RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

BATTLE OF TARNOPOL. ... HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES, M EFFECTIVE VICTORY. Petrograd, Sept. 9. Official: In order to occupy a better covered position, we retreated a little from the right bank of the Lautze. The Germans began a violent bombardment, accompanied by asphyxiating gases, of our troops occupying the outlets of the lakes in the Kow Troki region (near Vilna). Stubborn German attacks from Grodno continue, We repulsed an attadk in the direction of Ski del with great loss. We achieved a great success at Tarnopol. The German 3rd Guards Division and the 48th Reserves' Division reinforced the Austrian Brigad|t with a great quantity of heavy and light artillery, and prepared for a decisive attack for several days. It was fixed for the night of September 7, but, forestalling the enemy, we took the offensive, and, after a stubborn fight on the river Doljonka, the 'Germans were completely routed. The Germans, at the end of the engagement developed ai'tiljery fira of most extraordinary intensity, and only the impossibility of reply with the jsaine weight of metal prevented ius further developing our success. Besides enormous losses in killed and wounded, the Germans lost over two hundred officers and eight thousand men prisoners, Thirty guns, fourteen of heavy calibre, many machine-guns, and other booty was taken. Our troops occupied their original positions on the Sereth. We expelled the enemy from a series of villages in the Trejnebovi district, taking prisoner [ 2500, three guns and ten quick-firers. Our flank attacks stopped the Austrian offensive on the lower Sereth, taking a thousand prisoners and capturing quick-firers. Our successful issue from the difficult positions in the advanced Vistula theatre surrounded by the enemy is making itself felt by partial successes. The Czar ordered his troops to be informed of fcis j°y an d gratitude for the victory at Tarnopol. The Czar bade farewell to the Grand Duke Nicholas, who is bound for the Caucasus, ANOTHER VICTORY. " RUSSIANS FOLLOW UP TARNOPOL SUCCESS. Received Sept. 10, 10 p.ip. Petrograd, Sept, 10. Official:—Our success at Trembovla .equals that at' Tarnopol. We took seven thousand prisoners, and the enemy are retreating. GERMAN PLANS THWARTED. BATTLE ALONG A THIRTY MILES FRONT. Received Sept. 11, 1.40 a.m. Petrograd, Sept. 10. Military critics, discussing the.victory at Tarnopol, pojnt out that the Germans intended an invasion of Volhynia and Podolia, with the immediate object of striking at the rear of the Russians at Rovno, Dubno and lirementz. Local conditions were favorable, there being plenty of good roads, with no broad streams or extensive forests to facilitate the defensive. The battle was fought on a front of thirty miles, along a stream flowing parallel to the railway, two miles west of the town. The Germans had made elaborate preparations to break the Rus. sian front, and had immense accumula- | tions of ammumiton. HOLDING UP THE ENEMY. GERMANS RETREAT FROM THE SERETH. Received Sept. 10, 10.55 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 10, On the roads to Kovno the Russians are holding up great enemy forces which are advancing along the Oiyka-Klcvan railway. The ene/ny is supporting the offensive artillery iiiv of the most violent character, which the Prussians are enduring with the greatest courage. On the Sereth, southwest of T'remboval, our success was important. We captured 150 officers, 7000 men, and 3ti machine-guns. The Russians losses were not important. The enemy 011 Wednesday evening retreated in great haste towards Strypa, and our pursuit continues. Our captures 011 the Sereth since Sept. 3rd have been 383 officers, over 7000 men, and CG guns. THE RUSSIAN RESISTANCE. CAUSES ANXIETY IN BERLIN. Paris, Sept. 9. There, is great anxiety in Berlin at the Russian resistance in Hie province of Volhynia and East Galicia. It is feared Germany will be unable to give the Turks timely assistance. German officers' brutality in Poland and the contempt they affect for the national language and customs cause discontent among the inhabitants who have not fled. RETREAT CONTINUES. WITH OCCASIONAL COUNTERATTACKS. Received Sept. 10, 10.20 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 10. A communique savs:—There is stubborn fighting between Lautyske and Jakobst.adt. Though thejpermans have not offered resistance to bayonet charges, they delivered a series of attacks for the purpose of driving the Russians from the right bank of fhc Duerna. We held the enemy's offensive south-east of Skidal, inflicting considerable loss. The Russians continue their premeditated retreat, occasionally delivering counterattacks. CAPTURE OF DUBNO. SMALL AUSTRIAN SUCCESS. Received Sept. 10, 9.10 p.m. Vienna, Sept. 10. A communique says:—The Austrians have captured the fortress of Dubno, breaking the Russians' front north of the Olyka-