THE RUSSIAN ORDEAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2573, 22 September 1915, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN ORDEAL

DRIVING THE AUSTRIANS IN THE SOUTH ■ CRISIS IN THE NORTH AUSTRO-GERMAN ATTACK ON SERBIA colonial .Valour in ■ GALLIPOLI SIR lAN HAMILTON'S STORY The news from ih'c Eastern theatre to-day., shows that -while the . Russians are driving the Austrians in the south, and constantly scoring in sharp encounters, the military crisis in tlio north is growing graver. The Austro-German batter.'es have also been turned to' tlie Servian frontier, where an effectivo bombardment, says tlio enemy, has been carried out. Tlio news from tho Eastern theatre discloses no new developments. Sir lan Hamilton's vivid story of the operations on Gallipoii from May 5 till the end of June is continued. The Turco-Bul-garian Treaty is stated to have been given effect to by the transfer of the territory involved to the custody of the-Bulgar, a settlement which is reported to have enabled the German General Staff to modify its plans. Rumania is prepared to Tesist with the utmost determination any attempt to violate her-territory. The Anglo-French Loan' Mission to America is malting steady progress, despite the opposition of the pro-German newspapers. THE RUSSIAN RETREAT FROM VILNA SUCCESS IN THE PRIPET MARSHES ——- I CAVALRY FIGHTING ON THE SERETH - / By Telegraph—Press -Association—Copyright j Pfltrograd 1 , September 20. 'A communique states: 'We turned a_ fortified position in the southern half of the Pripet marshes.; The enemy was instantly dislodged, and fled, hotly pursued: . . * - ' "A notable incident on the Sereth front was a wonderful charge of Russian cavalry, which captured entrenchmonts, machine guns, and prisoners, with insignificant losses.'' . . "Our cavalry pursued the retreating enemy in the Luzk region, sabring many, and capturing a large supply column." CIRCUMSTANCES OF EXTREME GRAVITY (Rec. September 21, 10.30 p.m.) s Petrograd, September 21. 'A Russian communique states: "We reoccupied our former trenches «it Steidern, south-west of Illutsk, seizing a quantity of rifles and materials. "We retired eastwards in the Vilna region, after much fighting along the middle "Vilia and the fords. Fighting continues for the possession of the Vilia fords north-west of Molodetchna. Our troops show high military virtues, and maintain their coolness and assurance under circumstances of extreme gravity." . It is unofficially stated that the Russians have stripped Vilna of all metals, including the church bells, and defended the city until the last possible moment. They are now fighting between the Vilia and tho VilnaLida railway. , "The German cavalry has been repulsed from Molodecthno, but has seized the station at Vilezka. It is feared that if the German oavalry fail's to cut off the Russians who are retreating from Vilna, they will attempt a bigger enterprise against ■ Minsk, threatening the communications of all the armies in the Eastern front. "The movement of fifty thousand horsemen recalls the great cavalry raids of tho American Civil War. The struggle is now entering on a new phase. The swampy land is now under tho autumn rains, and General Ivanoff is prudently suspending his advance on tho Serothj owing to the enemy reinforced from sections of von Macken6en's widely-scattered army."- . . ,70,000 PKISONERS TAKEN BY THE RUSSIANS. ' - (Rec. September 22, 7.5 a.m.) v Petrograd, September 21. ' Official.—"The Russians took prisoner seventy thousand on their front in South Polesne (? Poland) during the last days of the Russian retreat in August and the beginning of September. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, September 20. A' German communique states: "Field-Marshal von Hindenburg forced tho Russians to retreat south-west of Dvinsk and repulsed a Russian attempt to break through at Orgonjack (?).' "The retreat of the Russians in tho Vilna district is proceeding. The Russians are temporarily resisting at a few points only. "General von Mackensen has everywhere forced the Russians further back." • ' AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL'" COMMUNIQUE.' ■' (Rec. September 21, 10.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, September 21. 'An Austrian official communique states: "We repulsed a strong Russian attack east of Luzk. Th'ero has been hand-to-hand fighting at many points. . _ "Tho Russian columns attacked Czernowitz and' reached the west bank of the Ikwa. Our reserves speedily repulsed them." CONVINCING PROOF TO THE BALKANS. . Rome, September 20. A Russian officer, in an interview published in tho "Giornale d'ltalia "■ says that General Alexioff Riissky is tho most popular of the generals in Russia after the Grand Duke. The so-called retreat' was merely a reversion to the original plan of defensive, bringing the line back to Minsk, which had not -yet been reached. The German 4 would meet tho same fate as Charles XII of Sweden at Poltava and Napoleon at Moscow. Although lately obliged to economise in shells, the Russians, for military reasons, were compelled to send arms and ammunition to Sereth. The repulse of the enemy's threat in Kielf had the political effect of convincing the Balkans that Russia is as strong as ever. AGITATION FOR REASSEMBLING THE DUMA'. ' Petrograd, September 20. An important Zemtsvo Congress at Moscow is considering a resolution urgently advocating-tho reassembling of the Duma and the formation of a Ministry enjoying public confidence. A congress of Octobrists will-also address a similar petition to the Tsar. HOW WILL VILNA AFFECT THE CAMPAIGN ] ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. September 21, -1.35 p.m.) . ! London, September 20. Mr. Stanley Washburn (the American war correspondent oil the Eastern front) states that the fall of Vilna will not permanently- nffMdt, thi Eastern cußinaien. Tho military authorities in rotrowad sunport this ,v«w..