RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1915, Page 8

RUSSIA'S TASK.

GERMAN BRUTALITY TO THE | WOUNDED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Sept. 10, A member of the British Red Cross,, by courtesy of the Russian and Swedish authorities, witnessed the exchange of Russian and German wounded prisoners. The former were sent to Stockholm in barges in the care of the Swedish Red Cross, and thence 'transported to Tornea. It was difficult to find words to express the dreadfulneas of the homecoming of the poor Russians, who had hardly the semblance of human beings. They left the Ibarges, bent, dazed, and .limping. Every man was in rags, few had coats, and many were without shirts or socks, and had only dilapidated boots. Cripples were supported by crutches made from the lids of packing cases. All were emaciated to the list degree, and some had lost their wits and memory. Nothing but continued and Bong-sustained neglect could have reduced them to such a condition. The contrast with the German prisoners waS indescribable. All were in full uniform, with good boots and proper crutches. They were in good spirits and laughed and joked. The sights convinced the onlooker that the Germans are waging the war like a brutal, half-civilised people. Only the German authorities probably will ever 'know how many thousands of the enemy wounded have died of the treatment which has produced such human •wredkage. MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. London, Sept. 10. The Times' correspondent at Petrograd says the Czar's leadership of the aimy and navy ha 3 not caused surprise. Its effect will be to inteniify the sentiment of the country that the war must and will be carried to a victorious end. Colonel Repington says that the fortune of war is variable, but in view of the unfavorable conditions of the Russians' retreat from the Vistula the armies are now well placed and able to carry out an orderly retreat, fighting where ■they please and as long as they wish until the wet season, which has already begun; then the snow will imiose a halt on the German armies, leaving them in winter quarters in a devastated country. POLITICAL CONFERENCE. Petrograd, Sept, 10. A conference has opened between Ministers and representatives of the Progressive Block. The majority of the Government favor co-operation with the Block. GERMANS CLAIM PROGRESS EVERYWHERE. Amsterdam, Sept. 10. A German communique states that General von Hindenburg, in battles near Wilkomerz, took some hundreds of prisoners, otherwise the situation is unchanged. Between the Ealtie and the Niemen the battle continues. At Skidel we stormed the Prcski heights upon -the Zelwianika, capturing 1400. Prince Leopold is attacking in the upper Zel* wianka, also east of Rozianka, and has captured Olszaneka. General von'Mackensen's pursuing columns rea< '.led Kosow and are advancing on both sides of the railway towards Pinsk. ' We repulsed the Russians to Bucniow, eastwards of Tarnopol, all Russian attadks hereabouts being crushed.