Russian Campaign.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 293, 20 May 1915, Page 5

Russian Campaign.

RUSSIANS ASSUME OFFENSIVE. THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS TAKEN. Received May lit, 11.-l,"> pan. 'Petrograd, May 1!). OOicial: We :.>smned ulie -""Tensive, on the left b'l'..k el the Vistula, anl made prisoner three thousand. The enemy, after enormous sacrilices, captured the tenches of t'o of our battalims be tween Przemvsl and the Dniester. The enemy attacks at Stryi and Kolamoa were vigorous, but barren of results. Their losses are generally estimated in tens of thousands. Amsterdam, May 111. An Austrian ollicial despatch claims the Ausiro-Cerinans gained the cast bank of the San. Russian counterattacks were bloody, and were repulsed.

RUSSIANS TO THE FORE AGAIN. LAST STAND liY AUSTRIAN'S. HEAVY EXEMY LOSSES. Petrograd, May 18. A communique static that the'mugnitude of tli« Austrian rout in liukovina nullifies tlii! success of the enemy in Vest (lalicia. Tin- whole region from the to the I'riith is now in oui 'power, and tlie Austrians art! fleeing in disorder after a terrible defeat. They have evacuated a .powerful position imi miles, for which they sacrifieeil an enormous number of lives. The 'remnants of the army are fleeing towards the Pruth, doomed to disaster by the brilliant action of our cavalry. The Austrians are making a. last stand at Ivolomca, which is a vital railway centre. Czernowitz is already in our possession. 'London, May 18. ' The Daily Mail's Leinberg correspondent says the German capture of Tarnow 'was largely due to the use of poisonous gas. The opinion is expressed that the Allies must resort to a similar method ,in the war. Th.- Itr.ssians reluctantly 'burnt SO.niiK tons of petroleum at lioroslav to prevent its falling into the enomv's hands. Petrograd. Muv IS. nnssia has decided to protest on the basis of Kurakis's rec;mt report on (lerman atrocities, also with regard to Herman aviator., bombing a Red Cross hospital. An official message explains that although the llussian ">rd Army was unable to check the Germanic pressure on the Gorlice sector it prevented the enemy breaking the l!us-ian line, and the enemy's action was reduced to the frontal attacks on the lird Army's position which successively occurred. liudaped, Mav IS. There have been •2()!l.(l(l(( '.lerman and Austrian casualties in (ialicia since the 'beginning of the offensive. These hav'J been chiefly due. to the numerous bayonet attacks and hand-to-hand encounters and the storming of positions. Petrograd, May IS. A communique .slates that in spite of the concentration of largo forces in the Shavli region the Germans, after severe repulses, are now on the defensive. The German plan to transport forces ■from France and Belgium to (lalicia and Kurland assumed great proportions in April, -hut apparently the Frenchmen's activity prevented its completion. The Saxons. Bavarians, and Prussian Guards .suffered very severe losses while attacking our fortified positions.

BLACK SEA FLEET ACTIVE. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. Received May I'.', 7.40 op.m. London, 'May 19. The Russian General Naval Staff announces that the Mack Sea fleet destroyed Turkish coal-mining districts, one steamship, thirty-six sailing vessels, and also destroyed a pier, an elevator, and the railways at Kozlu. RUSSIAN FRONT SHORTENED. COJII.'ACT MASS FORMATION. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received May 10, (i p.m. London, May 13. The Times' Pclrograd correspondent Isayvs the Russians retreated in the Carpathians to re-arrange and shorten their front, and they arc now forming a compact mass near the San in Bukowina. Apparently they are abandoning the southern half and middle of Calicia, and are about to make a stand in the northern half of the province. The San is the western line of defence. GERMAN TP.AN~, eII OKT SUNK, Received May 20, 1.30 a.m. Petrograd, May 10. A submarine sank a German transport ship off Libau.