RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

RUSSIA RESISTING STRONGLY. gZAR GOES TO THE FRONT. Petrograd, September 6. The Russians at Linden crossed to the left bank of the Dwina on the night of September 2, and drove back the Germans from the rivfcr after fierce fighting. Owing to the enemy being reiaforced by men and artillery near Friedrichstadt we withdrew to the right Ibaak. Fighting continues between, the Sventa and Vilica rivers. There was fierce fighting at Grodno. On the morning of September 3 we entered the town and captured eight machine-guns, thus securing the unmolested retirement of the neighboring troops, whose position formed an overgrown salient in out front. Our counter-offensive on the right Banik of the Styr was successful. We also threw back the enemy in the Radzivilqw region. Fighting on the 2nd and 3rd <between the Derajno and the Dneister, we took prisoner sixty officers and 3300 men and captured some ma-chine-guns. Our successes on the Strypa on August 13 were chiefly due to armored motor-cars nicknamed "Rushing Victory." The craws of the cars, by their self-sacrificing action, threw the Germans into the greatest disorder and inflicted heavy losses. The Czar has liaft for the front. SOUTH RUSSIA TO BE INVADED. POLISH DEFENDERS LEAVE LITTLE BOOTY. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Paris, September 5. Copenhagen alleges that the Austrians aro contemplating an invasion of southern Russia from eastern Galicia, the object being the reaching of Odessa ami Sebastopol. Loudon, September 5. German correspondents who visited Bielstock state tiiat in the valley the glare of the flames stretches for miles, spread tug huge black clouds of smoke over the town, which is not damaged as : elsewhere. He Russians took the bells and carillons on all the church towers. Wooden scaffolds were seen by which the bells were dismantled. A PESSIMISTIC DESPATCH. 1 MORE ENERGY AT OTHER FRONTS ! WANTED. I Received Sept. C, 9.35 p.m. Rome, Sept. 0. I The Giornal d'ltaJia publishes a 'lPetrograd despatch urging that early ! efforts by the Allies in Belgium and the Dardanelles are necessary. If final victory is to be expected it will be necessary for the Allies to draw twenty divisions of Austro-Germans from the cast front. It adds, that notwithstanding the winter the Germans will be able to pursue the Russians, and this renders the situation more critical than ever. The fact tliat the despatch passed the Russian censor is considered significant. ! RUSSIAN REPORT. RETREAT FROM FRIEDRICHSTADT. Received Sept. 7, 1.15 a.m. Petrograd, Sept. 0. A communique says: The enemy hydroplanes bombed our torpedoers at the entrance to the Gulf of Riga. The enemy was reinforced at Friedrichstadt, and bis superiority forced our troops, who had crossed the river to Linden, to reerosa to tlio right bank. Our withdrawal near Friedricbstadt was due to the enemy's artillery tiring the Dwina bridges. MORE STAFF CHANGES. Received Sept. 7, 12.33 a.m. Petrograd, Sept. 0. General Alexisevert now commands the western front, and General Ivanoif commands the south. GERMAN REPORT. ADMITS STRENUOUS OPPOSITION. Received Sept 6, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, Sept. 5. A communique states that the Russians at Grodno retreated behind the lvotra sector, south of Jeziory. Prisoners at Grodno have increased to 3600. Prince Leopold, in Bavaria, has forced an outlet from the swamps, and General Mackensen forced the Russians to evaicuate a bridgehead at Berezakartuakau The enemy showed fresh resistance in the Drohiczyn district, and our attack is proceeding. General Bothmerx stormed the enemy's advanced positions on the west bank of the Sereth. HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES. London, September 5. A French communique states: Captured German documents show heavy losses on the Russian front. The 42nd Infantry Regiment lost 30 officer's and 1006 men; the 224 th Infantry Regiment lost in Galicia 2748, and the Cist Regiment lost 2030.