TREMENDOUS FIGHT FOR WARSAW

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2527, 30 July 1915, Page 5

TREMENDOUS FIGHT FOR WARSAW

RUSSIANS DOGGEDLY RESISTING ; OFFENSIVE ASSUMED AT SEVERAL POINTS By Telegraph—Press AEeociation—Copyright ' (Rec. July 29, 10.45 p.m.) Petrograd, July 29. The thundering of the guns in heavy action in the vicinity of Epiaseczno, echoing through the streets of Warsaw, and the arrival of wounded, have convinced the population that the situation is critical, although the Russians occupy a strong line;' - ; : _ . Meanwhile'there are good reports'frbhi the zone of the battle immediately north of Warsaw. The heavy German attacks aro being broken, and' the enemy's losses are terrible. _ The Germans are niaking a heavy concentration behind Krasnostav, 6outli oE Cholm, and train load? of troops are constantly arriving. For ten days the Germans havo made continuous efforts to advance, in the face of the wist stubborn resistance they havo ever encoimtored. Tho Russians are fighting the fight of their lives. The Germans are unable to maintain the steady drives, arid the Russians are counter-attacking. _ _ The entire line represents a zigzag of German gains and withdrawals. Each position is fought for over and over again. Each time the Germans are halted the Russians are at thsir throats. Though there, have been retirements in "many places/ varying from ten to fifteen versts, nothing sufficiently important has been lost to warrant the opinion that a decision or the decisive point in tho combat has yet been reached, or is even in sight. Every Russian Corps has a separate story of heroism. Every position the Germans take represents losses to thorn'of appalling magnitude. Each success means ground piled with their'countless dead. : ■ The Germans, though still attackjlitr with determination and fury, are in an', advanced state of exhaustion. Each day sees them reinforced, with new ammunition and guns. The Allies should realise that the Russians are making every effort that is humanly possible to break the German offensive. They are bleeding the enemy as he was never bled before, and each-rotreat strengthens the Russians and weakens, the Germans. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says: "Tho Russians are dealing with the northern and soutJieipi attacks by very different methods. The south is the scene of hard fighting, inch by inch. The Germans there have made no general progress, but seemed to mako prolonged pauses to bring up the backward portions of th'oir line, and by rushing their reinforcements from place t6 place are thus constantly under a strain in tropical heat. ; "The Russians are not yet severely, strained, and can deal with tho attacks with troops on the spot. The Germans. north of • Grusieczow aro still two marches behind their proper position owing to tho successful Russian counter-attacks. "The operations on the'Narew front are more advanced. The Germans have hitherto concentrated on the principle of in this region, and have steadily brought up increasing forces' since .the beginning of the week, putting forth their utmost efforts to follow up their supposed advantage in crossing the Narew. "The Russians arel astride the Narew, preventing the enemy from utilising his success by direct counter-attacks, and are also harrying his flank and rear. Heroic fighting proceeds in the forest opposite Rozan. . "The soil 011 the left bank of the'Narew.'in this quarter is good, and firm roads and many tracks traverse the forest, which is four miles deep. A series of hills at tho rear give admirable artillery positions, and the Russians are checking the Gorman advance in the forest. The Germans' difficulties will, really begin when- they emerge. It is still impossible to say on which front the decisive moment will first arrive. The development depends more on the Russians than on the Germans. The position is that tho Germans aro attacking the Russians on a front two-tliirds of the circumference of the latter, while the spider (the Russians) sits watching bis progress, and awaiting the decisive moment.

GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. • . , Berlin, July 28. " 'A German official communiaue states: "We took prisoner 1000 scattered Russians between Mitau and the Niemen. "We captured" Noworowo, north of Serock, on h'oth' banks - of the Narew. "A Russian counter-attack south of Nasielsk failed, the enemy losing 2500 prisoners and seven machine-guns at Nasielsk and near Rozan. 1 . "We stormed tho village of Pierunow, near Blouie, which is fifteen'nijles west of the Warsaw forts. "The position in the south-east is unchanged." AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. July 29, 9.45 p.m.). Amsterdam,' July 29. 'An Austrian official communique states;— "The enemy made unsuccessful counter-attacks near Sokal (in Eastern Galicia), and likewise west of Ivangorod." ' • INVITATION TO WITNESS "CONQUEST OF WARSAW."(Rec. July 29, 9.20 p.m.) Copenhagen', July 29. Dr. Sven Hedin has gone to Warsaw at Field-Marshal yon Hindenberg's invitation. The latter wired: "Be quick if you want to be in time to witness the conquest of Warsaw." LATEST RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUE (Rec. July 30, 1.25 a.m.) Petrograd, July '29. Official. —"The enemy advanced from Ponevaess on Monday, but was stopped by our rearguard near the villago of Sabotch, where our artillery inflicted heavy losses. _ _ "Tlje enemy succeedcd on Tuesday in crossing the river near NovogororT, and occupied a portion of our trenches oil the left bank. Wo drovo him back across the river. • , "We assumed the offensive on Monday between the Yieprz and the Bug, and captured Maydam and OstrovsUy, taking 1000 prisoners. "Wo repulsed furious attempts to break our front in the direction of Grubicszow, inflicting heavy losses. "We successfully assumed Hie offensive south of Sokal against forces which crossed the Poturieza. Our troops on Tuesday hurled tlisniselves I ncninst tlie ciioroy on tho luilkliU and tmik many prisoilW' 'lira •forasil. and (Uteira«i«l fidjtjjw; continues, 1 '