RUSSIAN BLOW AT VILNA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 5

RUSSIAN BLOW AT VILNA

■ - GERMANS PREPARING FOR SIEqE HOT FIGHTING BETWEEN RIGA AND SMORGON By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright - t i London, March 26. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says that the Germans are busily fortifying yilna, which they recognise is the objective of the Russians' bloiv. British and French prisoners aro employed.in this work. ' The fighting is fiercest between Riga andSmorgon (45 miles west of Yilna), where the Germans are preparing to force a wedge across the Dvina. The Russians have anticipated the completion- of the German preparations, and ; enormously increased their guns end ammunition. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— ' ' London, March 27, 3.35 p.m. "Petrograd reports: At Jacobstadt the Germans assumed an offensive near the Mitau railway, but were repuked. « "West of Dvinsk a German trench was captured and prisoner taken. "Desperate fighting continues north-west of Postava." i RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. March 27, 10.5 p.m.) Petrograd, March 27., A communique states:—"The Germans resumed their offensive on' the Mitau railway, but were repulsed. . "Desperate fighting continues between the Narotch and Viscsenevskoe' Lakes. "We repulsed an enemy's attack a£ the junction of Strypa and Dneister."