ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 23 August 1915, Page 5

ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

THE RUSSIAN RETREAT. GERMANS NEARING BREST LITOVSK. (Reed 5.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, August 22. The “Tageblatt’s” correspondent ■says the Austro-Germans are within ten kilometres of thg outer forts at Brest Litovsk. The Russians are experiencing difficulties in retreating across th e Bug, ■especially as they were thrown back to immense swamps near Rokitho. VIEWS OF ITALIAN EXPERTS. AUSTRIA SUFFERING GREATLY. LONDON, August 21. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says: Italian military experts declare that the capture of Kovno is another proof cf the worthlessness of any except mountain fortification:-. They predict that Russia will not hold any other fortress. They do not believe the Germans intend establishing a fortified line on the east front, thus ■enabling them to concentrate their attention on the west front. Germany realised she would never be victorious unless she crushed Russia. The Allies ©ught not to desire an early stoppage of the Russian retreat, which is disastrous for Germany especially. The fact that Austria has for several weeks not sent reinforcements to the Carso and the Isonzo proves that they cannot move troops from the east front.

RELIEF FOR RUSSIA. THE SUREST METHODS. / (Reed 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. The “Observer” says the worst way to help the Russians would be to rush into extensive frontal assaults on the western front. The Allies forces are growing stronger daily and Germans hoped the Allies there would fling themselves away in an endless series of futile attacks. Joire is building up strength for decisive emergencies which offers the surest guarantee to Russia. Joffre will give the signal at the right hour for moving the fullest strength with the surest purpose. NOVO GEORGJEVoK’S FALL. KAISER THANKS GOD AND HIS ARMIES. The “Lokal Anzieger” praises the bravery of the defenders of Novo Geor. gevisk, and adds: The Russian sun is setting, anj there will soon be a holiday in East Germany. JThe North German Gazette states that the Kaiser telegraphed to Holl.weg hi s thanks for God’s assistance, and the tride leadership of Von Desselter, his heroic troops, and the excellent Austro-German siege artillery which is the strongest and most modern. The Russian fortress at Novo Georgievsk is now in our hands; it wa s one of th e finest feats of arms. Hollweg replied: Full gratitude to God; the entir© people rejoice at the army’s deeds.,. Thousands sang triumphal songs, and “Now Thank We All Our God” before Hollweg’s Palace. PERSIAN BRIGANDS. J-' KILL 22 POLICEMEN-.; (Reed 8.50 a.m) PETROGRAD, August 22. Persian brlgans attacked gendarfes and killed twenty-two. 1

FURTHER GERMAN SUCCESSES. THROWING BACK RUSSIANS. (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Aug. 21. German communique: Fighting east of Kovno we took prisoner 450 and captured five guns. The enemy evacuated Jessia, retreating eastward. We stormed a postion near Gudele Sejray, taking 610 Russians prisoners. In the fighting westward of Tykocid, Yon Gallwitz occupied Bicsla, and southward threw the Russians across the Biala. Leopold on Friday night broke the enemy’s renewed resistance, the enemy to-day further retreating and a thou sand prisoners being taken. Yon Mackensen’s left wing advanced to tho confluence of the Bug and th e Pulwa. The enemy continue to retreat. We further progressed before Brest Litovsk -and eastward of Yolda. BIG ATTACK ON OSSOWICE.

THE IRRESISTIBLE ENEMY.. (Rets 12.45 a.m.) PETROGRAD, August 22. Official: After the German occupation of Kovno the garrison joined the field troops. Our troops are still on the left bank of the Niemon south of Kovno. The Germans strongly attacked the entir e . front at Ossowice on the upper Narew and the Bug. Wo held the enemy’in several sec tors,but the enemy occupied the right bank of the Bug. East of Vlodava, continued attacks were made in the direction of Piehticha. The Germans, after occupying the left bank of the Wkra at Novo Gieorgievsk, concentrated a?l their efforts between the Wkra and the Vustula, and destroyed the fortifications in this section by an uninterrupted bombardment and a hurricane of projectiles. The troops surrounded the Vymysloff fort and attacked the fortifications, despite enormous losses. We were obliged to k withdraw on the night of the 19th to old forts fronting the cen-' tral defences.

The Germans destroyed two of these forts and occupied the ruins by a series of sanguinary assaults. They next bombarded the central defence. "W e blew up the Narew bridge and abandoned the forts in the northern section. RUSSIANS AT BREST LITOVSK. TENACIOUSLY HOLDING ON. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.) PETROGRAD, August 22 Bomb-dropping from aeroplanes is frequent over Brest Litovsk. Th e whole of the Grodno, Bielostock, Brest Litovsk railway is still in Russian ■ possession. Immense stores of provisions, precious monuments, such as Anokolskys i statue of Catherine the Second have been conveyed into the interior, 100 i trucks being required to transport municipal property. All copper articles have been secured, and there are endless numbers of refugees from the Kovno district streaming along the Viikrair. Road. The “Bours e Gazette” says Genu an advance detachments have appeared towards Suiehtziany,. on the V!lna-P©t-rograd; railway. The Russians vigorously drove them buck. They have also been successful in important engage- ■. moats near Mltau, .

BRITISH SUBMARINE'S THRILLING EXPERIENCE. COMMANDER’S OFFICIAL REPORT. EXCITING CIRCUMSTANCES. LONDON, August 21, 7.20 p.m. The High Commissioner reports: The Admiralty announces that a report has been received from Lieut.Commander Layton, commanding El 3, grounded at Salthclm. Commander Layton says the submarine grounded early on th e morning of the 19th August. Efforts failed to refloat her. At fiv e o’clock a Danish torpedo boat appeared and communicated that th e El 3 would be allowed 24 hours to try to get off; at the same tim e a German destroyer arrived and remained close to the submarine until two more Danish torpedo boats came, when she withdrew. At 9 a.m., while th e thre e Danish torpedo boats were anchored close to the submarine, two German destroyers approached, and when half a mile away one destroyer hoisted a communical flag signal.. Before the commanding officer of El 3 had time to read it, the German destroyer fired a torpedo from a distance of about 300 yards, which exploded on hitting the bottom close to the submarine. At th e same moment the German destroyer fired her guns. Lieut-Commander Layton, seeing the submarine on fire for e and aft, and unable to defend himself owing to being aground, gave orders for the crew to abandon her. While the men were in the water they were fired on by machine-guns and shrapnel. One Danish torpedo boat immediate'y lowered beats and steamed between the submarine and the German destroyers, who therefore had to ceas e firing, and withdraw. DUTCH AND SWEDISH JOURNALS SPEAK OUT PLAINLY • GERMANS’ CONTEMPTIBLE ACT. PUBLIC FEELING STIRRED. DANISH NEUTRALITY VIOLATED. •COLD BLOODED MURDER. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.)

COPENHAGEN, August 22. A Zeppelin reconnoitred and photo graphed the wreck of El 3.

The Danish authorities have ordered an increase of patrol ships round Copenhagen. Danish fishermen who wtinessed the attack, says the Britishers displayed groat bravery. All were quiet when the Germans began shelling.

Realising the escape was impossible, they looked on contemptuously. The Germans twice signalled the Britishers to leave, but they got no reply. The signal incident, flying a communical flag, has stirred public feelings to their greatest depth.

Th e Press is guarded, but there is an undertone of bitter resentment,and it is emphasised that excuse or explanation is impossible in fac e of the fact that the first German destroyer investigated the locality before returning 1 with other destroyers. It was, therefore, a deliberate violation of Danish territory, and a cold-blooded murder of a defenceless crew, who could be seen on the decks in a careless attitude, trusting to the protection of neutral waters. The newspaper “Hovedsfaden” publishes a rumour that one of the Dutch torpedoers had its wireless damaged and one of the crew wounded. The “Vortland” says there is no question of misunderstanding. The incident is simply a continuation of the well-known German methods, followed throughout the war. All newspapers urge a prompt protest to Berlin. A leading Swedish newspaper characterises the incident as wilful murder.

A DANISH OFFER. ACCEPTED BY BRITAIN. COPENHAGEN, August 22. The offer of a Danish vessel to bring the submarine remains to Britain has been accepted. SHELLS, NOT MEN. WANTED AT THE FRONT. A E A BOER WAN’S OPINION. • LONDON, August 22. Mr Appleton, Secretary of the General Federation of Trades Unions has returned from a visit to the front.

He states the greatest need is not for men, hut for shells and machinery for every kind of army work. ENORMOUS GERMAN SACRIFICES. FOE VERY SMALL GAIN. PARIS, August 22. Prince Eupreeht of Bavaria sacrificed two thousand men in the recapture of trenches near the Ablain-Angres road Four hours bombardment, with , asphyxiating shells, preceded the at- > taCfc.