RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 24 August 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

.RUSSIA'S CONDITION CAUSING. ANXIETY. RENEWAL OF OFFENSIVE IMPROBABLE. * Received 9.15. WASHINGTON, August 23. There is muCh speculation and some disquietude owing to the latest vices from Russia, which show that the United States’ assistance is needed. President Wilson is considering plans to help rebuild economic Russian. and thus assure supplies to her armies; Russian Embassy officials now admit that the armies cannot he expected to renew the offensive on a large scale until help is received.

A GENERAL'S APPOINTMENT. PETROGRAD, August 23. General Lethchisky, recently commanding the western front, has been 'appointed Commander-in-Chief of l-V Northern front. EOUMANIA. ENEMY DRIVEN BACK IN DISORDER. Received 9.40. LONDON. August 23 Roumanian ■communique: Enemy attacks north of the Rusita River forced us back slightly, but dashing counterattacks drove the enemy back as far as the Susita Valley and Raturna. southwest of Panein. Violent enemy attacks between Slanicu and Tirguocna were driven back almost everywhere in disorder. GREECE. PLAN TO EXTERMINATE GREEKS DEVISED BY GERMAN GENERAL STAFF. , ATHENS, August 23. The police have laid before the Chamber four new documents, proving conclusively that the persecutions in Asia Minor of the Greeks were carried out in accordane with a plan of extermination of the Greek race by Turkey which the German General Staff devised and aided in supervising the execution of. The Turko-German Ministers admitted the facts to the Greek Minister at Constantinople. OFFICERS’ LEAVE RESTRICTED. Received 9.15. ATHENS, August 23. The War Minister forbids officers’ leave after the 28th, when all must return to their posts.

GERMAN LOSE HEAVILY IN BITER FIGHTING. BRITISH PUSHING ON. LONDON, August 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made successful operations eastward and north-eastward of Ypres for the- capture of a series of strong points and fortified farms astfido the YprosRoulers railway and Langcmarck. There was bitter fighting at all points. Th e enemy repeatedly counterattacked, but our artillery and mach-ine-gun fire inflicted heavy losses. The struggle was fiercest on jthe high ground in the neighbourhood qf the Ypres-Menin road, where we advanced to a depth of 500 yards on a front of a mile. We captured an important observation position, also the western portion of Inverness Copse. Our line further north advanced ,to a maximum depth of over half a mile on a front of 24 miles. Owing to the obstinate nature of the fighting, prisoners are an unusually small proportion of the enemy’s total losses. At Lens there has been fierce air fighting, We brought down twelve and drove down five aeroplanes. Twelve of ours are missing. , FEROCIOUS BATTLE AT LENS. LONDON, August 23. Headquarters correspondent says that a ferocious battle was continued throughout yesterday round Lens. The Canadians are holding their gains on the Western fringe of the city, but north of the railway f he situation is not dear, owing to the sway of the great fight. The German artillery fire is the heaviest yet rxperienced. The first Prussian Guards, vhic.’i were in reserve for the decision, arc the latest troops to be thrown in :o try and relieve. the situation. It is mainly a soldier’s battle. Methods of friglPfulness are impossible owing to endangering one’s own people equally with the adversary. Few prisoners are taken. It looks as if the Huns realise they must retake Hill 70 or quit Leas. ,