THE RUSSIAN DRIVE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 137, 13 June 1916, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN DRIVE.

* WHOLE DIVISIONS WIPED OUT. AUSTRIANS SURRENDER EN MASSE. GERMANS CONCENTRATING ON THE WEST BEFORE THE BRITISH POSITIONS. BRILLIANT WORK BY CANADIANS. GERMAN PRESS IS PESSIMISTIC. GREECE MAY BE DRAWN IN.

j WHOLE DIVISION,S OF AUSTRIANS SURROUNDED AND COMPLETELY WIPED OUT. . SOME AMUSING CAPTURES OF MATERIAL. AUSTRIAN DUG-OUTS LUXURIOUSLY EQUIPPED. PIANOS, VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDENS. (Reed. 10.25 a.m.). T-he Daily Telegraph’s Petrograd correspondent says wounded Russians state that a whole Austrian division was surrounded and almost wiped out, the survivors surrendering en masse. An Austrian Red Cross nurse was prisonered for revolvering Russians. Russians, in capturing a railway station, surprised the Austrian offi- ' cials at their' posts. Quarter of an hour later a train full of troops and munitions steamed in which they caffured. A telegraphist was surprised in the act of summoning more shells, lie was allowed to complete the message and the shells sent up were captured. The Russians have captured the village of Demidovka and are now twenty seven miles south of Lutsk; twenty miles west of Duhno. Despatches describe the Austrian dug-outs as luxuriously equipped ■- t h furniture, pianos, gramophones, pictures and in some cases with a domestic kitchen. They had also laid out vegetable and flower gardens. THE BIGGEST BLOW OF THE WAR. AUSTRIAN FRONT BROKEN FOR HUNDRED MILES. CAN THE GERMANS ASSIST THEIR ALLY. BRUSSILOFFH BRILLIANT GENERALSHIP. THE ENEMY COMPLETELY OUTFOUGHT. ' : ■ ; ■ \ LONDON. June 12. y Hamilton F.yffe says the break in the Austrian front now covers a hundred miles. It would be rash to prophesy how far the Russians will be able to develop-their success. They advanced an average of 15 miles on a front of nearly 300 miles during five days. At Lutsk they are 2o miles from their old positions. The enemy certainly did not expect such a terrific bombardment. The enemy were instructed to successively retire, but when Lutsk was endangered they were ordered not tc fall back at any cost. They obeyed and hid in shellproof shelters until the gun s ceased, when the infantry emerged and surrendered. All possible reserves are being rushed from Lemberg and Brest Litovsk. Much depends on whether the Germans are able to help their ally either by reinforcing or making a demonstration in the north. So far there is no sign of the latter. The-advance was so rapid that an Austrian division was surrounded and compelled to surrender before the staff wa s aware the Russians had broken through both flanks. While the Austrians were building elaborate earthworks Brussiloff constructed*miles of corduroy roads across the swamps behind the Russian lines to enable the cavalry to quickly assemble wherever the artillery was able to bend the Austrian front. After the cavalry came transport waggons, artillery and horses to enable the whirlwind advance to continue. Brussiloff’s strategy was a magnificent success. If 100,000 Austrians were captured, at Idast 200,00 P others were killed or wounded. .When Duhno fell, the triangle of fortresses, including Luck and Rovno, passed to the Russians. J For twenty hour s there was fierce fighting before Lutsk. Then the flight of the Austrians was so precipitate that even the railway stations and bridges were not destroyed. There is no longer any doubt that General Brussiloff, hitherto known as a brilliant cavalry leader, has struck one of the biggest blows of the war, though the Vienna estimate that he commands 1,500,000 is doubtless an exaggeration. \ Brussiloff selected a front of 340 miles extending from Pinsk through the Pripet marshes and the Voyhynian swamps to Roumania. As the result of the offensive three great yawning breaches have been made in the Austrian line. One is thirty miles deep in the Lutsk region, threatening the important junction of Kovel. The second is twenty miles deep from Buczacz to the junction of the Strypa and the Dneister, a distance of thirteen miles, and threatening the town of Stanislau. The Russians at the end of 1915 failed to cross the Strypa, but have now not only taken the old fortifications but those constructed to the rear and driven a wedge between the armies of Bothmer and Planzer which will make it difficult for Planzer tc bold Bukovina. The third breach is before Czernokitz, enabling Lechitsky to oenpy an important strategic railway and make huge captures.. THE BRITISH FRONT TO BE ATTACKED. ENORMOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF GERMAN FORCES. RECENT BATTLES ONLY A PRELIMINARY. (Reed. 9.45 a.m.). AMSTERDAM, June 12. The Telegraaf says the impression is that 'fbe Flanders battles mt Ypres from the second to the sixth are the initial stages of an important German offensive. (Wurtembergers are resting at Comines and expect to go to the front in a few days. Large reserves are concentrated at Menin and Cour+rai, and at other towns in the vicinity. The fee.ho de Beige states that 26,000 Germans have arrived at Tournai, also stiklk cavalry forces. OFFICIAL REPORT FROM WESTERN FRONT. GERMAN WORKS DESTROYED CAUSING GREAT LOSS. LONDON, June 12. West of Soissons French artillery destroyed enemy works causing an explosion in the German lines. On the left bank of the Meuse there is bombardment in the region of Chattancourt. On the right bank artillery fighting is very lively in the neighbourhood of Souville fand Tavannes. During the night, a German attack dn trenches west of Fort Vaux was comipletely repulsed. t

BRILLIANT WORK BY THE CANADIANS. GERMAN OFFENSIVES PLAY OUR TACTICAL GAME. IP VERDUN AT YPRES IS REPEATED. VERDUN TOLL OF LIFE WILL BE EXACTED. (Reed, 9.45 a.m.). LONDON, June 12. '‘Correspondents state that though the Canadian counter attack on tne third didn’t attain its full objective it was worthy of the Canadian’s traditions in this war and an outstanding feature of their personal superiority over the Germans. It was an extraordinary initiative and displayed that subordinates assumed responsibility almost automatically. “Carry on,” was their doctrine throughout, and the German losses were undoubtedly high. If they intend to make a push at YpreS on the same scale as at Verdun, they will have to pay a price on the Verdun scale. The Germans by taking the offensive realy play into our tactical game. Other correspondents draw attention to two days of stagnation in the attack at Verdun. THE GERMAN PRESS IS PESSIMISTIC. FEAR OF GREECE BEING DRAWN INTO WAR. PEACEFUL SOLUTION NOT YET ACHIEVED. COPENHAGEN, June 12. A message from B’erlin states that the newspapers are pessimistic. They fear that Greece will no longer be able to avoid being drawn into the war. Ther e is great nervousness in Greek Government circles. A Greek newspaper declares that Government negotiations for 56 hours failed to achieve peaceful solution. A SCARE IN GERMANY. NO HUSBANDS FOR THE WOMEN. PRESSURE SHOULD BE PUT ON MALES. (Reed. 12.45 p.m.). AMSTERDAM, June 12. ''The Liopzig Meuste Nachrichten publishes a scare article on the posiicn of Germany’s family life. After war, it says, in 1914, half the marriageable women remained single owing to a dearth of men. It suggests taxes m encourage marriage and to discourage bachelordom. All families exsix should be completely freed from taxation; no unmarried official hould receive increase of salary and each new child should bring promotion to the father.

ALIEN INTERNMENT. TO RECEIVE PARLIAMENT CONSIDERATION. (Reed, 12;45 a.m.). LONDON, June 12. The. Exchange telegraph states that the question of internment of all alien enemies will be raised in Parliament on Tuesday THE IRISH QUESTION. MR. LLOVD GEORGE’S SCHEME. GREAT IMPERIAL PROPOSAL. RESOLUTIONS BY IRISH PARTY. LONDON, June 12. The official report of the Irish meeting says; Mr. Redmond stated that, at the first meeting of the Cabinet after Mr. Asquith visited Ireland, Ministers unanimously asked Mr. Lloyd George to undertake the settlement of the question. Mr. Lloyd George, after consulting all parties, formulated the fol’owuig proposals: (1) Bring the Home Rule Act into humediate operation. (2) Immediately introduce an amending Bill as a strictly war emergency Act. (3) The Irish Members to remain it Westminster during the war. (4) Six Ulster counties to be left under the Imperial Government during the period of the war. ' (5) Immediately after the war an Imperial Conference, representative of all th e Dominions, to be held to consider the future government of the Empire, including the government of Ireland.

(6) Immediately after the Imperial Conference, during the interval provided by the "War Emergency Act, a permanent settlement of all the great outstanding problems to be proceeded with.

The meeting resolved to earnestly protest against the continuance of mar Hal law, to demand that prisoners undergoing penal servitude in connection with theorising be treated as prisoners of war; That the personnel of the Commission does not command the confidence of the Irish people, and that the method of conducting the inquiries deprives the findings of all authority. Th e “Daily Chronicle” says: The Nationalist Commoner suspended judgment on Mr. Lloyd George’s proposals, which will be submitted to a conference of Nationalist representatives of Leinster, Munster and Connaught. We devoutly hope that Nationalist opinion will accept the immense step to have an Irish Government in Dublin. Mr. Lloyd George has shown a wise instinct in linking the permanent Irish settlement with that of the future government of the Empire. Under the existing system England is able to commit the Empire and the world to war without deigning to inform, far

' r, s than consult, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Such m anomaly cannot continue. One of '•he most urgent after-war problems will be the task of reshaping the Imperial Government. That is the work -f an Imperial Conference which, by r nipiishing it, may solve the Ulster problem and the problem of the Second Chamber.

KITCHENER’S SUCCESSOR. MR. ;\VALTER LONG MENTIONED. (Reed. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 12 The Manchester Guardian says' that Walter Long will probably succeed Kitchener.

RUSSIAN GUNS* ANNIHILATING FIRE. GREAT WORK BY RUSSIAN '■ INFANTRY. AUSTRIANS BECOME PANICSTRICKEN. LONDON, June 12. Telegrams from Petrograd describe the Russian bombardment as being the most intense on June 3rd. Some stretche s of trenches were transformed into crumpled concrete, burst sand bags and splintered beams, mingled mutiliated .corpses. Many Russian regiments had never before been in action, yet they charged tiger-like after the Russian artillery destroyed the barbed wire, often as thick as the index finger and woven together to a depth of three hundred yards. Hidden pits with spiked bottoms before the Austrian lines, similar to those used at Bannockburn, hampered the advance.

The Russians traversed the pits, using pianks and ladders. Thirty-two lines of Rusian infantry followed each other in rapid succession in open formation. They suffered very heavy losses, but there was no faltering. They took the second and third Austrian defences in the first mad rush. Then divisions of Cossacks and lancers on hardy ponie s swept through the breaches. The fleeing enemy was utterly disorganised, and whole companies, even regiments, surrendered. The cavalry swept on, disorganising transport and ammunition stores. Ten miles behind the front trenches the retreat developed into a panic-stricken flight, the enemy suffering enormous losses. The Russians covered twenty miles in two days in the direction of Kovel.

THE ENTRY OF LUTSK.

A WARM WELCOME,

LONDON, June 12

The Archduke Friedrich lunched at Lutsk on the day of the capture. The inhabitants —principally Jews and Poles—enthusiastically greeted the Russians, who entered with bands playing and colours flying. Men, women and children embraced the soldiers, kissing their hands and rifles. Germans on the Styr, below Lutsk, attempted to assist the Austrians. The Russian infantry, however, drove them • back, taking 2000 prisoners.

FUTURE OF IRELAND. GREAT DOMINION CONFERENCE. 1 AFTER THE WAR. LONDON, June 11. Mr. Redmond, at a meeting of the Irish party, announced that Mr. Lloyd George proposed to hold an Imperial conference immediately after the war, at which the Dominions would be represented, to consider the future government of the Empire, including Ireland.

ARMY AGHAST. SORROW AT KITCHENER’S DHATH. LONDON, June 12. A “Times” at the British headquarters says that the Army received the news of Lord Kitchener’s death with profound sorrow. All ranks gazed at each other aghast. The splendid “K” legions are the most fitting crowning monument to his life’s work.

Major Moraht .writing in the “Berlin Tageblatt,” said Kitchener was the only Englishman recognised in England as a military authority. For England he was not only a great man, but “the” man. THE ECONOMIC CONFERENCE QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. (Reed 12.45 this day). PARIS, June 12. The programme of the Allies’ Economic Conference includes questions of freight, exchange, reduction postal and telephonic charge between the Allies, special legislation regarding lost and stolen securities ,and the apportionment as between the Allies of damage done by the enemy. THE RUSSIAN PRISONERS. PETROGRAD, June 10. Our prisoners are in good condition, and the majority are way clothed. The Austrians are in many instances asking to be separated from the Germans. There is noteworthy absence of Czechs, of wuom many have latevly been captured

AUSTRIAN FRONT BROKEN

RUSSIANS TAKE ALT. GROUND

LOST SINCE SEPTEMBER,

PETROGRAD, lim? IJ

A further 5,500 soldiers, 90 officers and 11 guns have been taken. The enemy’s losses are estimated at between a fourth and a third of the original effectives of (530,000. On the front between Buczacz aml the Dneister they have been completely broken. The Russians on th e Styr and the Strypa have regained all the ground the Zlota and are advancing on Milotalipa. SOME RUSSIAN BOOTY 1240 OFFICERS AND 7.1,000 MEN BIG HAUL OF GUNS AND MUNITIONS PETROGRAD, June 10. Our total captures arc 1240 officers and 71,000 men, 94 guns, 1(57 mach-ine-guns, 53 bomb throwers, and n large quantity of material. ANOTHER IMPORTANT CAPTURE PETROGRAD, Juno 11. A communique says: Piercing the enemy ’s front in the Strypa region resulted in the oeupation of a fortified position on the oast bank. We entered Buczanzo, and developing the offensive along the Dneister, carried the village of Solanka. We seized a large artillery park and great quantities of shells at the village of Pot-onlotz. i AUSTRIANS JUBILATING OVER GERMAN NAVAL VICTORY AN END TO FESTIVITIES PETROGRAD, Jun 0 11. Captured Austrian officers relate that on the eve of the Russian offensive they wer e scelebrating German “ victory” in the North Sea. The Russian bombardment suddenly ended festivities. Th e Russians seized the Austrian railway station a few minutes later and captured a train load of troops and supplies, also a train loan of shells. At another part of the front practically a whole division and two generals surrendered.

ITALY'S FRIENDSHIP RECOGNISED. AMERICAN HONOUR. QUESTIONED PREVENTING REINFOE CEM ENTS MOVING PARIS, Juno 11. An article in Le Journal says “Wo ought not to allow Salandra to go withroat paying respectful homage to brilliant services to the Entente. Italy’s Jlocisions of the 4th August. PI4 and 26th May, 1915, live in our history and in the grateful recognition of France." M. Clemenceau says it would be well for American honour if her people, aspiring to Europan liberties, should at least make some moral contribution to our approaching victory, which will be a definitive triumph of Mglit. Colonel Rousect in. Petit. Parisen, says the prevention of reinforcements whereby repeated offensives against Franco are maintained, will be the best wav of bringing the enemy to a standstill. He is convinced that means will soon bo used to a sufficient extent to prove decisive.

AGRICULTURAL CENSUS. TAKEN IN BRITAIN. (Reed. 10.25 a.m.). LONDON, June 12. . The Government is taking a census of crops and live stock of the United Kingdom. AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. JUDGE HUGHES ACCEPTS. AND CRITICISES WILSON. CHICAGO, June 12. Reuter’s agency states that Mr. Roosevelt telegraphed conditonally declining nomination for the Presidency. and asking that it be placed in the -hands of the Progressive National Committee until they were satisfied as to whether the interests of he United States would be served by the election of Mr. Hughes. In accepting nomination, Mr. Hughes criticseh Mr. Wilson’s Mexican policy.