IN THE EAST

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE EAST

RUSSIAN REPORT. FIERCE FIGHTING AT KOVNO. Beooived August 18, 10.46 p.m. Petrograd, August 18. Official: The enemy's attempts to advance in the Riga and Jacobstadt districts on Sunday and Monday failed. Stubborn fighting continues in the Dvinsk district, all German attacks being repulsed. , Fighting at Kovno is extremely desperate. The enemy on Sunday and Monday, after careful preparation by their heavy artillery, including 16-inchera, launched serious and violent attacks in full strength, with a view of storming the fortifications on the left bank of the Niemen. Towards evening they succeeded in carrying a small fort, breaking into intervening spaces between Bome other forts. In the weßtern sector we repulsed on Sunday, a series of fierce German attacks in the direction of Bielostoek and Biebk. Tbjp energy's offensive {between the Murze and the Bug is successfully contained. AUSTRIAN REPORT. Received August 18, 10.10 p.m. Amsterdam, August 18. An Austrian official message says thait General v»u Ary has reached IWbrynka, twelve miles south-west oi Brest Litevsk, and Archduke Josef is advancing on Janow. General von Kaavss drove back the enemy across the Bug in the Konstamtynow region. German cavalry are fighting in conjunction with Austro-Hugarians on the lower Bug. BACK FROM THE NAREW. STRONG RUSSIAN DEFENSIVE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, August 16. The renewal of the German attacks in the Gulf of Riga has revived the be : lief that the enemy hopes to secure a foothold on tliese shores. Meantime the Russians continue to press their advantage on land. A systematic change pf front is' proceeding between the Vistula and the Bug. On the Narew front the retirement is being conducted so methodically and skilfully tliat the enemy, has failed to intercept or disconnect any units. It is generally recognised that the position i 9 stronger with the front straightened appreciably. A period of inactivity may succeed the completion of the Russian withdrawal before fihe resumption of the offensive. A GERMAN REPORT. "ARMIES VICTORIOUSLY ADVANCING." Amsterdam,! August 17. A German official communique says: "We took prisoner 625 near Rupischky. We stormed the forts south-west from Kovno between the Niemen and Jesia, capturing 4500 Russians and 240 guns. Generals von Scholtz and Gallowitz pushed back the enemy in continuous fighting, taking 1800 prisoners and ten maohine-Jfuns. We stonmed and capturod one iTig fort and two intermediate fortified works ijorth-east from Novo Georgievsk. The armies of Prince Leopold of Bavaria and General von Mackensen are victoriously advancing." POLISH EXODUS. Petrograd, August 17. Hie inhabitants are evacuating Bielostok, on the line from Grodno to Brest Litovsk. Refugees from Lomza state that a three days' bombardment preceded the German occupation. The inhabitants took retiige in the basements and cellars. Several houses were burned or blown up and scores of civilians killed and wounded. RUSSIAN RESISTANCE INCREASING. Amsterdam, August 17. The Lokal Anzeiger's correspondent on the eastern front states that the Russian resistance is increasing in violence as the Austro-Germans approach the Russian defence area. The battles are increasing in intensity and perhaps a retardation of the Austro-German advance may be expected. CRUELTY TO THE CZECHS. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, August 18. A Czech officer at Petrograd states that the Austro-Germans are most hostile to his countrymen, meting out terrible reprisals to all Czechs.. 'Politicians have, been arrested in great numbers. Twenty-eight Czech infantry were shot by the Austrians, who accused them of seeking surrender. All Czechs between the ages of 17 and 30 are with" the colors.