Russia's Task.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1915, Page 5

Russia's Task.

WARSAW CALM. RUSSIA RUXXI.VG GREAT RISKS. TO HELP WESTERN ALLIES. 'Times and Sydney Sim Services.) Received July 27, 7 ..'So p.m. London, Julv 20. The Daily Mail's Petrograd "correspondent states that Warsaw is under military control, and no information is telegraphed to Russian papers, but lie lias privately ascertained that the city is calm and fairly confident. Tlu re is a feeling here that in giving battle and facing great risks, the Russians are considering the interests of I France aiyl Britain in preference to their' own. The. Bourse Gazette points out that it would he a small matter for Russia, Willi her vast expanse of territory, to give up for the time being a piece more of Poland, but she has clearly recognised that further retirement without fighting would allow the enemy to transfer large forces to the western front, in order to break through to Calais, and possibly Paris.

FIGHT FOR WARSAW. THE NAREW FORCED. RUSSIANS ADMIT GERMAN SUCCESS. Berlin, July 20. A communique state*: General Billow is sixty kilometres south-east of Sliavli, and is beating the enemy whenever they oiler a resistance.' lie has taken prisoner ovty- a thousand. \VV forced the passage of the Narew about Ostrolenka, and are slowly pushing the enemy towards .the Bug, the Russians offering an obstinate resistance. 'We took prisoner a thousand Russians and over fifty machine-guns. IWe are advancing on the Novo Georgievsk fortifications. The Germans .further pushed back the enemy in the Cholm region, capturing 1457 men and eleven inachiiie-guns. Petrograd, July 20. The Germans crossed the Narew near the confluence of the Orjitza, and floated pontoon.; down the small tributaries, which the Germans had previously seized. The crossing was facilitated by an islet iif the middle of the river. There are extensive forests on the left bank of the Narew in this region, intersected by streams.

The Russians hope their success on the north bank of the Dneister under similar conditions may be repeated on the Narew. In any ease the Germans are confronted by sixteen miles of roadless country before they leach the Bug, which is a much more formidable obstacle than the Narew. The Germans are now twenty-four miles from Warsaw.

A German aeroplane dropped bombs on Warsaw in a vain attempt to destroy the Vistula bridge. There were several civilian casualties.

LATEST OFFICIAL REPORT. STRUGGLE ON THE BUG. A BLACK SEA SUCCESS. Received Juljj 28, 1.25 a.m. Petrograd, July 27. Official: With the assistance of ships we repulsed the enemy's offensive which began on Saturday towards Chlok, which is in'the region of Tukkum. The enemy continues unsuccessfully to attack our positions on the Pissa, near Sinvatki. There was a very stubborn encounter south of Rojany. with the Germans, who crossed the Narew. We threw them back to the village, and repulsed attacks south-east of Pultusk, The enemy attacks advanced to the works of Ivangorod, but were repulsed. The battle between Niepiz and the Bug continues with great intensity. The enemy on Sunday attacked our whole front, but all attacks were repulsed. Our counter-attacks were successful, and the position on the front is unchanged, except where a few villages pass from hand to hand. Our torpedoers in the Black Sea destroyed forty coal-laden sailers.

USE OF GAS. ROW RUSSIAN'S MEET IT. Petrograd, July 2(i. 'When the Oermans employed gas clouds on the Narew front the Russians rushed out to meet the cloud and dived through it, holding wet rags over their faces. They then fell on the surprised Oermans, giving no quarter. The general mode ot defence is to fill shallow trenches with brushwood and souk it with petroleum. When the gas approaehe- the petroleum is ignited, carrying up the puisonous jjas.

IN THE BALTIC. TnK (;I::;.MAX> - ;;o.\u I'et roirrad. .iulv 2C. The • continue to advance In (lie Multie jiri>\ iin-<'s. Their immediate ! ,i aiaaad Me ' . ..w a aha j ,\ Nla i ACTION. j ' London. duly 27. I !i,.. Daily Mail'- .I'dnigral 'enrre.- ! ],,nl,sit -;n - Han S-d.nolliiuoki's .-.nji'--i ail responsible lor Hie shoring" oi uiau S lions, whicl* had diminished. Tne Co' j crnmeul's action has greatly inerea-a the country's confidence.