FORCING THE HAND OF TIE GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2806, 26 June 1916, Page 5

FORCING THE HAND OF TIE GERMANS

REINFORCEMENTS SENT TO VOLHYNIA THE RUSSIAN THRUST AT KOVEL ' • ■ ■ ■ (By, Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). ~,.■,, . , , ■ , ■ Petrograd, Juno 2.1. the Russian advance has caused unusual German activity. Troops have been rushed into the Austrian breach in Volhynia, and the Germans an also persistently attacking on General Evert's front, especially on the Knioreon sector which covers the approaches to. Vina. The Germans do not possess sufficient troops for a big offensive at this point, and the attacks aro intended to prevent tho removal of Russians southward. l w The Germans aro energetically endeavouring to cheek General Kaolin's advance towards Kovcl; but the commander is pushing his successes. Tie has extended.his front to four miles ncituward of Gaidoraichi.'upon tho Stvr! whero tho Russians forced a crossing. ' ' ' """ u » / Tn^G l S maD . s l Y.\ fte r a hard fight, compelled tho Russians to abandon tho village of Gruziatin. Although General Jxalediu was temporarily Checked, his troops nro putting the Germans to Jight, indicating that the Russian advance >vns not stopped. . General Letchitslty has crossed the Soreth, in Bukowi'na, and continues to <inve General Pilanzer towards tho Carpathians. The Russian thrust towards Ifovel has lengthened tho German lino bv fifty miles at the moment when the cuctny was trying to hold tho line/ with the minimum strength of forces. RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. Juno 21, 7 p.m.) ..-,-. „ . Petrbgrad, June 24. A Kussian official communique states: "Fighting is in progress on the Oginski canal (northern Pripet region). The enemy's attempts to cross the canal were foiled. "There- is local fighting on General Bnisiloff's front, on old ground, and in other districts, notably near Radziviloff. Tho enemy continues to receive reinforcements from the French and Italian, fronts. "Our offensive continues in Bukowina. We occupied Gurahamora and Stridja, westward of Radutz and Cishnitz." .... (Rec. Juno 25, 5.5 p.m.) A later Russian communique states: "Wo made a surprise attack on the Gorman trenches in the lUukst region. "The enemy delivered a, bombardment at Kiby, on tho Berezina. A large force, which at nightfall attacked Berezina farm, was routed, leaving many dead. "There has been desperato fighting westward of Torchin. All tho enemy's attacks in the Zubilno district, and also south-eastward of Svidniki, were repulsed with heavy losses." (Roc. June 25, 11.5 p.m.) Petrograd, June 25. A Russian official communique states: "By the occupation of Garahamora, General Letchitsky has jammed a portion of General Fflanzcr's right wing against the Rumanian frontrier.. The Austrian left wing strongly holds Kolomea, the only remaining link between tho enemy's Galiciau and Bukowinian forces! "The latest reports state that General Pflanzer's centre continues its flight to the Carpathian passes. "Wo captured Kuty yesterday." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. June 24, 7 p.m.) Amsterdam, Juno 2i. A German official communique states: "General von Linsingen's attacks west and south-west of Lusk are. progressing, despite repeated Russian counter-attacks. "We completely repulsed the Russian attacks northward of Brady. (Rec. June 25, 5.5 p.m.) A later German communique adds: "General von Linsingeu has pushed his attack across the ZubiLno-Zwiuiaczo lino. Severe counter-attacks by the enemy tailed." AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (liec.'Jnno 25, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, Juno 24. An Austrian official communique states: "The Russians in the Czercmosz Valley are advancing towards Kuty. Wo repulsed severo attacks south-east and north of R-adziviloff." (Rec. Juno 25, 11.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, June 25. An Austrian communique states: "Our encircling movement forced the Ens. sians to abandon Kuty. "Russian attacks north-west of Tnrnopol, and illso near Eadziviloft', were repulsed. • "The Austro-German forces.have a.lvanceu north-east of Gorochon", and north-west and west of Torchin." BRILLIANT CAVALRY STROKE IN THE LUSK REGION (Rec. June 25, 5.5 p.m.) I Petrograd, Juno 24. Correspondents on the Russian front are agreed that the artillery has been the decisive factor, successfully followed -up by the cavalry, which played a brilliant part hi a hard-fought engagement in tho Lusk region. The battle for tho crossing of tho river at Sokul was not decided till midnight, when a force of cavalry, which had been 6ent some distance up the river, where the fords and bridges wero i" Russian hands, crossed, and, riding hard, got behind tho enemy at dawn. They, waited until the Austro-German infantry had moved forward, when the cavalry immediately charged from tho rear, cutting down largo 'numbers. Many surrendered, and tho stragglers alone escaped. Tho main Russian boily thereupon pushed tho enemy from Galvi within twenty miles Vivid pictures are given of the wretched conditions of the inhabitants of this extensivo war zone. Here the peoplo aro living in holes scooped in the ground, hoping thus to escape from the flying bullets and bursting shells. MAGNIFICENT DASH AND VALOUU. ('Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, .lime 22. Tim "Tiines's" correspondent at Petrograd says that numerous stirring -incidents of the offensive by'the Russian cavalry recalled tho Napoleonic era. In ouo instance, on tho Strypn, the Kussian cavalry forced the stream with unexpected

rapiditj. The Hungarians had no time to destroy the bridge, and hurriedly retreated. The following morning the Russians awaited tho arrival of an infantry brigade, and then attacked in echelon formation, tho Dragoons leading, the Hus-i sars and Ural Cossacks following. The regimental colonel, tho adjutant, the chaplain, and a standard-bearer headed tho charge. After the chaplain had blessed tho men, squadron after squadron charged, until the fields were covered by hundreds of horsemen with their lances and unsheathed sabres glistening in the sun. Many fell in the mad career. The Hungarians 6ent three battalions to take tho cavalry in the rear, but the Russians had posted dragoons with Maxims, which mowed down tho dense masses of tho enemy as they emerged from a copse. Tho Hungarian infantry fought bravely, seizing the lances of the troopers, but tho charge was a complete success, and two thousand Hungarians wero taken prisoner. VON MACKENSEN ARRIVES AT KOVEL FAMOUS PHALANX OF 1915 IMPOSSIBLE. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. Juno 24, 5.5 p.m.) London, Time 2t. The "Times" correspondent at Petrograd states that Field-Marshal von Mnckensen is reported to have assumed command on the Kovcl sector. It will bo impossible, however, for him to adopt his famous phalanx formations (which ■were so effective in the Austro-German drive last year), unless great reinforcements are brought from tlie French nnd Italian fronts. The Russian successes aro explained by the remarkable increase in, the production of munitions, on which men and women have worked without a single holiday ever since the beginning of the war. THE RUSSIAN VICTORY AT SVIDNIKI INFANTRY TRIUMPHS OVER TERRIFIC ODDS. London, Juno 23. The "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent gives details of the capture of Svidniki. The Russians jpened a..bombardment of the Stochod line early in the morning of June 10. The Germans anticipated the infantrj- attack by assaulting in acuse columns, nnd U>,e Russians fell back for two miles, bringing the enemy under the flanking fire of' the machine-guns. Tho ground was soon strewn with dead. The survivors pressed forward, but ten minutes' bayonet work Was sufficient to rout the German remnant. The Russians followed up on their heels and crossed the Stochod before the Germans had time to destroy the bridges. Armoured motors completed tho vont. The Russians'then prepared to advance on Svidniki. They were faced with oxtroW difficulties in the marshy jroirod, but w'aded chest-deep. in mud under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, carrying their own machine-guns, rifles, arid ammunition on their heads and shoulders. Every wounded or unwary Russian was swallowed in tho pitiless bog. The Russians reached firm ground after (foundering in.the mire, and charged tho village with the bayonet. •Two German Landwehr regiments which wero holding tho village fought bravely, barricading the cottages and mounting machine-guns on the roofs nnd at the windows. Every building had 'tob e stormed and tho garrison c.'as practically wiped out. Tho Germans recaptured the village temporarily, but the Russians rcstormed it and took several hundred German prisoners. Tho Germans used a new shell with a double explosion, which was nicknamed "Tho Orphan" by tho Russians, owing to its wailing sound in the nir. The Russians 500 German dead on one Stochod bridge. All the woods near Svidniki were thickly strewn w'th dead. Great numbers were swallowed up in the swamps. FIFTY THOUSAND AUSTRIANS ON RUMANIAN FRONTIER, Rome, June 23. The "Corricro della Sera's" I'ncharost correspondent states that the Russians have driven fifty thousand Astrians to the Rumanian frontier. Rumania is preparing to disarm them if they cross tho frontier. REPORTED RUSSIAN OFFER TO RUMANIA. (Rec. Juno 24, 7 p.m.) Rome, June 24. The Bucharest correspondent, of the Italian newspaper. "Idea. Na/.ionaK" states that Russia has offered Czornowitz to Rumania if she sides swith the Allies.