RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

HINDENBERG'S AVALANCHE, GREAT BATTLE RAGING-. Received September 1, 9.35 p.m. Geneva, September 1. A message from Lodz sayp that General Hindenberg has launched a million men, including all his cavalry, against tin Russian positions on the Niemen and Bohr. A big battle is raging near Fm.lrichstadt. The Russians are inflicting enormous losses daily. THE GERMAN PLANS. AN UNPLEASANT REPORT, DRIVING IN THE WEDGES. Received Sept. 1, 10 p.m. London, Sept. 1. A Berlin wireless says: Our victorious armies are now cutting the fleeing Russians into three sections, hoping thereby to surround the smaller units, and if possible capture hundreds of thousands' instead of mere thousands. The Rus-' sians aro abandoning everything except] men, and there is no sign of a Russian stand. The German wedge to the north has been driven towards Dvinslc, to cut off the Petrograd line, and another has been driven east of Brest Litovsic to cut off Moscow. It is too early to say whether the next chief offensive will be Petrograd or Odessa. Our first important point is to surround and capture a large section of the fleeing armies now approaching the swamps. Eight Russian fortresses, including three of their strongest, have fallen in three weeks The early fall of Riga, Lutzk, and Vilna would not cause surprise.

HOLDING THEM UP, RUSSIANS SCIORE [SUCCESSES. Received September 2, 1 a.m. Petrograd, Sept. 1. A communique states: We held up the enemy's attempted offensive on the Eckaunegt railway,; and repulsed an attempt to cross th(T Dwina north-west of Friedrichstadt. The! Germans who crossed were dislodged from the right bank. The Germans, supported By a hurricane of artillery fire, made several dcspeiate attempts against the bridge-head near Friedrichstadt, but were repulsed, losing greatly. We successfully assumed the offensive on the right bank of the Vilica, and between the Vilica and the Nicmen we continue to hold the enemy's offensive in check. The Anstro-Gcrni/ns launched particularly determined" attacks northwards of Zlockos, and eight of the enemyfs attacks were repulsed in the Prorzanz-Zborow-Stripa front, between the railways running to Tarsopol and Czortkow. Our troops are inflicting enormous losses in some districts, compelling the enemy to retire precipitately. In the course of counterattacks we scored a big success on a wide front, capturing thirty guns, tweuty-four macliiue-guns, and three thousand prisoners, one half of whom were Gwsians.

REINFORCEMENTS THROUGH HUNGARY. GAS FACTORIES BOMBED, Received Sept, 2, 1 ajn. Petrograd, Sept. 1. The armies of Generals Linsingen and I'flanzcrs, in the Bukowina and Dneister districts, have been greatly strengthened by reinforcements that were brought along the southern railways of Hungary, this fact explaining the rumor of an intended German advance against Serbia. General Puhallo, commanding the reinforcements, operates under cover of the rear of General Mackensen's army. General Mackensen s deep turning movement has failed. Russian aviators bombed the asphyxiating gas reservoirs at Sokal, killing 2" pi-opJc,

THE RETREAT CONTINUES. A STUBBORN DEFENSIVE GAME. Amsterdam, August 31. A Berlin communique states: General yon Hindenburg's armies, who are fighting for a bridge-head south of Friedriehstadt, are proceeding with the action. The Germans advancing towards the Grodno-Vilna railway captured 200' I prisoners. The enemy, near Gorodok, evacuated positions on the eastern border of the forest of Biulystok. Prince Leopold's armies forced the crossing of the Upper Narew in several places. The right wing is advancing on Pruzana. General von Mackensen, pursuing the enemy, reached the Muckawiee region, capturing 3000 of the rearguard. The advance of the German and AustroHungarian troops, who have broken through north of Brzezany, has been stopped at some points on the Strypa, owing to strong Russian counter-at-tacks.

THE CAUCASUS CAMPAIGN. HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES. Petrograd, August 31. Official.—ln the Caucasus, in recent engagements to August 22, we captured SI officers and f>l2o men. Our cavalry killed over 2000 Turks. We took 12 guns, a quantity of arms and ammunition, two convoys of supplies, two camps with headquarters tents, and a large number of cattle.

CONDITIONS AT WARSAW. ARBITRARY METHODS. Amsterdam, August HI. The Governor of Warsaw lias issue:! a decree against manufacturers, hankers and tradesmen who threaten to close their businesses, He will punish with five years' imprisonment any who refuse to trade with German subjects. AN EMPTY SHELL. WHAT THE ENEMY FOUND AT BREST-LITOVSK. Amsterdam, August 31. The Vossische Zeitung's correspondent who visited I'rest-Litovsk states that the Russians set fire to the whole town and the greater part was burnt down. The ruins are still smouldering. The inner forts and the station were wholly destroyed, only the church, with its blue domes and golden crosses, not being damaged.

AID FROM JAPAN.

MOBILISATION OF LNTDUSTKIES PROMISED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received Sept. 1, 7.35 p.m. Amsterdam, August 31. TJie 'felegraaf's Petrograd correspondent states that the Japanese Government has promised mobilisation of the Japanese industries to assist the Allies, especially Russia. AUSTRIAN BOOTY. Received Sept. 1, 7.40 p.m. Amsterlam, Sept. 1. An Austrian communique says: AVc captured, north-eastwaj-d of Lutzk, ISOO prisoners, and took much rolling-stock ,and war material.