Russia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 60, 15 June 1916, Page 5

Russia

! GERMANS CLAIM MINOR SUCCESS. United f*Hi"t» Ahho».)»>»»!» Amsterdam, June Kb A German communique says; Our batteries annihilated a Hmsian c.vahy brigade south-east of Dublina, en the Dwina front, j ___. I BRUSiLOFF'S GREAT FEAT. I j TOTAL OF 450,000 PRISONERS. I London, June 11. r rhe Daily Chronicle correspondent says: "General Brusiloff's scheme was so perfect that ho was able to commence his offensive at two days' notice, even over the "nightmare" country of the Polyesie forest and marshes, where the army had been living un islands in channels of black water, while the advanced positions practically lived on rafts that were stranded half way between the hanks and were only approachable over log roads. It is impossible to exaggerate the resource and ingenuity whereby General Brusiloff contrived to pour his tense attack over narrow paths, through man-drowning quagmires, and rush the Austrian positions. The single impulse was to reach the rising of which Lutsk is the centre. Along the Sarcth front, where there is more open country, a Belgian armored car. corps did excellent service. The population of Kiel? are renewing their emotions of the early days of the war. Long grey and blue columns of prisoners are arriving. The police will not .allow demonstrations. The ' earlier (Austrian prisoners are employed at, street cleaning and similar work, and they greet their former comrades with howls of derisive welcome. General ; Brusiloff has thus far captured leo,iOOO Austro-Germans and 500 gun-.'' | The Austrian front has been brokm jfrom Buczacz to the Dneister, and the ißussians have already regained all the ground lost since September, 1915. If the northern advance continues as well as the remainder, it will compel a general Galician retirement. The offensive is one of the greatest surprises of the war, experts believing that Ru3*ia was still not recuperated and was not ready for an offensive of extraordinary energy and weight; but correspondents report that the Russian Army is thoroughly reconstituted and re-equipped on modern lines, with an abundance of artillery and munitions. They have subsituted for the lack of railways a wonderful system of light lines, causeways and modern bridges. The Russian defensive positions lor hundreds ■of miles are perfectly made, the tren'ches being practically impregnable. German war correspondents are warning Germany that the Russian artillery is wonderful and the lire terrific, and it may seriously affect the Eastern campaign.

The Times, in a leading article, says that the magnitude of the Russian offensive and the huge capture of prisoners and booty is a signal example of the advantages of co-ordination, which is belatedly governing the Allied operations. Austria, was surprised by the sudden revelation of the number, power, and accuracy of the new Russian artillery, which is swiftly reversing the impression created by last summer's retreat. Russia is armed anew, and no longer experiences the anguish of finding her guns outranged and sacrificing incomparable infantry through lack of artillery- The process of re-arhiament is probably not complete, but Russia is daily Hearing the time when she will meet the enemy on equal terms. She has now struck at the right moment and in the right region. If General Hindenburg intends moving from Riga to Dvinsk he is an uncommonly slow starter, but he is seriously handicapped by the withdrawal to the West of reserves, and by the High Sea Fleet's unlucky challenge in the Norlh Sea, which marred the prospect of a Baltic blow, on which General Hindenburg was counting. Nevertheless, it is too soon to sav that Geneiul .11 uk /.burg's prospects are shelved. There is an indication that the forces are beginning to move in Germany, who is reaching a condition when she will strike anywhere and everywhere in the search for sucess. THE ADVANCE ON LEMBERC. Petrograd, June 14. The Germans are not venturing to transfer reinforcements to the Galician front, but, instead, are endeavoring to create a diversion north of the PriIpet. They had some local success in capturing 'the village of Kochany, but this'is quite incapable of materially affecting events. General Letchtzk.v's army has per-

formed with prodigious valor. The precipitous bank of the Dneister has been into one continuous stronghold. liic Austrians regarded Dobronowce and the Furi'oundiiig inoumains, which arc thickly covered wiili forests, as reliable protection fi<>;:inst an suhance on Czernowitz, but General Lotehtzky overcame all resistance. General Ikusiloff's capture of Demidnvkii places the Russians in comma ml of an important forest region, forming a natural stronghold, whereof the lvka and the Styr may be compared to immense moats, protecting two sides of the position. Tims it is a valuable base, and it, will enable General Brusilolf to checkmate any Austrian effort to counter-attack. The Russian offensive to the northward is violent. The eighth army, which advanced thirty miles in the direction of Kovel, will soon be in a position to assist the thrust of the troops beyond Tarnopol, and join them in advancing on Lcmberg. Latest tidings from the southern front slate that there is a temporary lull. The communique says that in view of the Austro-German troops at many places being withdrawn out of reach of our blows, our armies have recorded little increase of prisoners.

To-day the total is 1700 officers and 1114,000 men. General Letehtzky captured 754 officers, 37,633 men, and 201 guns and machine-guns. We have crossed the Dneister and captured many fortified points, and are continually making progress. FURTHER RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. FALL OF CZERNOWITZ IMMINENT. PRECIPITATE AUSTRIAN RETIREMENT ON WHOLE FRONT. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, June 14. The Echo de Paris states: The Russians captured Tortschin, north-west of Lutsk, and also Snyatin on the Pruth. The Russians are enveloping the Austrian position south of Czernovitz by a daring manoeuvre. Advices from Zurich state that street-fighting occurred in Czernowitz on .Monday, and that the fall of the town is imminent. Austrian reports confirm the precipitate Austrian retreat on the entire Bukovina front. PROGRESS REPORT FROM PETROCRAD. ROUMANIAN TERRITORY ENTERED BY MISTAKE. AUSTRIAN LOSSES FOR WEEK 232,000. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Petrograd, June 14. Latest reports show that the Russians cut the Austrian railway communications north of Czernowitz. Heavy fighting is proceeding in the eastern and northern outskirts. A small Russian detachment penetrated Roumania at Mamouza by a mistake. Russia apologised, and the troops were withdrawn. It is estimated that the Austrian losses for the week in killed and wounded were 232,000. Ten per cent, of the prisoners are Germans. RUSSIAN LEADER HOPES TO UTTERLY CRUSH ENEMY. General Brusiloff, replyiug to congratulations, said: "I hope to gain such success as will utterly crush the enemy."