TEUTON COLLAPSE ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 5

TEUTON COLLAPSE ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT

EVACUATION OF STRONG BASES SIGNS OF A GENERALRETREAT (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. London, August 1. A wireless inessitgo has been received that the Germans hiivo evacuated Vladimir Volinski, and nro evacuating Kovol. . RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Petro&rad, August 1. A Russian official communique states': "Wo forced tlio enemy back at tho bend of the Stochod, and reached a position westward of the Velick'i-Kuchary line. Wo repulsed counter-attacks between Kovel aad Lusk. We attacked in the region of Tchekliuv Dubonka, south-eastward of Monasterisk, and crossed tlio marshy river Koropetsi waist deep in water, as the bridges were destroyed. Wo reached the west bank, whoro we organised, and captured over a thousand Aus-tro-Germahs." (Rec. August 2,8.10 p.m.) Petrograd, August 2. A Russian official communique states: "The Germans rushed an attack at Smoliary and reached tho west bank of tho Stochod. They were repulsed. Tho battle is proceeding." PROOFS OF THE ENEMY'S ROUT MULTIPLYING London, August 1. Proofs of the Austro-German rout are multiplying. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Rome telegraphs that the Austro-German staffs have resolved notto defend any of tho towns, in order to avoid tho Russians surrounding tho garrisons. The decision includes Kovel, Stanislau, and Lemborg. Tho Russians havo already reached positions south-west and north of Kovel. There is evidence of the Austrian demoralisation after the battle of July/ 28. The Austrians, in a panic, abandoned fifty kilometres of the front west of Lusk. Later, seeing that tho Russians had paused in their advance, the Austrians retraced their steps and reocenpied ten kilometres of tho abandoned territory. KALEDINE'S GREAT STROKE CUTTING THE AUSTRIANS OFF FROM THE GERMANS. Pclronrad, August 1. Gonoral Kaledine's great stroko on.the Vladimir-Voliuski road, and the advance towards Kovel is developing with great speed from tho east and south. Tho latest messages show that Russian infantry is within twenty miles of Kovel, which, they are enveloping in a horseshon formation. Tho capture of Kovel will spver the junction of the Austrians and Germans. The most significant thing is that tho Germans seem to have accepted tho definite severanco of the Austrians, Their immediate concern is/to snvo themselves, leaving tho Austrians to shift as best they can. .• ' . Tho Russians' main pressure is now nlong tlio J'unya, on which Kovel stands. It flows parallel to the Stochod. Tho possibility of tho Germans in the Kovel region escaping is eagerlv debated. Thoir loss of guns and equipment is bound to bo heavy. It is unlikely that the Germans will roach tho Pinsk-Kobrin railway except as a disorganised mass, particularly as thoir marching powers aro far inferior to those of tho Russians. \ ■ ■ _ It is now evident that General Brusilolt kept tho German centre in place in tho Kovel region, and orly blocked tho German mass attacks sufficiently liot to discourage thorn from reinforcing their centre, while the Russians wero making progress on the flanks. General Bnifiilofi adopted similar tactics on the seventy miles from Brody to Bunzacz where General Botlmier continually sought to break Brusiloff's eontro. Bothwr'n position westward of Tnrnopol is most precarious, and it .is probable that Botlunor delayed his retreat to tho last moment, remembering the disintegration which followed Boehm-Ermolli's retreats. REPORTED ENVELOPMENT OF VON BOTHMER'S ARMY. Rome, August I. It is reported that Von Bothmcr's army (on tho Strypa) is practically enveloped, owing to the Cossacks, after tlio capture of Brody, cutting the rail- '' ' (Rec. August'J, 7.M) p.m.) ■ Petrograd, August 1. Now that the Russians have crossed the Sereth and captured Buczacz, General von Botlmier is in a vice, while General Letchitsky's Cossacks are threatening his communications in Hungary. <. \ GLOOMY PROSPECT FOR THE ENEMY . ' New York, August 1. Writing from Petrograd, an American correspondent says that tho opinion in Petrograd is that, despite tho stubborn resistance by tho Austrinns and Germans, tliey will be unable much longer to successfully oppose all three Russian lines of the advance, upon Kovel, Vladimir Volinski, and Lemborg. They probably will be compelled to sacrifice ono in order to stiffen tlio others. SIGNS OF A GENERAL RETREAT. Amsterdam, August 1. The 'Austrians are blowing up bridges over the river Bug, to delay the Russian advance on Lemborg. Hail way traffic between Lomberg and Tamopol is interrupted, and tho engines and rolling stock havo boon transferred to Cracow. The population is evaluating tho suburbs of Przeniysl and Jaroslnv, and fugitives from Galicia are flocking to Cracow. Tho "Deutsche Tagoszoitnug states that everything is ready for tho possible evacuation of lomberg, but there is no immediate apprehension of tho event.

TURKISH REINFORCEMENTS FOR VON HINDENBURG. (Eec. August 2, 8.10 p.m.) London, August 2. The Austrian journal "Neuo Freie Prosse" states that a largo .number of Turks on Monday passed through Lcmberg, en route to join Von Mindenburg. It is supposed that the Germans intend a great offensive against Petrograd, in which tho Turks will participate. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. London, August 1. A German official communique states: "The Russians arc exhausting themselves fruitlessly at tho Stochod. Wo forced them to retreat northwards of Smolary. General von Linsingen captured, in July, 70 officers and 10,998 men/ AUSTRIANS CLAIM LARGE CAPTURES. (Eec. August 2, 8.10 p.m.) < London, August 2. An Austrian official communique claims the capture of 90 officers and 18,000 men on' the north-eastern fiont, southwards of the Prtpet. EACH SEEKING TO FOIST THE BLAME BITTER RECRIMINATIONS BETWEEN THE AUSTRIAN AND GERMAN STAFFS. Petrograd, Augrist 1. Prisoners state that a fierce controversy is raging between tho Austrian and German Generals iirreference to tho responsibility for tho recent disasters. Von Mackensen's staff accuses the Archduke Ferdinand. The Austrians retort that the Germans advised the reinforcing the Italian front, and recommended the Austrians to mass heavy guns in the wrong places in Galicia and Bukowina. RUMANIA EXCITED BY THE RUSSIAN VICTORIES POPULAR DEMONSTRATION. FOR INTERVENTION. (Eec. August 2, 7.30 p.m.) Bucharest, August 1. Public enthusiasm over the Russian victories is causing an interventionist campaign of colossal proportions. A number of Rumanians have gone to Bulgarian towns to communicate the Russian bulletins to the people, as the .Bulgarian Government prohibits even Austro-Germ an communiques which mention rctreatß. One hundred thousand people paraded the streets of Bucharest to make a demonstration in favour of intervention, while similar demonstrations took place in other towns. THE, RUSSIAN DRIVE IN ASIA MINOR Petrograd, August 1. A Rusisan communique states; "The pursuit in the direction of Mosul (on the Euphrates) continues." (Eec. August 2, 8.10 p.m.) Petrograd, August 2. A Russian olhcial communique states: "We have mado a further advance westward of Eizigan." A SURPRISE PACKET FOR THE BULGARS Rome, August 1. A bomb explosion at Kustendil (in Western Bulgaria) destroyed the station, killing and wounding 300 Bulgarian troops. GREEK DEMOBILISATION COMPLETED (Eec. August 2, 7 p.m.) Athens, August 2. Tho Greek demobilisation has been completed, and tho Greek garrison at Salonika sent to Thossaly to prevent friction with tho Allies. t