EASTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 July 1917, Page 5

EASTERN FRONT.

THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN AUSTRIAN LINE BROKEN. BRUSILOFF’S SIGNIFICANT ORDER. Received 9 a.m. PETROGRAD, July 3. The Austrian line has ,been definitely broken, and the Russian advance continues. General Brusiloffi has ordered the entire army to be prepared. THE GERMAN REPORT. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, July 3. General official. —Lively artillerying has taken place between Stockhod and Narajowka. New strong Russian attacks at Brzezany failed heavily. 1 RUSSIA’S REINVIGORATED ARMY. THEIR DIFFICULT TASK. A STIRRING MESSAGE FROM GOVERMENT. “A NEW ERA OF NATIONAL LIFE.” Received 9.20. LONDON, July 4. The Morning Post’s Petrograd correspondent states the fighting in Galicia has demonstrated that the men at the front are worthy of Russia’s great name. The losses a'ro heavy, which is in accordance with the Russian army’s tradition, which holds the world’s record for its ability to suffer without losing its military qualities. The struggle is severe southeastward of Brzezany, in the hillywooded, well-watered area where the Gormans have built special redoubts, requiring long hammerings before the attacks are possible. The Provisional Government announces that all the regiments engaged in tlie offensive henceforth will be known as ‘ T‘ho Eighteenth June Regiments”—old stjde date. This date has been memorable for upwards of a qentury, and the Government 'hopes make it the starting post for a new ora of national life.

The Congress of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ delegates addressed a strong message of encouragement to the armies engaged in the offensive and describes them as organised on a democratic basis after being tempered in the fires of revolution, and who are now valqrously struggling IfoF {freedom and general peace. The Provisional Government issued a vigorous appeal urging all citizens to mass as one man behind the army, fighting to safeguard the revolution and Russia’s freedom. The Government has likewise sent a message to the arai3 r and nav3 r , urging the latter to emulate ifche (army in saving the country from external danger, and proving that the gift of freedom which regenerated the army is equally reinvigorating in navy, and inspiring it to new triumphs. BRUSILOFF’S SUCCESS. EFFECT ON OTHER CAMPAIGNS. LONDON, July 3. The newspapers give prominence to General Brussiloff’s big success in Galicia as a splendid method of cornopening of the battle of the Somme. The .news was first given in Petrograd b3 r M. Kerensky (Minister for War), telegraphing to Prince Lvoff (Premier) that the Russian revolutionary, array had commenced an offensive on July 1. Details are eagerty awaited. The Germans admit Genera] Brussiloff’s initial success at Koniuch3% but claim that their well-organised artillery in subsequent fighting took heavy toll. Their latest communique registers the development of fresh battles further north. Previous German reports prepared their own public for a general Russian attack, and also announced that lines focussing certain points of strategic importance were threatened. This movement will maintain large Gorman forces in the Eastern theatre who might otherwise have played an important part elsewhere. The revolution naturally weakened Russia’s striking power, but the renewed bitter struggle on her front will doubtless harden the troops and cm- , phasise the need of subordinating internal politics to military necessities. RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE. PETROGRAD, July 3. A Russian official report says:—We continue a successful offensive in the direction of Zolochoff. We have captured 6,300 officers and men and 21 gins. South-eastward of Brz,ezany on Sunday, we took 2,258 prisoners. Received 8.45. PETFOGR .\D, July 3. Tlhe enemy is reported to be evacuating Brzezany, which is invested on three sides. Units of four Russian armies are co-operating in the Galician advance, covering a front ,of 20 miles.

THE RUSSIAN SUCCESS. BERLIN GREATLY ALARMED, AUSTRIAN ARMY SERIOUSLY MENACED. CLEARING THE WAY TO LEMBERG. Received 10.5. AMSTERDAM, July 4. A message in the Cologne Volks Zeitung from Berlin shows that Brusiloff’s vigorous onslaught in Galicia has caused great alarm. The battles ou the eastern front arc described ns fiercer than any hitherto. General Boehm Ermolli’s army is seriously menaced. The Russian attack is generally regarded in military circles as part of a great plan to clear the way for the recapture of Lemberg. The Cologne Gazette says fully 200,000 Russians, are participating in the Galician battles. Advices from Vienna state that Hindenburg and Ludendorff have discussed the new situation, and are now conferring with General Stonarz at Austrian headquarters. German troops training at Beveloo, until now 7 destined to fight in Flanders are being rushed to Galicia. Austrian war correspondents state the Russians, after three days’ violent fighting, maintain the stubbornness of their offensive and are fighting with the same fury as before the revolution.

The Russians have concentrated twnnty divisions on a front of fift3 r kilometres, and are making incessant successive massed attacks. NEWS TRANSFORMS PETROGRAD. PETROGRAD, July 3. The news of the Russians’ success transformed the city. Pessimism vanished and a w r ave of patriotism drowmed the exploits of anarchists and mutinous soldiers. The national tricolour was prominent in the streets, and a procession, headed by General Russky and Russian staff officers, arm in arm with officers of the Allies, marched to the headquarters of the Government, wdierc patriotic speeches were delivered from the balcoity. AUTHORITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHTING. PETROGRAD, July 3. The following details of the new offensive are supplied by an authoritative source. » Portion of an army corps and a Finland division attacked under a violent fire. They took two lines of trenches north of Konioukhi, afterwards repulsing counter-attacks. Some regiments suffered severely especially in officers On the rest of this sector, artillery continues to demolish enemy trenches, wdiich are reptying vigorously. In the section w'here the army corps was engaged, our troops carried all the trenches on the slopes of Mount Srednia3’ogoura, east of Konioukhi, which were strongly defended. They occupied Konioukhi and the forest west thereof as far as Korf torrent, and the wffiole of the trenches south of Konioukhi, capturing many prisoners and machine-guns. Part of a Trans-Amur division, after capturing the wmstern outskirts of the village of Schibalius, and all three lines of trenches in the forest of Lischon, deplo3 r ed north of the forest, where the3 r entrenched themselves. The enemy are violently bombarding the forest of BrezanAq which we are attacking. Detachments of a division of infantry carried two lines of trenches north-west of Zolnouchi and a Siberian army corps took two lines of trenches south-Avest of Potontory. Other troops captured the whole of the first and part of the second and third lines of trenches,, oast and south-east of Mitchischow.

AUSTRIANS DRIVEN BACK. PETROGRAD, July 4. Wireless Russian official: Yesterday, after a severe battle, wo occupied Presovco, also strongly fortified positions on the heights west and south-west of Zborov, and the fortified village of Korshiduv. We pentrated three lines of trenches. The enemy retired across the Little Strypa. We captured positions westward of Uzefuvka. GERMAN ADMIT RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. LONDON, July 4. Fighting activity increased at Riga and Smorgon. There was strong artillery fire on the middle Stockhod and the Zlota Lipa. Russian attacks on the Kovcl-Luck railway failed heavily. The East Galician battle continues Moving forward across the heights on the west bank of the Sfrypa, the Russian massed succeeded in (extending northwards the gap made in our lines the previous day. Russian attacks on Koniuchy broke before our new positions. The enemy did not repeat their attacks against the heights at Brezany.

RUSSIA'S RE-AWAKENING. AMERICAN MISSION DELIGHTED. Received 10.15. PETROGRAD, July .3. Cheering crowds of people are congregated in the streets. The American Co'minfssion arc delighted at the re-awakening of the patriotic sentiment of the people. Cossacks are making speeches in the factories, "urging on the workmen t-hat this Russia’s supreme effort.