THE GREAT FIGHT FOR KOVEL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2822, 13 July 1916, Page 5

THE GREAT FIGHT FOR KOVEL

GERMANS HEAVILY REINFORCED DEBPE&ATE RESISTANCE ON THE STOCHOD Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. . London, July 11. A Russian official communique 6tnlcs: "Tho enemy, having received reinforccmonts, and brought up powerful artillery, is offering desperate resistance in the Stochod region. "Wc repulsed considerable forces north-west of Kiinpolung, and after a violent combat the enemy was put to flight. "The approximate total number of prisoners taken by General Brusiloff between June 5 and Jnly 10 is: 5G20 oflicors and 260,000 soldiers, with 312 guns and SGO .machine-guns." . ' . - GRIM. PICTURE OF THE BATTLE OP THE PRIPET MARSHES , THE DESPERATE DEFENCE OF KOVEL. (liec. July 12, 8.20 p.m.) London, July 12. The "Daily Chronicle's!' Petrograd correspondent (Mr. Percival 'Gibbon) paints a grim picture of the battle of the Pripet marshes! which, ho says, has almost concludod. "The Russians are now facing the last' serious natural barrier, namely, tho Stochod, which separates them from Kovel. Through trains aro running from Brussels to Kovel, pouring men along <he lines as fast as possible, and bringing ever more men from Germany's great reservoirs of flesh and blood. The Russians' latest prisoners include men. who are utterly inexperienced in fighting. They were whirled eastwards, detrained in a wet primeval forest, and tumbled headlong into one of the most desperate battles in history." Von Hindenburg at Kovel. "The latest and most significant reinforcement is Field-Marshal' von Ilindcu'lnirg, whom prisoners report is at Kovel with General von Linsingen and «. galaxy of other generals. The Russians recently captured Bulgarians wh.o had been sent to the .Eastern front against their will, and compelled to advance wider a German threat that (hey would be machine-gunned it' they refused. "The Germans suffered ghastly losses at the village) of Kiazh. Attacking repeatedly in denso formation, a withering fire from tho Russian guns destroyed their gas containers, letting the gas loose anions 1 the Gormans, who fell 'back in piteous disorder, the slopes being carpeted witn- corpses. Devilish Cunning. "The Ausli-ians lack (he Germans' vicious efficiency. The former attempted In destroy the roads us they retreated, forcing tho Russians to advance over tho quagmires. Then Germans 'improved' the dangers of these-ghastly swamps by concealing sunken cocoons of barbed wiro in tho quagmires, from which the trapped men were unable to fenr themselves. Tho Germans also placed I mines in the muddy channels, and even covered miles of ooze with an imitation firm foothold in tho hope that they would prove to be man-traps. The Russian pursuers' tactics were unwise, and resulted in unimportant though striking losses. This exaspornted the army, which; hitherto had been in the habit of taking prisoners." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. London, July 11. A German official commmiique states: "The front is quiet at Jtiga and Pinsk. The Russian announcement of the evacuation of Pinsk is false. "Strong forces mudo futile attacks on .the Stochod lino. The enemy was driven, hack near Rulewiczc by a counter-attack." • CHEATS EXPOSED. (Rec. July 12, 5.25 p.m.) ■, Petrograd, July 11. Tho Russians have not claimed the capture of Pinsk. The German denial is a trick designed to* discredit the Russian communiques. AUSTRIAN PRESS REVILES THEIR ALLIES. Amsterdam, .Tuly 11. The "Xeue I'rcie Pressc" (Vienna) bitterly complains of the failure of the Germans, Bulgarians, and TVlcs 'to- show a. livelier interest in the Russian advance in Galium, which, it says, threatens East Prussia and Constantinople equally with Austria-Hungary. . , ' ' , "AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Hee. Julv 12, 5.25 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 11. ' An Austrian official communique states: "Attacks by superior forces of tho enemy at Sokal broke in our entanglements. "The Austro-Gcrman forces repulsed tho enemy at Hnlewioze, on the Stochod, after bitter lighting. The enemy vainly endeavoured to bring his fleeing masses to a standstill by turning machine-guns upon them." r~ RUMANIA'S OPPORTUNITY AT HAND DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY THE GREAT . ALLIED OFFENSIVE. (Rec. July 12, 5.20 p.m.) > . London, July 12. % The "Daily Telegraph's" Bucharest correspondent states that the. Allies' general offensive has deeply stirred tho Rumanian public, feeling. The Opposition newspapers are violently demanding that M. Bratiano (His Premier) should take action. Officials assert that M. Bratiano, awaro that Rumania's opportunity is approaching, desires the Russians to hasten the delivery of Rumanian munitions, which have been held np at Vladivostock, and also that an Allied offensive from Salonika shall keep the Bulgars occupied. MONTENEGRIN REVOLT AGAINST THE AUSTRIANS (Rec. July 12, 5.20 p.m.) Rome, July 12. It is reported that ah ajainst. the Austrians is general in Montenegro. The Austriana have burned Cetmje, including the palace.