GERMAN OFFENSIVE TOWARDS WARSAW

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2518, 20 July 1915, Page 5

GERMAN OFFENSIVE TOWARDS WARSAW

RUSSIANS FALL BACK

jVIOVE TO INVEST IMPORTANT STRONGHOLD

The High Commissioner reports :—<

■D i j , ± . ' London, July 18,4.40 p.m. Petrograd reports:—"The enemy continues on the '

GERMANS PRESSING HASTILY FORWARD •

RUSSIANS PREPARED FOR REARGUARD FIGHTING*

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright

™ r< • u . • • Pfl'rosrad, July 18. Mstdy into.,n.ew positions, and have occupied both banks of watercourses north-east of Warsaw. They seek to invest'all the strongholds around Warsaw, hoping, when the city is captured, that Russia will sue for peace, but Russia will undoubtedly fight steadily, and fall back to the Volga, if necessary, inflicting, meanwhile, colossal lossoo on the invader A large consignment of big guns is expected lato in the summer, and will put a different complexion on tho campaign, and doubtless will enable Russia to pour immense forces into Southern Central Europe. RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. . Petrograd, July 18. Official—"The enemy on the right bank of the Windawa and V/cnta is advancing in the direction of Takkum Altuz. We forced back the enemy's infantry eastward of Popeliai:y. Fierce fighting continued' on a wide front on the right bank of the Orjuza on Friday. Three German regiments capturing the vilvillage of Guabovitz, but were repulsed the Orjuza, took three Russian guns, but in a furious counter-attack the German forces were annihilated by the bayonet, and the guns re-taken, and the enemy expelled from Podosia. Siberian and Turkestan troops fought there an enemy double their strength, and showed admirable valour and perseverance,' ■ ~ "We fell back in the Miava district to Ciechanow, the enemv having doubled its reserve. ' . • dvui ° "A Cossack Brigade north-west of Radom ca'ptured 280 Austrians, and two machine-guns.. .' • "The enemy between the .Vistula and the Bug has assumed a general offen-

"The enemy, after stubborn fighting, slightly progressed on the left bank of. the Vieprz. _ . "The enemy several times forced our barbed-wire defences eastward, of the villiage of Guabovitz, but were repulsed with the rifle and! bayonet. Partial enemy attacks at Krjlov, and Sokal were repulsed. We made prisoner of several hundred men." .CRec. July 19, 10.55 p.m.) . . , ' Petrogfiid, July 19. 'A communique states that the battle between the Vistula and the Bug attained extreme intensity on Saturday. \fe repulsed the enemy's onset with valour and tenacity, and also repulsed ten attacks in the Wilkolaz district. "Great masses of Germans attacked the left bank of the Vieprz, and succeeded in making progress in the Izdebno district, but our troops heroically repulsed the'attacks. "The enemy on July 16 suffered very great losses in attacking our positions on the River Volitaa, where they left heaps of bodies in front of our trenches.'

"Heavy fighting is proceeding at other places on the River Bug. "The enemy's offensive against Takkum Atlautz is continued. "Large bodies of cavalry are being employed by both combatants in the attack on Prasnyz, which, being conducted on the wide front, has forced us to concentrate our position nearer the Narew. "We are also re-grouping our forces to the left of the Vistula, which task is being carried out without molestation. "We captured two thousand Austriane, who crossed the Dniester oil Friday, and also seven machine guns,"

GERMAN. OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, July 18. . ' 'A' Berlin official message states-.—"Field-Marshal von Hiridenburg's ' offend sive had) led to great events." Baltic Provinces. —"General von Bulow's army is progressing in the Kurschany district, across the Windawa. Tho cavalry repeatedly defeated the Russians, capturing eleven officers, including tho commander of the 18th Rifle Brigade, 2450 men, three guns, and five machino guns." Northern Poland—"General von Gallowitz attacked the Russian position south-east of Miava. Three lines were successively stormed and carried northwest and north-east of Prasuysz, and the Dzielin Lipa was reached. The pressure on both 6ides shook vho Russians, who evacuated Prasnysz and retreated to the previously consolidated Ciechanow-Krasnosielc lino. Thci pursuing German troops stormed and pierced tho position southward of Zielona on a front of four and a quarter miles, forcing tne enemy to retreat. She attackers were assisted by General von Scholz's troops, who advanced to the pursuit from Kelme, "The Russians retreated! on their entire front between the Pissa and Vistula towards the Narew. "The Germans south-west of Kraanostav captured 28 officers, 6380 men, and nine machine guns." (Reo . du , y 19j 10 p . m .) Berlin, July 18. "General Bulow, near Takkum Atlautz, defeated the Russian reinforcements which had been hurriedly brought up, capturing 3620 officers and men, six guns, and three machino guns. ' ■■ ■, "The Russians continue to rotreat between tne Pissa and the Vistula, where the reserves and Landwehr under General von Scliolz, stormed some villages and General von Gallowitz broke through the strongly consolidated positions'at Mlodzianowo and Karnicwo. , '.'.The Russians are also retreating between the Pilicza and the Vistula. General von Woyrech is making progress, and drove a wedge in tho Russian position at Ilzanka, forcing the Russians to retire at night, with heavy losses,' southward to Zivelen. ' "General von. Mackensen made several thousand prisoners when storming the heights to tile south."

AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE,

Amsterdam, July 18. • An 'Austrian official message states:_ "An Austrian corps, fighting in closest touch with the Germans, between tho Vistula, and tho Bug, stormed and captured after seven attempts an important Russian vantage point west of Grabovitz, and penotrated to one of the enemy's main positions. Tho Germans picrccd tho enemy's lines south-west of Krasnosielc." RUSSIAN HAUL' OP PRISONERS FOR JUNE, (Rec. July 19, 8.25 p.m.) Petrograd, July 19. During the month of Juno 6J.,000 Austrian and dsfmnu MWllsfs through Kicff, thq number Including. IUI officers. 'Jt'eu Uwhssiw Pi tfl'a pi'isoiietfi v w.ere •- ' '