THE WAR IN THE EASTERN THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2459, 12 May 1915, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE EASTERN THEATRE

TIDE OF BATTLE IN GALICIA ENEMY ROUTED IN THE BALTIC REGION 1 Petrograd, May 10 A communique states: "The Russians repulsed attacks in the direction of tlie Mesolaborcz Pass, and the Upper Lomnitza River." (Ree. May 11, 9.20 p.m.) Potrograd, May 11. Official—"There have been desperate engagements in Western Galicia. The enemy crossed the Wisloka, near Krosno. "We routed a division of cavalry, and a regiment of Prussian Guards in fclie Sliavli region. The pursuit lasted all night long. ' "We took prisoner several thousand of the enemy last week." • GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. May 11, 9,20 p.m.) London, May 11. 'A German official communique states "General von Mackensen again drove the Russians froin position after position, taking prisoner twelve thousand, despite the enemy bringing up troops nastily by rail and by forced marches. The pursuit is proceeding." RUSSIAN SUCCESS IN LIBAU OPERATIONS BAVARIAN CAVALRY AND PRUSSIAN GUARDS ROUTED. The High Commissioner reports London, May, 10, 4.55 p.m. "Petrograd admits that enemy troops, supported by the fleet along the littoral, occupied Libau, on the Baltic, on Saturday evening, after fighting a small detachment of Russian Territorials. "The enemy was forced to evacuate hurriedly on Friday the strongly-for-tified position of Janiszki, 20 miles south of Mitau." London, May 11, 4.55 p.m. "In the Shavli region (operations on Libau), the Russian offensive was continued successfully. A Bavarian cavalry division and a regiment of Prussian Guardß which had been surrounded was attacked at Jeyml Station by our cavalry on Sunday night and pursued for several dozen versfcs." THE PASSAGE OP THE DONAJECZ TREMENDOUS ONSLAUGHT BY THE GERMANS. (Rec: May 11, 11.20 p.m.) petrograd; May 11. Military circles state that the Germans brought up eight army corps from Cracow, massing artillery in overwhelming force on the precipitous high bank of the Donajecz, which dominated the low country opposite them. The Germans, by a costly series of frontal attacks, and with reckless disregard of life, after a week forced the passage of the Donajecz and dribbled across until , they were able to form a now front east of the river. The Russian line has now been straightened, and the army is holding its own with increasingly frequent counter-attacks. The -country is thrilled by the splendid example of the Korniloffs 48th Division, which was cut off during the retirement along the Gorlico-Zoigrov-Dukla road, but cut a way through with a heroic effort, and rejoined their own armv corps. _ , The losses were heavy, but it restored the Russian confidence of victory, which was severely tried during the retirement from the Donajecz. The Russians who suffered the reverse were chiefly the victors of Przemysl, and not the Grand Duke's main force. The Germans must master the line of the Wisloka defences before they can menace the Grand Duke's strategy on the southern- slopes of the Carpathians. HOW THE AUSTRO-GERMANS REACHED THE RIVER BANK. (Rec. May 11, 11.20 p.m.) „ . . Amsterdam, May 11. A report from Budapest gives the following description of the crossing of the Donajecz "At Oftinov, where there are high hanks on both sides, the Russians were well entrenched. Bridge construction was impossible, but working silently at night tbe Austro-Gennans bored great tunnels towards the banks, fitteel rails, and wheeled pontoons to the river-bank through the tunnels, which were blown up at the last minute. "Twenty pontoons were launched, but nine were "destroyed by gunfire; eleven reached the other bank with many dead and dying, but there were sufficient survivors to enable the other pontoons to cross. -At least two thousand Austro-Gerraans were ltillod while crossing at Oftinov. The Russian artillery was amazingly good at first, but later was weak, owin? to lack of munitions. AUSTBIANS CLAIM HUGE CAPTURES. .(Rcc. May 11, 11 p.m.) Amsterdam, Jlar 11. An Austrian official message states that the Russian Third Armv, consistma of five army corps and several reserve diviMonoi has no® - lost night .V tlwiihajitl men in dead and weuiidcu, tisty guilt, and U\o Hundred machine guns.