STRIVING TO STRIKE A DECISIVE BLOW

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2566, 14 September 1915, Page 5

STRIVING TO STRIKE A DECISIVE BLOW

ENEMY'S-EFFORT IN THE EAST HEAVY FIGHTING SOUTH OF TARNOPOL : ' \ By Telegraph.—Press Association-Copyright Petrograd, September 12. A communique states: "A Zeppelin flew over and threw bombs .on Baltic ports. Our seaplanes bombed German sljips at Windau. A German aeroplano which was bombarding a hospital train near Pouemounek' was brought down between the Sventa and the Vilia. ■ r . . "A series of German attacks in tlie direction of Dvinsk was repulsed. "Strong'forces of the enemy have opened a vigorous offensive eastward of Vilkomir. The enemy is advancing on the Dvinsk Road and -neighbouring roads, and is directing his principal effort, with tho assistance of strong field and siege artillery, southward of the Dvinsk Road. ' Simultaneously, large forces of the enemy are advancing in the region of Shirvinty, their general direction being from Vilkomir towards Sventsiany. "Flotillas of German barges are ceaselessly bringing shells along the Niemen to Kovno, whence they are conveyed by motor-lorries to the front..' ' "We repulsed repeated attacks on the Osery-Skidel front. Sktdel passed from hand to hand, and finally, after a brilliant assault by one of our battalions,' remained in our hands. Our cavalry, aided by infantry, which dislodged the Germans from trenches southward of Skidel, eagerly pursued the enemy. There was a desperate fight on the river Zelvianka, southward of Nicmeu. An enemy battery was entirely destroyed. We thereafter easily stopped attacks; and near Selva, despite asphyxiating gases, repelled a sories of assaults, and. maintained • our positions on the right bank of tho Zelvianka, after completely clearing the enemy from the wholo of this bank. "We held up the enemy in the direction of Rushany and of Rovno. The Austrian attacks were resumed on both-banks of the Goryn'. We held up the enemy on the riglit bank, despite the use of poisonous gases. Several detachments were destroyed by our fire. We broke the enomy's obstinate opposition in the Tarnopol region on Saturday. Prisoners state that the newly-formed Gth Battalion of Chasseurs was entirely destroyed. The enomy (led, leaving 39 officers and 2900 men in our hands. A company of motor quick-firers actively helped us. The enemy retreated towards the Dniester. Wo repelled furiouß attacks southwards of Tarnopol, and expelled the enemy from Tioust, making prisoner 800. _ ' * "Enemy submarines are reported to be off the Crimean coast. "Summing up tho situation, the entire. Austro-German forces, from ono side to the'other, are striving to strike a-decisive blow.".(Rec.' September 13, 8.55' p.m.) ( Petrograd, September 13. A Russian communique states"While continuing to hold tho enemy, wo have slightly withdrawn on the Niemen front, owing to our salient. "We repulsed desperate attacks on the Lower Zelvianka, and destroyed a battery at Zelva, whore tho Germans developed a most violent fire, attacking throughout Saturday on the Baranowiczy Road, "The enemy in the llovno region has been reinforced, and is continuing his,offensive in the Derahjno district.. We are holding his attacks. "Wo have constantly'repulsed tho Austtians on the Upper Goryn with great enemy, lossos." _ 1 .

RUSSIANS DAILY IMPROVING THEIR POSITION . ENEMY; HEAVILY' SMITTEN IN TARNOPOL REGION, (Rec. September 13, 9.55 p^m.) . Petrograd, September 13. "Tlio German, advance along tlie Dvinsk roads continues. After a stubborn engagement with superior forces between Wilkomir and Uciany wo fell back in tlio Lake Dusiaty district. "The enemy is determinedly attacking along the richt bank of tho Vilna, and advancing towards Podbrodze railway, station. -We continuo to 'hold them. ■ "Fierce fighting continues in.theSkidel district. ' "Prisoners describe tho Germans as being excessively fatigued from tho recent fighting. Their losses in the past three days, in killed alone, were one hundred per company. ' . "Wo captured, north of Tarnopol, ninety-one officers, 4200 men, nine machine-guns, and booty. Wo repulsed tho enemy with enormous losses. Our armoured mptor-cars, dashing to the front of the enemy's defences, remained for hours pouring in a stream of bullets, t "Southward of Tarnopol we assumed tho offensive, taking prisor.or many Austrians during tho pursuit from Luzt to.the Dniester.' ._ .' "Altogether the execution of the general plan is daily; improving our position." 1 ' GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. . Amsterdam, September 12. 'A German communique states: "Fighting has developed between the Dvina and Merecz on a greater scale than hitherto. Field-Marshal von llindcuburg captured ISOO prisoners. "There was obstinate fighting betweon_ Jesiori and the Niemen all day and all night long. The Russians ceased their resistance at daybreak. Tho pursuit is proceeding. We broko tho onemy's lines at several points at Zelvianka, capturing 1350 men. Wo attacked and repulsed a Russian Guard regiment north-west of Vilna. . .. "Prince Leopold of Bavaria, closely co-operating with General von Mackensen's right wing, c/ptured positions east of Zelwa. Wo crossed tho Zelvianka near Kozele, capturing 2750 men. Von Mackensen, continuing his progress, surprised and captured some advanced positions. Wo repulsed with heavy loss further attacks in tlie south-eastern theatre. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE, (Rec. September 13, 11.10 p.m.) Amstordami September 13, An Austrian official communique slates: .",Wc have crosscd the Ooryu, near Deraiuo, ~

"The Russian attacks near Tarnopol have increased in violence. The enemy northwards of Tarnopol penetrated our trendies and occupied Dolzanka, but the German and Honvcd battalions, hurrying up caught the enemy on both flanks, and recaptured Dolzanka, throwing tho enemy back oij. his bridgehead positions.' The enemy's losses were heavy. ' ".Wo captured the strongly-entrenched village of Skuraty, near Kosowo." GRIM HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF THT DILEMMA OF THE INVADERS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London:, September 12. Colonel Repington, tho Military Correspondent of the "Times," says: "It is to the Supremo merit of the Grand Duke Nicholas and 'his officers that they remained deaf to all threats and entreaties which might have prevented weaker men from withdrawing their unbeaten armies, and from declining a decisive battle. The armies are now out of danger, with secure lines of retreat. Within a fow weeks of the bad season,, and with a wasted country behind them, the Germans must decide whether their armies must bo sheltered for the winter or perish. In 1812 Napoleon misunderstood the Russians; tne Germans are to-day reproducing tho misunderstanding. It is on the parallel fronts so hateful to tho Germans, and against successive well-defended positions, that the Germans are faced with tho perplexing problem whether to halt till spring or to embark on a winter campaign, in an attempt to capturo I'etrograd and Kioff." . , ' - ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.). (Rec. September 13, 6.25 p.m.) , London, September 13. Tho "Times's" correspondent at Petrograd states tluifc the Russian victories will immensely modify the fears in regard to , Kieff and the southWest provinces generally. • The prospect of a further enemy advance ill this theatre is contemplated without the slightest apprehension.. Tlio likelihood of their reaching Rovno is admitted, but further progress will be increasingly difficult,'while the Russian ability to take the offensive in Galicia. affords a roliable pledge that any attempt by the Germans to outflank from the direction of Rovno will be countered in good time. _ Meanwhile the enemy is mainly concentrated on keeping ujs occupied in the Rovno-Dubno region in order to prevent us from following up our Galician success, which has already forced_the enemy to retire'from the direct routes ■to tho Dnieper, and postpone his operations in that direction. "The effective repulse of the German naval attack in tho Baltic confirms the impression that tho German naval organisation is far inferior to their land forces, and strengthens tho public's confidence that the Russian Navy will defeat the enemy's attempts at a landing."GERMAN PROBLEMS IN DEVASTATED COUNTRY. London, September 12. The "Observer's" correspondent at Petrograd says: "The Germans are advancing in country burnt and devastated by the retreating Russian Army, and tho population refugees move eastward in whole parishes, headed by tho priests. Sometimes enemy patrols overtake tho refugees, capturo the priests, beat the men, and carry off the young women. The Germans, instead of finding food in the conquered territory, are obliged to draw on nearly tho whole of Germany. Tho only aid rendered by tlid Russians is to, steadily reduce tlio number of Germans who must be fed, clothed, and transported. _ _ The main result of the invasion has been to stimulate the Russian's organising power to ail unprecedented degree. Organisation is no longer left to the Government; every man and woman is thinking about organisation, especially as regards munitions." _____ ■ GERMAN PRESS AGENCY OVER-REACHES ITSELF. London, September 12. A French official wireless message points out that tho Wolff Agency of 4 o'clock on the afternoon of September 8 denied the official Petrograd statement announcing the defeat of two German divisions, hut the Russian state-ment-was hot issued until 11 o'clock that evoning. This'premature denial informed Europe of the Russian success eight hour© sconcr. . ' GERMAN GENERAL DISMISSED. . .(Rec. September 13, 8.55 p.m.); Amsterdam, September 13. The Kaiser has dismissed General von Kluege, who has been held responsible for the Austro-German checks on tho Seret'h. COULD PETROGRAD BE TAKEN? (Rec. September, 11.25 p.m.) 1 _ Pfltrograd, September 13. General Ruszk'y, Commander of tho Russian- defenco of the northern region, in an interview, said that the capture of Petrograd would be impossible, since the conditions regarding thee supplies of Russian shells' and rifles, and fresh troops was slowly but surely improving, while the intervening ground offered endless difficulties to-tho German