THE BIG BATTLE AT PRASNYSZ

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2403, 8 March 1915, Page 5

THE BIG BATTLE AT PRASNYSZ

RUSSIAN ENVELOPING MOVEMENT GERMANS LOSE 250,000 MEN IN POLAND (Rec. March 7, 3.10 p.m.) ' Patrograd, Marc'a 6. The Germans were in superior numbers'and almost surrounded the Russians at Prasnysz. They enclosed them like blades of shears, with the handle at Lyskovo. The Russians turned the tables on February 24, when they captured KTasnosoltz, bent back the German left to Schliar, Tetook Prasnysz, enveloped the other flank westwards, preventing a retreat towards Mlava. The remains are now falling back on Thorn. The Russians on February 26 and 27 forced two army corps to retire through a neck seven miles wide, between Dzeelin and Schlair., Of one army corps, mostly composed of freshly-trained men, only a quarter escaped. It is estimated that General Von Hindenburg lost over a quarter of a million men last mouth. Nearly, thirty thousand were killed at Prasnavsz.

PRUSSIAN FRONTIER OPEN AT A VULNERABLE POINT. (Rec. March 7, 5.30 p.m.) London, March 0. A French military expert at Warsaw states that the Russian success at Prasnysz opens the Prussian frontier at the most vulnerable spot. Forced marches night and day through snow resulted in a masterly envelopment, from 'which the Germans were only able to extricate the remnants of three army corps witn tho greatest difficulty.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. 'RUSSIAN BATTLE-LINES MOVING TOWARDS GERMAN SOIL. (Rec. March 7, 3.30 p.m.) • London, March 6. "The Times" correspondent at Petrograd says: "Between the Niemen and tiie Vistula the snow has and spring is in full sway. Tho battlelilies are moving irresistibly towards German soil, and tho Kaiser's staunchest regiments cannot stem the tide." TREMENDOUS CASUALTIES IN. A PRUSSIAN CORPS. Petrograd, March 5. iln infantry brigade of the 20th East Prussian Army Corps suffered tremendous casuaHies'at Kierzek (21 miles north-west of Prasnysz. Si's hundred were taken prisoner. GERM.3.N PRISONERS SUFFERING FROM* GASTRIC DISEASES. (Rec. March 7, 3.30 p.m.) Petrograd, March 8. A semi-official dispatch states that the Germans captured at Grodno had been without bread for three days. There are numerous cases of gastric diseases. Tho fortress. of Ossowiuc is successfully withstanding a 6iege. .. In. the Carpathians, Austrian attacks everywhere are becoming feebler. CAPTURES BY: THE RUSSIANS. ; ■ (R«c. March 7," 3.10 p.m.) Petrograd, March 6. The Russittns captured 133 officers, 18,522 men. S gunsj 62 machine-guns, 519 horses, and .many-trains in. the . Stanislavoff region, in ton days the Russians captured I' 2 guns. 29 mnchine-guns, 122 and many trains at Prasnysz. '.. ' •. ' .:; STUBBORN FIGHTING IN POLAND. • 1 . . • , , Petrograd, March' 5. A' communique- states"lhere has been stubborn fighting on the whole front between tne Vistula and the Niemen. The Russians advanced at several | points. We successfully crossed the Lukwa."

AUSTIUANS EVACUATE CZERNOVITCH ... . „ .\ , Bukarost, March 5. The Austrians have* evacuated Czernowitz, the capital of the province of Bukowina. AUSTRIAN CENSORSHIP. INCREASINGLY SEVERE. The Austro-Hungarian) censorship of dispatches is Nevertheless they, show that a teremendous conflict is raging on the whole Carpathian front. MOST TERRIFIC MOUNTAIN BATTLE IN HISTORY. (Kec. March 7, 5.30 p.m.) •« „ ~, , , London, March' 6. An observer m the Cat-pathians states that the most terrific mountain battle in the annals of the world is proceeding among' the snow-bound precipices and unexplored woods around the Dukla Pass. The snow is so deep that the dead ba'yonetted remain standing.—"Timoa" and Sydney "Sun" Services. RUSSIANS SUCCESSFULLY CROSS THE LUPKOW PASS. The High Commissioner reports:— B . j , ~ , ... . , ... London, March 6, 5.5 a.m. Petrograd reports that obstmaie fighting continues on the Niemen-Vistula front, certain sectors of the Russians advanced successfully, In the region of Mocarze we captured several hundred men and some guns; also a number of Germans were taken when the Russians carried the fortifications and railway station at Konopi. In the Carpathians, south of Zea&licyzn, the enemy's fortified position was taken. In.Eastern Galicia the Russians entered Stanislavoff on Thursday and successfully crossed Lupkow Pass. ''

DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING AT : STANISLAVOFF. (Reo. March 7, 10.30 p.m.) ni •! r « I,*- ,h, ~ m'T Petrograd, March 7. Details of the fighting at Stanislavoff -show that-the Austrians at the outset had twenty bijr cuns on the heights commanding the Russian positious. After initial successes their infantry advanced in four lines, each comprisiiie four regiments with auxiliary troops. When a, hundred yards had been covered a masked-Russian battery opened fire against the artillery and infint.rv and after the latter had been heavily shelled Cossacks galloped T throw ne the lines .into confusion. The Cossacks then withdrew and the quickfirers took up the work mowing down tho Austrian: front line and forcino- the others to retreat. The Austrians thereafter vi;;nly endeavoured to make" a stand. RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN EASTERN GALICIA. (Rcc. March 7,10.30 p.m.)' Official. The enemy. has been dislodged from the hei^hts^northwardof Lomza. We are continuing the offensive in Eastern Galicia, after expelline the Austrians from fortified positions m Bistritza and Lnkwa districts. Their losses were enormous.