CRUSHING BLOW BY THE RUSSIANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2846, 10 August 1916, Page 5

CRUSHING BLOW BY THE RUSSIANS

ANOTHER BIG GAP IN THE ENEMY'S LINE VICTORIOUS OPERATIONS SOUTH OF THE DNIESTER . ■) ! Australian-Xcw Zealand Cablo Association. ~ r, . , London, August 8. A Russian official communique states:—"We are successful? advancing on the Sereth, and are fortifying tho captured positions. Wo took 8500 prisoners. A party of Austrians advanced on tho Stochod and lifted up their hands, but treacherously killed a'colonel. Our riflemen killed tho whole party. _ Wo took tho offensivo southward of tho Dniester on a front of sixteen miles, penetrated the front, drove tho onomy back on tho whole line and captured the town of Tlutnacii (15 miles east of Stanilau). In tho region eastward of tho Dniester, wo took soveral heights. Our attack with gas is proceeding south-west of tho KolomearStanislau railway." ' v (Ttec. August 9, 8.5 p.m.) ... w , . . , , ' Petrograd, August 9. A Russian oftcial communique states:—"Our successos southwards of the Dniester continue. The Russians aro pursuing the enemy, and havo captured Nijmuv, Otyma, and five villages. Tho region captured covers an area of 160 square kilometres." - ' ' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, The High Commissioner reports:— I. ' v London,- 'August 8, s'p.m. The Russian officiaT report slates:—"At the Sereth we advanced successfully, securing ourselves in tlie caPtnrcd positions. The.total of the prisoners taken on August 5 and 6, is 8081. Four cannon, nineteen machincguns, eleven trench mortars, and a number "of minc-throwers and war material, wero captured. "On the Stochod, in tho region o' Stobychva, a party of Austrians left their trenches in The night and cam o forward with uplifted hands into our position. Battalion-Commander Colo 110 ! Stepancnko, on approaching the Austrians, was treacherously killed. O w riflemen killed the whole party. TSouth of tho Dniester we havo t a-lvcn the offensivo on a front of 25 versts in tlio direction of Tysmienica, where -we brolco into tho enemy's trenches, engaging him in pursuit. /Owing to our irresistible onslaught 'the enemy was "driven back along tho whol° line.; _ We captured tho town of Tlumacz, including the region east of tlio Dniester, and a ridge of heights, Soutli-wcst of tho Kolomea-Stanislau railway our attack was preceded by artillery fire and discharge of chemical shells on the enemy's batteries. Owing to our gas the enemy's artillery ceased firing and abandoned their, arms. Olfr cavalry pursued them, in .their disorder, capturing 'Several heavy calibro guns, machine-guns, and 2000 prisoners. Prisoners continue to arrive in largo numbers; the total captures are not yet known." VICTORIOUS OPERATIONS SOUTH OF THE DNIESTER 16-MILE GAP TORN ON THE ENEMY'S FRONT. (Renter's, Tfllcfr'an.Y N (Rcc. August 9, 6.40 p.m.) 1 Petrograd, 'August' 8. A Russian official communique states:—"Wo have had a great Russian victory south of the Dniester. _ AVo broke iTie enemy's front over a length of sixteen miles, and got astride tlio Kolomea-Stanislau railway, capturing tTfe heights beyond. The prisoners include two thousand Germans. Tho pursuit conTmues." ( i • WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THE BUG. , Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. August 9, 6.40 p.m.) London, August 8. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent, states"The Russian successes on the Graberka and Sereth Rivers bring thorn within striking distance of the Bug—the last natural obstacle on the road to Lomberg. General von Hmdenburg has concentrated heavy forces against General Brusiloff, proving again the superiority of tlio German transport. Tlie slaughter during the past week has been terrible, but tho advantage is with tho Russians. The enemy has begun an offensive south, of Dclatyn, on tho line of the Pruth." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ' > London, August 8. A German official communique states:—"The Russian efforts to gain ground at the St-ochod wore futile. Strong Russian forces attacked the Archduke Karl southward of tho Dniester, and we withdrew to' our previous-ly-prepared positions!" '/ AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rcc. August 9, 8.5 p.m.) ' / < Amsterdam, August 9. An 'Austrian official communique states:—"We havo made progress on the heights eastward of Jablonitna, and also near AVorotcha. The enemy penetrated our first line eastward of Tlumacz,_ but was expelled. Our defence near Tlumacz has been transferred from that position westward, owing to tho presence of superior forces of the enemy. There have been stubborn Russian attacks south-west of Torczyn and tho Volhynia bridgehead." CIVILIAN EVACUATION OF LE'MBERG. (Rcc. August 9, 6.40 p.m.) Bucharest, August 8. Tlio report that civilians were ordered to evacuate Lemberg on August 4 is confirmed. The Governor issued a proclamation stating:—"lf tho fortune of war should prevent defending Lemberg, its loss will be of shojt duration. We will soon return with heavy forces and wrest it/' back." RUSSIA'S PROSPECTS REVIEWED ' , ("Tho Times.") • ) London, Augpst 8. Mr. Stanley Washburn, reviewing the. two months' offensive in tho Eftst, says:—"Russia has approximately advanced fifty-five miles at various points. Sho has taken prisoner threo Generals, 706-1 officers, 330,000 soldiers, and captured 504 guns and 1200 macTiine-guns. Tho losses represent, including dead, casualties, and missing, three-quarters of a million. Icannot- state the Russian losses, but. they are of no military significance. Russia could sustain double her losses of this summer for five years without suffering a shortage of men. The Germans have somewhat depreciated in their arrogance; their confidence is reduced, but they are a long way from collapse. The surest method to secure victory, and also to utterly discourago tho Germans, is to prepare [or two moro years of war. A sudden spectacular sweep cannot be cxpcctcd. for tlio enemy holds strong natural linos, and is using his utmost efforts." Mr. AYashburn declares that the enemy's superiority is in guns, especially heavy artillery, in munitions, and in rail•way facilities, and this must continue for six months, when they will bo. removed, except in the matter of means of railway transport.