GERMANS FIGHT AUSTRIANS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 4 August 1916, Page 6

GERMANS FIGHT AUSTRIANS

ARTILLERY QUELLS BATTLE

The Minsk correspondent of the “Bourse Gazette” reports that a big fight took place a few days ago between German and Austrian troops in the district of South Pclesie, where the German and Austrian lines unite. Austrian deserters, he says, give the following account of the affair: All the German frontal positions being flooded, the enemy’s troops were compelled to change their positions.ln this process the Germans began to push the Austrians forward, making them occupy, all the vanguard places which were inundated. The Austrians pretested vigorously, and armed encounters took place, in which a large number of officers and men participated, and which culminated in fierce bayonet and revolver attacks. Buttends of rifles wore also used, and many of the combatants were killed and wounded.

Fresh troops who were set forward to put an end to the fighting took sides with the rioters and at last the Austrian commanding staff were compelled to use cannon to part the combatants. The noise of the artillery gave rise to the impression that an offensive against the Russians had been ordered, and the news caused an Immediate cessation of the conflict, in which hundreds of Germans and Austrians were opposed to- each other. Subse cuuuitly many officers wore arrested. The affair was reported to the Arch Duke Friedrich, the commander in chief of the Austrian forces on the eastern front, with the result that the Austrian soldiers involved were replaced by new men, and several Austrian officens are being tried by court martial. Deserters report that illfeeling between the Austrians auc Germans is now very acute.