THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

liSluiCillXD XBLEOKAi'Jti—CCii-XKJGHI.J [I'BK i'KESo ASSOCIATION.J

THE VICTORIOUS RUSSIANS,

London, June 12. There is no longer any doubt »hat General Brussilofl, hitherto known as a brilliant oavalry leader, has struck one ot the biggest blows ot the v&r, though Vienna estimates that he commands 1,500,000 men, doubtless an exaggeration.

General Brussilofl: has selected a front ot 340' miles extending Tom Pinsk through the I'ripet marshes and Voikynian swamps to Roumania. The result of the offensive has been three great yawning in the Austrian line. One is 30 miles deep in the Luzk region, threatening an important junction to Korel. The second is 20 miles deep and extends from Buczance to the junction of ; the Strypa and Dniester, a distance of ! 13 miles and threatening the town of | Stanislau. The 'Russians at the end : of 1016 failed to cross the Strypa. Now they have not only taken the old fortifications but thoso constructed in the rear. They have driven a wedge between the armies ot General von Bothmer and General von Planzer, which will make it difficult for General von Planzer to Gold iiulfovina. The third breach is before enabling General iUechusky to occupy an important strategic railway and to make huge captures. Telegrams from Petrograd describe the Russian bombardment as >most intense on June 3. Some stretches of trenches were transformed into a mass of crumbled concrete, burst sandbags, and splintered beams, and mingled with mutilated corpses. Many Russian regiments were uever before in laction, yet they charged tiger-like after the Russian artillery J had destroyed barb-wire, often as thick as the index Anger and woven together to a depth of 300 yards. Hidden pits with spiked bottoms before the Austrian lines, similar to those used at Bannockbum, hampered the Russian advance. The Russian traversed the pits using planks and ladden.

Thirty-two lines of Russian infantry followed each other in rapidi succession in open formation. They suffered the heavest losses, but there was no faltering. They took the second and third Austrian defences at the first oiad rush. Then divisions at Cossacks and lancers on hardy ponies swept through the breaches. The fleeing enemy -vera utterly disorganised and whola companies, even regiments, surrendered-. The cavali-y swept on disorganising transport and ammunition stores ten miles behind the tromt trenches.

The retreat developed into a paniestricken flight with enormous losses, the Russians covering 22 miles in two days in the direotion of Jj.ovel.

The Russian advance waa so rapid that an Austrian division was surrounded and compelled to surrender. Before the staff were aware the Russians had broken through on both flanks, while tho Auutrians were building elaborate earthworks. General lirussiloff constructed miles of coruinoy roads across swamps and behind the Russian lines to enable the cavalry to quickly assemble wherever the artillery was able to send them a,k»ng the Austrian front. .After the cavalry came the transport waggons, artillery, horses to enable the whirlwind advance to contnue.

General Brusaijoff'a strategy was a magnficent success. If a hundred thousand Austrians were oaptured, at least two hundred thousand others were kiiled and wounded. When Dubno fell a triangle of fortresses, including Luzk and Tlovno, passed to the Russians

After 20 hours' herce lighting before Luzk the flight of the Austrians was so precipitate that even railway «tations and bridges were not destroyed. The Archduke Friedrich lunehed at Luzk on the day of its capture. The inhabitant® were principally Jews andt Poles who enthuaiaatioaly greeted the .Russians who entered with bands Delaying and colours flying. Men, women and children embraced the soldiers, kissing their hands and rifles.

The Germans on the Styr below Luck attempted to aasut the Austriaus The Russian infantry, however, drove them back, taking 2000 prisoners. The Austrians continue spiritedly to dispute the possession of the heights north-west of Ternopol which have changed hands several times.

The latest Vienna communique adtmits exceeding violent lighting in the north-east of Bukovina. The pressure of superior hostile forces waa "applied with unequalled prodigality of men, wSTch obliged us to withdraw.