingly. The Gwrmans scrambled up the slopes in four or five closely-ranged lines, and huge > gaps were torn in the front ranks, which were rapidly filled. -. Thousands fell, liwt the hunian wave swept on and invaded portion of the Russian trenches; A battery posted on the enemy's flank delivered a faking cross-fire, but Lieutenant Chebenyaeff, not satisfied with the results, obtained permission to move his gun into the open, and-advancing in the thick of a storm of shell enfiladed the enemy's lines and lightened the defenders' task. After an unexampled bayonet* battle the enemy was driven out anH fled* downhill in an irretrievable rout, though they sometimes fought with tremendous tenacity. Their losses were stupendous, and the contorted bodies of tho slain were sharply silhouetted agaimjit the snow. The enemy's attempt to scale the heights in the depth of wintery. was audacious. There were many degrees of frost., , ' • Petrograd, February 11. Official. "We have captured tWeDsy-three officers, fifteen hundred men, and several guns in the Dukla, Lupkow, land Uszok Passes of the Carpathians." [Munkaos and Stryj are at either end of the Vereczke or Tutcholka Pass (east of the TJzok Pass), the former ibeing at tie southern or Hungarian end, and the latter at the Galician or nor&iorn end of the pass.] AUSTRIANS THE SITUATION, (Rec. Februa.rjt| 11, 9.30 p.m.) ! . _ Amstardam, February 11. The latest Austrian communique is over th-s> situation in the Carpathians, where their troops are encottmtering bitter- difficulties. ' . /■■■■' ." —1 - ' OUTPOST SKIRMISHING BORDER UNCONFIRMED REPOBSTS IN PARIS, i _ London, February 10. > Unconfirmed reports have reached Parish of firing by outposts on the Rumanian frontier. , ' . ■ , ~, It is believed the incident furnishes nottomg beyond an intimation that Rumania is prepared for the -defence of her nisitrality. PROJECTED INVASION OB^'RUMANIA. (Rec. February 12,-OS aj».) London, February 11. The "Daily Express" correspondent at Nifeh states that under. German orders, Austria is preparing to invade Rumania? to prevent the latter choosing a suitable moment for attack, Austria's pretest .being that Servian stores are . ascending (he Danube, thus violating Rumanian! neutrality. Over four hundred thousand Austrians are concentrating in the Tcmesvar. district, about 75 miles north-east of Belgrade), the Servian capital. Rumania's .nobilisation has been accelerated. . There are indications that Austria will endeavour to establish contact with the Bulgarians by a sudden advance on Kalafat, on- <-he Danube, in the southwestern°corner of Rumania, and about 150 odd miles from the Austrian concentration at Temesvar. . ' BULGARIAN LOAN FOR WAR , FINANCED IN AUSTRIA AND GERMANY. . Amsterdam, February 10. 'A telegram from Vienna states that Austro-Gennan banks advanced Bulgaria 150 million francs (£6,200,000) ou c of a total loan-.of five hundred millions. Rome, February 10. The newspapers state that Bulgaria is to receive only ten million francs, but is to spend 130 millions in the purchase of arms and ammunition in Germany and Austria. A ."SEMI-OFFICIAL" EXPLANATION OF THE LOAN. (Reo. February 12, 1.45 a.m.) Sofia, February 11. ft fs swuimaMftlly that moaey rewlwj Frew Gsna&uy ia k Sfl.jfetjllffliffl.i, # a leatt wish wm ?,«*«