ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 24 August 1915, Page 5

ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

THE RUSSIAN RETREAT.

SYSTEMATIC TERRIFYING TIME

•V POLISH OFFICER'S ACCOUNT.

(K.?ed b.3F. a.m.) , l.rr-A PEST, August 23.

An officer front the Polisli front desc:i!))iu- the Russian retreat in Souther i p >laiid, say& it was a piece of terriiyiug and s;*':->tt'niatic devastation, recahintt that of 1812.

Aii in.xr.ense sc.a indicated the line of retreat, roads wcrt lit with burning houses: for luiJes ahead. Two hundred blackens I chinmf-y- near Sokal showed thy barrack hospital had stood.

vVell organi-ed Cossack detachments followed Misehenko's army, their duty being .0 burn everything and they did it thorough!/.

When the Kr.rsarians entered Krylo the whole of the streets were burning and too hot for troops to pass. They had *° circumvent th e same state of affairs at Vladimir, Olynski and Verba. Then they passed seven villages, aJll burning, a sea of flames stretching across the deep plains of Wolhymo. All villages in the direction of Kovdl wcr e biasing, and no shelter could be found anywhere. For days th e roads were in a terrible state. Our train was 36 hours late and the troops were almost driven to despair with hunger. Many thousands were rebuilding the railway at Sokal and Wolynski, and if this is net ready there is immediate disaster ahead of us.

TKE ADVANCE ON RIGA. STOPPED BY RUSSIANS. PETROGRAD, August 23. The latest advice is that the Russians are astride the Kovno-Yilna railway opposing the advance to Vilna. RUSSIANS HOLDING FIRM. PETROGRAD, August 23. Our forces remain firm in the regiro of Riga, JacobStadt, and Dvinsk. We hold a persistent offensive west of Kosher dary. The position at Ossoweiez ,on the lower Bohr, on the upper Narew and along the right bank of the Bug is almost stationary.

The enemy is exerting obstinate pressure on Bielsk and from Vladava to Pickta, but is held by counter-at-tacks. SIX HUNDRED GUNS BOMBARD KC,VNO FORTS. AERIAL FLEET ABOVE. (Reed 11.55 a.m) PETROGRAD, August 23. The Germans subjected the first forts captured at Kovno to bombardment by 600 guns. Shells destroyed the facade of the Cathedral. THE CAUCASUS CAMPAIGN. FURTHER RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. PETROGRAD, August 23. A Caucasus communique states that our patrols crossed the River Arkhave and rienetrated the Turkish ISne. We repulsed a Turkish attack in the Mt. Tehirgussar-Oltz region. GERMANY'S STRENGTH. PETROGRAD, Aug. 23. It is estimated that not less than per cent, of the German forces are operating against Russia, aggregating, with the Austrians, 70 per cent, of the enemy forces. LIBERTY TOR JEWS. PETROGRAD, August 23. The exodus of the population from the western provinces had an important result in the abolition of the Jewish pale. The Jews are now allowed to live in most parts of Russia. The legal effect of this abolition will shortly be given by an Imperial decree.

A TURKISH REP OUT. AMSTERDAM, August 2?,. Turkish official: After heavy preparations for landing naval £uns on the 21st, an enemy division attacked Anaforta, but was repulsed with immense losses. Tlio attack on Reni Burnu the same day failed. TURKISH TRANSPORT BOMBED. LONDON, August 23. Mitylone reports that Lieutenant Edmonds bombed a transport in the Sea of Marmora.. He descended low enough to drop a heavy bomb full otthe ship's deck The explosion sp"ut the transport, and it is believed that all on board her perished.

BALKAN INTERVENTION EXPECTED. TURKEY'S TROOPS DIVIDED. AMMUNITION STORES USED UP. (Reed. 9.20 a.m.) ROME, August 23. In authoritativ e quarters it is expected that intervention will have decisive result s in the near east as Balkan States will probably be followingItaly's example. .Turkey will be obliged to divide her forces, and the Ottoman armies compelled to use up their last supplies of munitions. THE BALKAN STATES. THE TIME FOR DECISION. SERVIA'S GENEROUS ATTITUDE^ STATES LOOK KINDLY ON ALLIES' TERMS. (Times and Sydney Sun Cables) LONDON, August 23.

Th e "Times" correspondent in Buch-arest-says the official press is reserved on the situation, clearly understanding that the Aliies' programme is decisive and that unles 3 accepted another Balkan War is imminent. Roumania's influence is probably being exerted to induce the 'neighbouring States to acquiesce in th e proposals. Principal interest in the situation is centred on Nish, Inspired Ministerial press articles. Jhave been published indicating the Servian Government's readiness to comply with the desires of the Allies and to hold benevolent inten tions towards the Balkan States. It is emphasised that hitherto uncompromising military coteries are now disposed to agree to the Allies' suggestions. It is inconceivable that Greek resistance to th e Allies' wishes will be prolonged. Such a policy would result in the complete isolation of the Greeks, who cannot expect material assistance from Austro-Germany. FIRES IN CONSTANTINOPLEDUE TO RUSSIAN BOMBS. (Reed. 9.20 a.m.) , BUCHAREST, August 2?.

It is reported that fires in Constantinople, cabled on the second, were due to bombs frcm Russian aeroplanes.

GERMANY AND AMERICA.

ROOSEVELT'S STRONG WORDS

NEW YORK, August 23

Mr. .Roosevelt, in a statement to trie press, hoped that the suggestion to use the Arabic case for the dismissn] of ernstorff and the severance of diplomatic relations would not be adopted by the Government. To do so would be a fresh sacrifice of American lion our and interest. The President's February Note was excellent, if it: had been lived up to. Every subsequent Note was nothing but weakneses and timidity. The time for words war long past. It was inconeeivale for thf inheritors of the traditions of Geor<r' Washington and Abraham Lincoln that the Government cannot see -that the time for deeds has come. Fresh occurrences are lamentable proof of the unwisdom of people not insisting that military preparedness should have begun thirteen months ago.

SUBMARINE DEAD. TAKEN TO ENGLAND. COPENHAGEN, Aug. 23. The steamship Vidar is being fitted up to transfer the dead from the British submarine that grounded Off Saltholm to Hull. Numerous wreaths have been sent. KRUPPS V. BIRMINGHAM. WHERE THE ISSUE LIES. QUESTION OF MUNITIONS. a Mr O'Grady, M.P.. has returned after a visit to the front Sir John French told him: Our guns are better than the Germans' 13-inch, and our shells are equal to the Germans' 17inchers. When you get home tell the people the issue is now in the struggle between Krupps and Birmingham. An officer informed Mr o'G ; rady that since the Munitions Act the supply of shells had improved 60 per cent, but is still insufficient. CONSCRIPTION. • OPPOSED BY UNIONS. LONDON. August 23. • A meeting of representatives of the Natiounl Sailors* and Firemen's Uivon passed a resolution expressing nati*n ?t the machinations of portions of the Press in endeavouring to enforce compulsory service. CHOLERA REPORTED. ; AMSTERDAM. Auscust 23. The "Vossisehe Zeitung' • announces | several cases of cholera in the Branr ; rcv!nce.

A GERMAN REPORT. REPULSES CLAIMED. (Rec. 12.10 p..m) AMSTERDAM. August 23. A German communique states: Early on Monday morning the enemy fleet of 40 \ easels appeared off Zeebrugge and disappeared north-westerly after being attacked by our coast artillery. New fighting has developed on the Lingekoff-Schratzmaneiie - Barrenkopf line. Strong French attacks on Sunday evening were partially cam ad into our tranches. Counter-attacks drove out the French from the Bug above the Puleva. sector is progressing: The enemy were defeated en Sunday on both sides of the Lakes of Switjoz, also eastward of Vlodava and repulsed to the north-eastward. Th e Telegraaf says that German batteries at Knocki, Hayst, and Zeebruglge replied to British bombardment which was directed against a factory between Zeebrugg e and Lisewegre. The German reply weakened and ceased. TURKEY'S TROUBLES. * : PARIS, August 23. The Temps' Cairo correspondent reports that Sey edcl Ideiss organised an uprising among Yemen tribes against Turkey. The insurgents decided to march to Sakarisada, Sana, and establish an indenpendent principality. SEPARATE PEACE. RUSSIA WILL NOT HAVE IT. PETROGRAD, Aug. 23. M. Sazonoff, in an interview, says the only foundation for the separate peace rumour s is due to the repeated attempts of the enemy to inaugurate a discussion with France and Russia. These attempts have been met with, an absolute negative. The enemy's idea, that they will sow dissension among 1 the Allies-will in no event betrealised. The bonds uniting the Allies continually .growing stronger, and confidence in the attainment of the common aims is not shaken, in the slightest. A FRENCH ; REPORT. RAILWAY STATIONS BOMBED (Reed 9.35 a.m.) PARIS, August 23. A communique scales: Vv e captured several trenches on th e Linge-Barren- ! kopf crests.

Our aeroplanes bombarded railwar stations at Steninlietard., Lausanne, Lille and Douai.

STORMY LABOUR MEETING.

IN SOUTH AFRICA. RESOLUTION BY LABOUR DELEGATES TO SUPPORT THE WAR. (Reed 9.35 a.m.) JOHANNESBURG, August 23. There was an uproarious Labour congress, consisting cf delegates, from. , all parts of the Union. Cresswsjll's 'resolution was wholeheartedly supported for rendering by the Union all possible assistance to th e Imperial Government in the prosecution of the war and urging that financial responsibility for dependents through casualties be a national obligation. The resolution was adopted by 83 votes to 29. Th e minority represented the "war on wax" faction, whose chief leader is Andrews, a member of the* Assembly, ,who had summoned this congress. He presided but refused to put Creswell's resolution and quitted the chair, an a h 9 and his followers sang the Labour song. "Red Flag."