Russia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 59, 6 October 1916, Page 5

Russia

THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE. ON TO LEMBERC. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Petrograd, October 5. The move forward towards Lemberg has recommenced, the whole southern sector of the Russian front being ablaze. General Brusiloff's immediate objective is Vladimir, Yolynsky, and the railway at Kovel. The Russians are in possession of enormous reserves of ammunition, and they are shelling the Austrian line with unparalleled ferocity.

A terrible battle at Brzezany has already been waged for three days, wherein the Russians, under cover of their artillery nrc, ;j crqssed the Zlota Lipa and captured the opposing heights. ts? if "V-- ...•;. •;. The Germans are endeavouring at all costs to. hold the space between Kovel and Lembcrg, whereon mainly depend other issues of German strategy on the Russian front.

It is semi-officially stated that Germany, since September, has despatched 12 divisions to the soutbern 'sectors, with twelve despatched to June. Altogether twenty-four divisions have reinforced the south-western front. Out of the twelve that arrived in September nine divisions are now defending the Kovel approaches, where Hindenburg in mid-September had concentrated thirty-one.

Russian critics predict an obstinate resistance at Kovel, and opine the most formidable concentration, whereby can be gauged the importance the enemy command attaches to the Ylad-imr-Yolynski region.