RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

VON BUELOW FORCED TO RETREAT* GERMAN OFFENSIVE ON THE DVLNA. jßeceived Sept. 24, G.3S p.m. Paris, Sept. 23. The modification of the Russian front eastward of Vilna has been so successful that the enemy are redoubling the effort against Dvinsk, attacking from threo sides with heavy artillery and incessant bombs' from aeroplanes, and also asphyxiating gases. Their persistence shows their determination to precipitate events on the Dvina. The Russians in Friedrichstadt district are carrying out an energetic offensive, and have made a great gap in the German lines, compelling General vonßuelow's retreat. The Russians captured fifteen hundred prisoners and many ma-chine-guns, General Ivanoff has scored further successes in Volhynia and Galicia. IN THE VILNA AREA. GREAT GEIMAN LOSSES. Petrograd, Sept. 23. It is announced that the withdrawal of the Russians from the Vilna position has been completed, the Germans losing a quarter of a million men. PRESSURE - CONTINUING. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Sept. 23. M. Naudand telegraphs that the evacuation of Vilna was carried out without the general strategic situation undergoing serious modification. The German pressure along the whole of this front continues with a vast number of effectives possessing immense resources of material, besides great energy.

THE DEVIL'S ALLY. ANOTHER SIDELIGHT ON THE KAISER, Received Sept. 24, 8.40 p.m, Petrograd, Sept. 23. The Ruakoye Slovo says that the Kaiser is displeased and is showing remarkable energy, attending meetings of his generals everywhere, while night reviews of his troops are continual. He arrived at Novo Georgievsk six hours after its capture. After each big fight he makes a personal valuation of the victory and acts as commander. He then dismisses untalented or hesitating commanders for the smallest peccadillos, and when attempts are made to gloss over their faults by the remark that they are old servants of the State the Kaiser retorts; "You won't be employed any longer. I'm sorry good-for-nothing fellows have been employed so long." Once, in dismissing some commanders, he added that they were only fit for firelogs.

GERI\£AN official report. Amsterdam, Sept. 23. > A German communique Bays: —General von Hindenburg's fighting south-west of Lennewaden is not concluded. We penetrated the advanced positions west of Dvinsk, capturing 2000. We have broken the Russian resistance from northward of Oscbmijana, eastward of Subotieki. Our pursuing troops captured 1000 men.

RUSSIAN SUCCESS. Received Sept. 25, 1.45 a.m. Petrograd, Sept. 24. A communique states: We took the offensive north-west of Dubno and occupied Voinitza, capturing 1409 prisoners. | •