RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

CAPTURE OF »OVO CEORCIEVSK. A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE. THE KAISER'S FURY. , Received Sept. 23, 9.15 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 23. The Ruaky Islovoc prints the first detailed account of the capture of Novo Georgievsk. The Germans erpected the defenders to retire, and when the Kaiser heard they had resolved to fight to the last shell, and that the thousand defenders in the garrison would make the Germans pay the heaviest price for success, he was seized with an ungovernable fury, and asked why the troops had not killed the Russian wounded Captured Germans said they were ordered not to leave a single living Russian, and the Kaiser had given instructions that the garrison at Novo Georgievsk must be buried under the walls of the fortress. A FIELD OF BUTCHERY. The Germans always assaulted in close formation, although within a mile of the guns of the fortress. Our shells were pumped into the middle of this mass of humanity, converting whole companies into mere fragments of flesh 1 and bone. Russian observers likened the battlefield to a vast moth-eaten fur being beaten with a stick. With each explosion a cloud of human remains rose in the air, and even the iron-disciplined Germans shrank from the ordeal of attacking such a hurricane of fire.

A DRUNKEN ARMY. The attackers were made drunk before they were ordered forward. Not.a single German who was captured ' during the assault-was found to be sober. The Germans attacked one group of fortifications incessantly for twenty-four hours. The Russian gunners fainted from fatigue, and their guns became redhot and exploded under their own shots. Some of the enemy who succeeded in getting close hurled their rifles, with bayonets fixed, into the Russian rankß. Then they clenched their fists and cried wildly:' "Give us Novo Georgievsk!" PAYING THE FULL PRICE, The Russians at dawn overlooked the battlefield, a track of land seven vorsts broad and two long, covered with a thick layer of dead men. ElsewheTe the Germans rushed upon the machine guns until their bodies choked the guns' action. In the bayonet attacks'that followed drunken Germans swept over the trenches in groups, falling upon the defenders like madmen, and bit and'chewed the faces of the Russian soldiery. The Germans paid the full price, and hence, the capture of Novo Georgievsk caused no joy in Germany.

ON THE VILNA LINE. RUSSIANS' IMPORTANT STAND. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received Sept. 23, 5.35 p.m. London, Sept. 23. The Times' correspondent at Petrograd says that the Russian stand on the Vilna line lias been of great; tactical importance in checking the enemy and securing the retreat from Vilna region by road after the rupture of the Vilna•Molodachna railway. The possession of Vilna affords the enemy a base for a further offensive, it being the junction of the roads to DvinsJc, Minsk, Lida, Daranovick, and Rovno. The enemy i 3 unlikely to initiate operations until he has .obtained and secured a tenure of the Vilna-Molodachua-Lida lines, and while we retain positions on these lines the Germans ate apprehensive of the safety of their r«f.r columns.

THE COMING OF WINTER. ADVANCE AGAINST PETROGtRAD IMPOSSIBLE. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) . Received Sept. 23, 6.30 p.m. London, Sept. 22. Mr, Stanley Waahtiurn reports that after spending two weeks ia this northern army group, and motoring twelve hundred miles, he thinks a serious German advance against Petrograd is utterly out of the question this season. He believes the next German move will be a concentration of sufficient strength them to take the Riga-Dviaa-Dfltsk line, regardless of cost; (but even if this is successful the Germans cannot reach Pskoff inside of three months. Even, also, if that were carried out, the difficulties of a further advance are insurmountable. Peasants prophesy a long and severe winter? and there will probably be a similar position further south. German prisoners and deserters indicate that the German army dreads the spestre of a Russian winter. THE CHANCE OF LEADERS. OPINION OF THK Tiii.ES'- CRITIC. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Sept. 22. Colonel Repington says that from the moment the Grand .Duke left the front, which appeared to be his wifli, the strategy has not been completely favorable. The Russians fighting at Skidel hung on much longer than seemed wise, and now were partially enveloped near Czuezin. The troops at Vilna also stood fast, although the Germans were on the Vilna-Dvinsk railway, and the presence on a part of General Maekcnscn's army on the Dwina had been detected. Colonel Repington expected to hear of the continuation of the orderly retreat which had been the despair of the German headquarters since the grand operations in the east began, but the Russian front remained unchanged and 'General Hindenburg was given a chance which he boldly availed himself of. The reason the German cavalry were permitted to traverse the difficult lake district between Dvinak and Vilna was unknown, as this district favored a defensive war. A few divisions might easily hold up four times their number, but from the moment the German cavalry advanced from the Sventa until they swooped upon the Russian main lines of communication at Vilna they Beemed to have encountered little resistance.

A BRILLIANT EXPLOIT.

Received Sept. 23, 11.25 pjri. Petrograd, Sept. 23. The retreat from Vilna was one of the most brilliant exploits of tho war. The enemy had almost encircled the city, and then, throwing off the huge masses of cavalry, followed by light infantry, they pierced the communications. General Hindenburg hoped to compel the Vilna army to fight or retreat southwards, which would have confused every other army. The Vilna army, however, attacked the enveloping columns, turned their backs upon Vilna, and fought on two fronts, in order to clear the line of retreat. It is now evident that they sueressfully countered and have driven off the columns. TWO VILLAGES CAPTURED. Received .Sept. 23, 10.30 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. S3. A communique states:—After desperate action west of Dvinsk we occupied a village west of Molodetchno with the bayonet, capturing enemy machine guns. We similarly captured Smrongno, and the Germans are fleeing in disorder. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT, Amsterdam, Sept. 12,. A German communique says: The Russians attacked General von Hinden•burg south-west of Leunewarden, on the Dwina. Fighting is proceeding. We penetrated the Russian position southwest of Dvinsk on a front of three kilometres, capturing 2000. Our attack is progressing north-weßt and south-west of O'schmijana. Our right wing reached' the district northward of Novogrodek. Prince Leopold stormed the positions on the west bank of the Mystchanka on both sides of the Minsk-Brest Litovsk railway, capturing 1000. We captured Ostrow after house-to-house fighting.