RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 10 January 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN.

OFFENSIVE ON SERETH KIVEE. ATTACK ON A GREAT SCALE. IMPORTANT BATTLE IN PROGRESS. PARIS, Jan. 8. M. Marcel Hutin, writing in the "Echo d e Paris," states that the Russian offensive on the Screth, in Moldavia is important. General Luderidorff calls it an extricating offensive, but the Austrian Marshal Hofer admits that it is on a great scale. ON THE RIGA FRONT. STRENUOUS FIGHTING BY THE RUSSIANS. j Received 9.5. COPENHAGEN, Jan. 9. German correspondents state that the Russians on the Riga front are evidently in possession of great quantities of munitions, and fresh reserves,, and are preparing a new offensive near Mitau and southward of Riga. The artillery is violent on both sides. During a great snow storm on Sunday, masses of Russians,' with white sheets over their uniforms, in order to escape detection, succeeded in entering the German trendies on a thousand m-etrc front between Mangal and Buabos, with a view to breaking through Mitau to the Riga road. The Germans realised the danger and despatched all their available reserves. After violent bomb and bayonet fighting the Russians retired. RUSSIANS EXTEND THEIR GAINS. LONDON, Jan 9. A wireless German official says: i'.he Russians strongly attacked wes' of the Riga-Mitau Road and extended their gains to the Fifth River. LONDON, Jan 9. A wireless Russian official. says: We captured a village north-west of Tim! swamp and trenches south-west of Babit Lake. We repulsed fierce coun-ter-attacks and drove back columns southward of Krovo. A RUSSIAN SUCCESS. Received 11.15. LONDON, Jan 9. A wireless Russian official message says: We threw back the enemy's offensive at Riga, and captured an island in the western Dvina river. North of Dvinsk we defeated enemy' attacks. A GERMAN REPORT. Received 11.55. LONDON, Jan 9. A wireless German official: During a heavy snowstorm the Russians captured Glaudian Island, north of Illukt. An attempt against the west bank of the Dvina failed. WHY THE RIGA ADVANCE WAS MADE. TO RELIEVE RUSSO-ROUMANIANS i -;v - * , jl' Received 11.55. LONDON, Jan 9. The sustained Russian offensive on the Riga front is closely connected with the Bulgar-German success on the Sereth where the capture of Focsani imperils the Russo-Roumanian line of retreat to Prutha, which seems inevitable. The Riga advance of four miles was across frozen marshes. Large new forces are available on the northern Russian line. i