Eastern Campaign.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1915, Page 5

Eastern Campaign.

ACROSS THE VISTULA. RUSSIANS RETIRE. Berlin, .July .'iO. A communique states that General von Woyrsdi has forced a passage across the Vistula at several points. The Russians have evacuated the entire line from ttfr Vistula to the Bug. RUSSIAN FRONT BROKEN. THE GERMAN' STORY. Berlin, July :10. A communique states that the general situation in the east is unchanged. General veil Wovrseh's army, carlv on the morning of July 28, forced a crossing at ■several points of the Vistula 'between Filitza and Kozienicc. Fighting is proceeding on the east bank. We have already taken 800 prisoners and five ma-chine-guns. General von Mackensen has resumed the offensive and broken the Russian positions westward of tlie Wieprz, and by evening had readied the line PiaskiBiskupiee and the railway east therefrom. We took prisoner many thousands and captured three heav'vi gtms. This success, together with the AnstroGerman advance east of the Vistula and ttie advance of the Prussian Guard to Krupe, north-east, of Krasnostow, and other German troops to the AVojslawiee district, has shaken the Russian front between the Vistula and the Biur. The Russians, on the morning of July 30, evacuated their positions along the entire line, and are now only resisting north of Grubieszow.

RUSSIAN STRATEGY. THE CRITICAL MOMENT OF THE war approaching. Received July :il, y.,5 p.m. London, Jul , .'(0. Hie Daily Telegraph's I'elrograd correspondent states that the recent Austrot «t;i man onslaughts have, demonstrated that Russian strategy takes the broadest possible view of the war. Russia is actuated by the single purpose of obtaining a complete and crushing victory, and is prepared therefore to make a'll the necessary temporary sacrifices. Grand Duke Nicholas, earlier in the campaign, intimated that he would not allow himself to be hampered by anv sentimental desire to hold any particular town or district and thus 'imperil the armies. Hence everybody is prepared for the evacuation of Warsaw. The (■crmans will only get a city inhabited by greybeards, women and children. Destruction and removal have robbed the Germans of everything likely to be serviceable. The Germans have to thank their industry, not their military science or valor, for this success. There never was a war wherein man-power, which is Russia's strongest factor, could do so little.

Colonel Shumsky writes: "When tlie OJcrmans constructed three lines of fortifications 011 the western front ' they guaranteed themselves against a general Anglo-French advance, while carrying out grandiose operations 011 the eastern front. Ihe position will now be reversed. The Austro-Gernians are guarding tlic A istula, Xiemen and Bug, while a special effort is being made on the western front, but with the essential difference that while we tranquilly check tlie pressure and fall tack as" far as we like, the Anglo-French retreat has limits. Therefore, the critical juncture is arriving for the Anglo-French army, 'because the Germans will hurl themselves, with freshly-assembled masses, on France, forcing a decisive battle which will settle the issue on the western front, and simultaneously we will conchide the war."

Other experts declare that Russia i„ imperilling the final success. If she accepted to fight to a finish under the present conditions it will much abbreviate lwr front, thus rendering it easier to withstand German assaults till she herself is ready) to assume the offensive. The Germans' loeal superiority in numbers, due to the network of railways, has not been the Germans' principal advantage, but her enormous preponderance in power. Russia, industrially, is the least developed of the Allies, and it is small wonder that she has been unable to keep pace with the fearful wastage of weapons. Necessary steps have now been taken to organise and supplement the outmit.

RUSSIA LONG PREPARED." FGi: AIi.W'UKiX.MEVI' op WARSAW'. (Times ami Sydney Sun Sm s Received July :il, 7.: H) p.m. .I.ondon. duly :t:i. Ihe limes' I'etrogrud correspondent points out Unit Russian strategy. a.- far hack a- lliHI. deeiiled to assume thai the Au-tro-iioniums would imrl their weight <in War-iiw. and c,:n;en V latoil tlie entire abandonment, of tiie aili'anee.i tlioahe (it (iterations. Al. present further ellorls lo din- to the Vi-tula aa 1 Varew \\ouhi ha attended with .'ji'aie danaer. l;n--ia is now (opina' v.illi almost all Ihe Austrian arnn . iiaariv halt lied uilli such powerful arlliierv ihat nothing would lie aide to li %■■ in ■-one oi lire. !( i- paramount to |n.-. sen e tlie army, natter what ;he sai'iiiivc »>i 1 (irv may he-. ON THE VISTULA. ill •; NT i 1.1 (M : ' 'l'i" i;; 11; |; \|i Hi i-.e.| Auitust I. ;:.:;ii p.m. Olilelal: Tiie llalil lie; at the \'ar- , : - pi incip.i il> I.V artillery. We ,| \I -: Ilia at, Kaiiaml-., and'we i:- led l'ie r, ;,ic;iniehl -i »;,|.t r d. Unr far- allacl-i I' on 11" .I'-day ~,, Icj, hanks of tile Vi].r;\ We ■ e'[lllls 111 I Suet ■in i v at- t! i e [\ ii in lei Ia -- 1 . i sector, in--I'' ct! ii e" hea\\ 10-sCs. 'ln; 4 tlie enemy a.! 11 need „„ ill,, left bank of ihe Yip,'/. Alter a -Gibboni (iyiit. one division capIn ed Tiatiuihi and eros-ed to the ri^lit bank. We repulsed all the eneiii,- aitae!;- -iiehveeii the Viprz and fhe ' Bit/, and l'epul-ed the enemy at Hokal, taking prisoner one thousand. W'e repulsed the Austrians at Kamicnka. on ■; , ,

GERMAN ATTACK ADVANCES. A STUB-BORN RESISTANCE. Received August 1, pan. Berlin, July SI. Official: Our attack is progressing north-west of Lomnba, and on the railway north of Toworowo and east of Ro/.anwoyrseh. We crossed to the right of the Vistula, and are advancing eastwards, despite stubborn resistance. Russian reinforcements counter-attacked unsuccessfully. The enemy al.-'o resiscd (icncral Mackensen's pursuit on the line, of Noivoulcxandroja. and the, heights of the Vistula, north of l.ublin, which we occupied yesterday, to the south of Choltn. We are attacking tho enemy everywhere.

THE STRUGGLE FOR WARSAW. R OMAN'S WITH DRAW] XG. AfCaRDIXO TO PROORiAiniE.

Received August 1, 3.50 p.m. iPctrognid, July 31. There is no definite liew's of the evacuation of Warsaw. The successes of the "Russians during the past few diiys at the Xarow and between the Vierpz and the Bug are regarded as a. guarantee that they are withdrawing with deliberation throughout, which is strictly in ac;ord to the programme. VON BULOW S ADVANCE. j DRAMATIC EVENTS LIKELY. Received August 1, 4 p.ni. London, Julv 31. The Berliner Tageblatt attaches great importance, to Oeneral von Billow's advance towards Dvinsk. at which point the Russians are offering small opposition. ar.d the paper savs: We will soon I have control of the Warsaw to I'etrograd railway, and thereafter the only Riw-iian line of retirement is via .ftrestla-' tovsk, Minsk and Mosvow, 'but Oeneral Maekenspn is only three days' march from Brestlatovsk, and a lack of dramatic events is unlikely.

AUSTRIAN REPORT. pnisnxu the Russians. Received August 1, 3.30 'ji.m. Amsterdam, July 31. An Austrian official message confirms the statement that the Russians are retiring from the Vistula and ling front, <u:d are devastating the -fawn crops. Pirosiiit is proceed nig. Superior Russian forces compelled the defenders of tile Sokal ibridgehead to withdraw on their southern front.

RUSSIA'S WISDOM. SYMPATHETIC BRITAIN. Received August 1, 3.">0 p.m. •London, July 31. The newspapers unanimously ncceps the wisdom of the Russian retirement, and sympathise with Russia in her hour of trial. They pay tribute to Russia's heroic service and sacrifices in the common cause, to the proven value of the Grand Iluke Nicholas's strategy, and to the superior qualities of the Russian troops over the German troops. The newspapers generally d 0 not disguise the seriousness of the blow.

The military corre-.-i]X>ndent of the Times says it is ijn.popsi.hle to question tlii l wisdom of the retirement. The only doubtful point Is whether it can successfully carried out. There was a time, to re-tire, but retirement is difficult. The security of the. whole line depends upon whether von Ilulow can be prevented from forcing Rventa and marching on Vilna, ilius establishing himself nsfijde tlie Russian communications. Tlie Russians have a fair ehaiv.e of a Mictes.-ifiil retirement, but directly it begins the fieiwans will go full st«un ahead and throw them.-el.ves on the Russian rearguards like «, pack of wolves, but the rearguards can be relied upon to give a good account of themselves. It is natural, says the correspondent, that some Russians should ask what the \\ extern Allies are doing. Our answer is: We are holding up two millions of tlie best of the Germans, besides relaxing the 'pressure at the Caucasus by hammering the Turks.

UNCONQUERABLE. l!t'S*lA'S HEROIC SACRIFICES. Re.eiccd August 1. -I p.m. Sir George l!:i iianan (the British Am-'m-viulor to Kie-.-ia), in a message to tin |r-css. s iivo: (u G.ilicia and Poland Ice Riissiaiu have lately had to retire i'eloie superior loTJnan lorees, supported by unlimited gum and shells-, hut. CennanCs original objective -was the I'c-truetion of tin- Rn->ian army. Thai iinny is -till intact, and, like' Charles XII. at Poltava and Napoleon at Mo.— cow. the Kaiser will live to learn that Hn-.-ia is i;iii-inii|iii-mlil>>. Never has a nation dis)iia\i'il a more 'neroie spirit ■ n her hour ot fna! than the Russian nation during the last few critical '[h,. same noble -oil-it. of sell', -aeriliep animates all (he Allies' armies, tin! lhi-y will nevvr -heathe the s'.word uniii (M-vinait militarism i- crushed once ami for all.

TISK |-.i-IT!nN AT I'KKSKXT. Ki "mi I- i A lil; 11 -f. 1, p.lll. IVlm-nul. ."Inly 111. I lie Nowif \ri'in\;i critic points (nit i'l.H unlit 1 lie II j 1111 ■! r;l 1 !■.-<' <;!" Mm I'lii.mV .-linn Ml (In* Xii-iinil ami (lie ill. ilia. ;i ml I liallivi!/', anny aL i\|U-.V lim . ii cm \ ~ ir,ici'n!i„ii. < l: " " !i'> 1 11 i iii' r'li-rly liiikril v - a tiir (■ i rll':i n hnh riiH'ril s n n~( of \ i-KiSi" sm.l I'l l 'VI I'll tlio \"i-(u!a and | ■ 1 'Hi" I'" '-a a a wit Ii tlw •"'••'■i" '»•!;. » 1 ■ ■ " ' u.ilil.- I lo innmn-ii- ■■' " "ii l lil':', iii- ■ iinrt h. -i.nl Ii ami v - !.U! lai-i v.ai i.ll' liy til" r<--li'i'l.'.l una in tin l N(i\(. {a'in'i;i.'V-k. 'i'.'.a■■ril.a'., ral. tin- entire ailvaiicil tlii'alii'. irn li;iiit:u' l'i'"in tim Vi-tula to I 'M -!■ (. i '"in. i\u\ nn. lint it i- pre ma - '! ■ l ' t ' W"sir»itw ami the \ -'«lh !"••• Il'l'l'tl'i.'-valjly . „!„! |( iibl<- t!;i- (ii i'maiK may lie lirmtulit (" a a ml ~liil at flh'-c position*. i.l"iw,ix arci'MKD. I'fi-civeil Anijn-t 1, :U(t n.ni. Tjondon, July 31. Austrian cavalry have entered Lublin.

IN PURSUIT. AX AUSTRIAN REPORT. Received Angus! i, 10,: i/i pm. \"iciinu, August I. Official: Archduke .Josef has occupied Lublin. His left wing crossed by the Stra, and is pursuing the Russians'. The Hermans arc advancing down tin 1 . Wicpcrz, and arc. approaching (,'liolni from the southwest. The enemy is attempting a renewed resistance at several points at previously prepared position*, but they are being attacked everywhere. The Oerumns northwest of Ivangorod advanced 011 the south liank of the Vis. tula and repulsed a violent Russian attack, the Russians suffering severely.

RUSSIAN ACCOUNT. ACTIVE OPERATION'S. Received August 2, 12.30 a.m. Petrograd, August I. Official: There were barren attacks ,<A Bausk, between the Dwina and the Nienion. A liery Russian bayonet charge west of Kovno on Thursday dislodged the enemy from several positions, which we captured in the morning. The enemy's weak forces continued their efforts to cross the left bank of the Narew, to the east of Rosan, but we maintained our old front. We yesterday repulsed a Oerman attack northwest of Blonio, and vigorously attacked the troops who crossed the 'Vistula oil the llaghduchcfl'-Kozeiiitzo front. In the, sector below the mouth of the Radomka we dislodged the enemy from the forests on the right bank, and drove him from the islands and sandbanks to the Vistula. The enemy is holding his ground 011 the Upper Vistula, near Mattzewitze. Our troops on Thursday night, between the Vistula and the Bug, were ordered to march to positions prepared in the rear. The enemy did not molest our occupation of the new front, where we established ourselves on Friday without a fight. We have evacuated Lublin, and the railway between the stations of Xovaialexiuidria and Keiovrtb. Our troops continue to dislodgt! the enemy from their positions at Sokal. Prisoners state that the enemy suffered severe losses here during the last few days.