Russia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 12 June 1916, Page 5

Russia

MARCHING ON LEMBERG.

■,I'HfTKH ?RKB» AfIfIOCIACTON. '

London, June 9.

Latest telegrams from Petrograd, Vienna, and Borne emphasise the farreaching effect of the Russian victories.

It was announced in Petrograd today that a further 13,714 men, and 185 officers had been taken prisoners in Volhynia, making sixty-six thousand.

The Russians are within sixty miles of Lemberg, and it is believed that five Austrian armies are on the eve of a general retreat.

A Petrograd communique states that the piercing of the enemy's front in the Strypa region resulted in the occupation of the fortified position on the east bank. We entered Buczanzo, and developing the offensive along the Dniester, carried the village of Solanka, and seized a large artillery park, and great quantities of shells in the: village of ' PahikYotZ: Our total captures are 1240 oncers, 71,000 men, 94 guns, 167 throwers, and a large quantity of material, n

The Germans are attempting to check the advance!on Yolhynia in Gaiicia. Fresh troops have arrived from north of"the Polyeise, but notwithstanding the powerful resistance we continue to advance on the whole front from Pripet to the Roumania frontier.

Many Germans are among the prisoners. Our, cavalry led the attack on many sectors, and Cossacks captured two guns, eight ammunition wagons, two hundred caissons and shells. In another sector, thirty cylinders of poison gas were captured. .We have crossed the Strypa, and some troops have reached the river Zlotpotck. General.'Midouline was seriously wounded. The enemy violently bombarded tin* region north-east of Krevo, and south of Smorgon, and took offensive on Thursday night with considerable forces, but his attempts to reach our trenches failed. A further 5500 soldiers, ninety officers and eleven guns have been taken. The enemy's losses are estimated at between a fourth and a third of the original effectives of 650,000. The front between Buczacz and the Dneister was completely broken, and the Russians on the Styr and Strypa have regained all the ground lost since September. We have crossed the Zlota, and are advancing.

The prisoners are in good condition. Tiie majority are well clothed. The Austrians in many instances are asking to be separated from the Germans. It is noteworthy the absence of Czechs, many having latterly been sent to Trentino.

The bombardment preceding the offensive was so intense that it was heard as> a continuous roar twenty to thirty miles behind the firing line. The inhabitants of Proskouroff, fifty miles distant, heard a rumbling like distant thunder. The bombardment reached its highest pitch at two on Sunday morning. The tremendous vibration of the air is said to have thrown telegraphic and telephonic apparatus out of gear for miles around. The infantry advanced to the watchword, "Ever forward; not a step backward." The Germans are striving to conceal from the public the extent of the Austrian defeats. A Berlin communique merely stated that there is no change so far as the German troops are concerned.

The Russians covered the twentv T five miles to Lutsk in three days, through forests and marshlands, and over battered defences.

A Petrograd communique says President Poincaire congratulated the Russians on their splendid victory. which makes ir the operations agreed to by the Allied staffs, a valuable contribution to the common success. General Brussiloff has crossed the S,yr above ami helow Lutsk, and is pursuing the enemy, who are endeavouring to hold their positions in the rear. Heavy fighting for the possession of the heights is progressing

northward of Tarnopol. Captured Austrian officers relate that on the eve of the Russian offensive thev were celebrating the German victory in the North Sea. The Russians' bombardment suddenly ended the festivities. The Russians seized the Austrian railway station a few minutes la tor, and captured a train

load of troops and supplies, also a train load of shells.

At another part of the front, practically a whole division, with two Generals, surrendered. AUSTRIAN FRONT BROKEN FOR 90 MILES. EFFECT ON THE TRENTINO. Rome, June 9. The Russian Embassy states that the Austrian front is completely broken for a length of ninety miles and a depth of forty miles. The Russian advance threatens to envelop the entire Austrian army in the marshes. A number of Austrian-Slav regiments became panic-stricken and surrendered without resistance. General Bothmer's army is paying the penalty for the transfer of two German divisions to Verdun and one division to Trentino". The news has electrified the public, and it is believed that it will paralyse the Austrian offensive in Trentino. Messages from Switzerland state that the news caused a panic among four of the [Austrian Archdukes, who had come to witness what was expected to be a re-conquest of the Italian plains. Three of the Archdukes hurriedly returned. Berne, June 9. The Austrian commander at Trentino has received orders to send all his available divisions to Volhynia. THE POSITION AT LEMBERC. Amsterdam, June 9. Lemberg is full of wounded. The population have been notified that every household must prepare to ahelfc'er the seriously wounded who cannot be transferred further. All accounts show that there have been huge Austrian losses. RUSSIANS WITHIN 20 MILES OF LEMBERC. DUBNO EVACUATED. Geneva, June 10. The Austrian* have evacuated Dubno, and the Russian vanguard is within twenty miles of Lemberg. The Russians since the outset have captured ninety-one guns. AN AUSTRIAN REPORT.

1 ! Amsterdam, June 11. ; An Austrian communique reports extremely stubborn battles 'between Okno and Dobronoutz, and says that eight attacks were repulsed in one sector and five in another. Strong Russian forces, after bitter fighting, drove our troops to the western bank of the Strypa. We repulsed numerous attacks north-west of Tu-rnopol. Fighting occurred in the Lutsk region, west of 'the Styr, but the Russian attempts to cross near Kolki and northwest of Czartorysk failed. . M The fighting on the north-eastern front is. less severe, mid Russian atr tacks near Kolki, north of Novalexinetz, northw-est of Tarnapol, and on the Dneister were repulsed with heavy. enemy losses. BUKOVINA. RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE FROM BESSARABIA. INHABITANTS ORDERED TO VARIOUS LOCALITIES. (Received 9.15 a.m.) Geneva, June 11. Civilians have been ordered to leave Czernowitz, which is now within range of the Russian artillery. The inhabitants of other localities in Bukovina decline to leave, being convinced that the Russians will bring food. RUSSIAN ENTHUSIASM. IRRESISTIBLE ONSLAUGHTS. AUSTRIANS REFUSE TO FACE THE BAYONET. (Received 9.0 a.m.) Petrograd, June 11. The first of the Russian wounded who have reached Odessa speak in glowing enthusiasm of the artillery's havoc on the Austrian defences followed by onslaughts of masses of cavalry, throwing the retreating enemy into hopeless confusion. The enemy abandoned their wounded and whole regiments surrendered. The railways are blocked with trains conveying prisoners and trophies, including big guns. Aeroplanes captured baggage trains used to convey the Austrian wounded. Several thousand prisoners have arrived at Kieff, and fifteen thousand at ' Khotin, including German staff-offi-cers. Appalling Russian gunfire opened simultaneously on the entire battle front. Orders for attack reached the trenches on June 3, and were hailed with, unbounded joy. The artillery opened on the same day and continued until midday of the 4th.

The infantry then attacked and found the first and second and third of the enemy line , ruins and full of dead. The succecd.il,, lines wore defended bv macb w-uuns, fire squirts, and mines. Many ol the latter exploded under Lin- Russians, but the Russians tvere irresistible. The Austrian.s mostly, lefuseil to face the bayonet, and .surrendered. COMPLETE AUSTRIAN DEOACL". ADDITIONAL RUSSIAN CAPTURES (Received 12.15 p.m.) Petrograd, June 11. The Russians yesterday captured additional 35,000 men and 400 officers, thirty guns, and enormous booty. -General Lechusky's army in the direction of Czernovitz alone captured 18,000, effecting a complete debacle.