IN THE EAST

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE EAST

GERMANS' ADVANCE. ARMIES REACH THE BUG. Amsterdam, August 10. General von Scholtz stormed and captured the Lomza fortress and, after severe fighting southwards of Lomza, we crossed the Ostrow. The Ostrow is still in the enemy's hands from Bowjany westward. We broke twelve kilometres south of the Ostrow, and reached the Bug. Since August 7 twenty-three officers and 10,000 men have been captured in that region. Prince Leopold of Bavaria is ncaring the Stanislavow-Novo-minsk road. General von Woyrsch is pursuing the enemy, and has reached the district northward of Zeleehow, and is now in close touch with General von Mackensen's advancing armies. The enemy's rearguards on the Ostrow and Bug front have been thrown back on the main forces. IN WARSAW. CITIZENS AS HOSTAGES. Amsterdam, August 10. Prince Leopold of Bavaria, in a proclamation, promises to preserve peace and uphold public rights in Warsaw, but, as the enemy is prepared for attacks against German troops, for safety he is compelled t% hold the most prominent citizens as hostages for the security of. the troops. It rests with the inhabitants to protect the lives of the hostages. Everyone having knowledge of designed attacks of any kind must promptly in form the military. Any negligence in this respect or assisting in attacks will be punishable with death. London, August 10. The Cologne Gazette declares that the people of Warsaw welcomed the Germans, but heavy machine-gun fighting occurred in the streets towards Praga. THE ASSAULT ON KOVNO. RUSSIA'S STUBBORN DEFENCE. Received August 11, 10.40 p.m. Petrograd, August 11. Official: Details of the assault on Kovno, on August 8, show that the enemy, aibout midnight, opened a bombardment from the village of PipV Guns ol all calibre, up to sixteen inches, were employed, and the hurricane of fire lasted two hours. O-ur batteries vigorously replied. About three in the morning, the assaulting column, in close formation, marched against our positions. !By a concentrated fire, the explosion of mines and gallant countertacks, the enemy was thrown back along the whole front within an hour, suffering enormous losses. The exhausted Germans were hurled back into a neighboring ravine, where they prepared for fresh assaults.

At noon, on August 8. the enemy's fire increased with terrible intensity, but the protracted and destructive hurricane of fire from their powerful guns failed to shake our troops. Our artillery valiantly supported the infantry. The incessant cannonade lasted all day, and at nightfall the enemy columns, massing, rushed to the assault. The attacks lasted two hours, and they succeeded in ta.king part of the trendies in our advanced position. Later, our reserves swept forward and repulsed the Germans with enormous losses, the enemv only retaining the works west of Piple. IN THE CAUCASUS. RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. Received August 11, 10.40 p.m. Petrograd, August 11. Official: In the direction of the Euphrates, we pursued the Turks, capturing a position at Palanieken, a quantity of material, a caravan of camels anil many prisoners. We captured Mcrghemir Pass after a desperate struggle, and the enemy withdrew southward in disorder. RED CROSS TRAINS BOMBED. Received August 11, 10.40 p.m. Petrograd. August 11. Two Zeppelins bombed two Red Cross trains in Poland, killed a number or wounded soldiers, and wounded some attendants. RUSSIAN MUNITIONS. REORGANISATION OF SUPPLIES. London, August 10. _ The Petrograd correspondent of The Times says that at the meeting of the Duma committees of the Budget and naval and military affairs, various proposals for organising supplies of munitions were discussed. The President (M. Rodzianke) attributed the breakdown to red-tape in the Ordnance Department, which bad resulted in a disastrous delay. It would be many months before the industry was properly organised. He deprecated crying over spilt milk, but insisted on (lie urgency of remedial measures. The main difficulty was thai the War Department owns and controls all the arsenals and factories. And change in the administration will induce a complete disarrangement of the work. He recommended the creation of the position of second Under-Secretary of War, with a seat in the Cabinet mid full control, who would be personally responsible for war supplies. The Minister of War entirely concurred and approved (lie proposal for the creation of a consultative committee, including experts and representatives of the Duma, which will, assist the War Office in dealing with problems of transport and foal supplies 1 . Sydney. August 11. The captain of the steamer Cycle, from Vladivostoek, was greatly impressed at the quantity of war materials and munitions passing through that port to Petrograd and Black Sea ports from the United States, Japan, and other pans of the world. There are thousands of tons weekly. The city is full of soldiers leaving for the front. Siberia has already sent over a million and a-half men. The captain was impressed at the system of prohibition. He could not buy a drop of liquor. FURTHER INVESTMENTS, Received August 11, 8.3.") p.m. Geneva. August 11, The investment of Novo Geoegievsk became effective on the nicht of August Sth, when the bombardment began. Sixty thousand troops are investing Novo Alexandria-