RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA.

SEVERE GERMAN LOSSES. PRESSURE ON VILNA SLACKENED. JAPAN HELPS WITH MUNITIONS. I Petrograd, Sept. 30. The 35th Infantry Regiment suddenly attacked the Russian positions in the Ackau district, and, despite murderous machine-gun fire advanced rapidly. The j Russians then sent forward three armored motors, against which German ballets were powerless. The regiment was practically annihilated. A small force of guerillas, consisting of peasantry -whose houses had been burnt, surrounded a German column in the Pinsk marshes. The Germans were panic-stricken and the column disappeared in the morass. The Novoe Vremya estimates the German losses in the recent defeats on the east front at 76,000. In order to fill up the gap on the western lines she must recall the entire army in the east. This is the most difficult task, in view of the heavy drain upon the German reserves caused by the precarious situation of the armies. A correspondent at Petrograd states ! that the Allies' offensive ,in the West instantaneously brought a certain amount of relief of the extreme tension on our front (between Dvinsk and Oshmian, by the withdrawal of the whole of the German Guards Corps from Vilna. Critics expect the transfer will be followed up by others. The Tokio Press announces that in agreement with the request to supply Russia with munitions the State factories are being greatly extended. The project is backed up Dy England and France. THE GERMAN SET-BACK. ABANDONING , WOUNDED AND MATERIAL. Received Oct. 2, 12.20 a.m. Petrograd, Oct. 1. Generally, as a result of a series of successful engagements, th& positions of our armies along our front is favorable. Our offensive was particularly successful eastward of the Svientsiany-Ochmiana line, and the Germans' depression is noticeable by the abandonment of slightly wounded men, and also waggons, arms, and projectiles along the line of retreat. GERMANS IN THE MIRE... Harassed by peasants. (Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Oct. 1, 5.30 p.m. London, Oct. 1. The Times' Petrograd correspondent says that Polish refugees state that the eneinv.'s horses, guns, and transports are sinking in the treacherous mire of the Pinsk marshes. : Guerilla peasant bands, who know per--1 feetly the labyrin'.hian tracks, are effect- . ing sudden raids, with which the Get- , mans are powerless to cope. Peasants i are firing their cottages and abandoning 1 the villages in the path of the German advance. GERMAN REPORT. Received Oct. 1, 5 p.m. | Berlin, Sept. SH. ; General Hindenhurg stormed and j broke through the Russian position ' cast of Soorgon. takiug a thousand pri- : soners. Prince Leopold has repulsed jiiiativ attacks, with great loss, lien-i ; eral von Lin-ingen captured eight nun ; drerl prisoners on the upper Konnin. RUSSIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. Received Oct. 1, 10.40 p.m. Petrograd, Oct. 1. A communique states:—Our cavalry stopped the German offensive southward of Lake Drisviaty. We dislodged the enemy at Kulekoviterv, on the Styr, and retook Kochichthe, eastward of Kolkie. There is stubborn fighting, in the vicinity of Silno, eastward of Lutsk, which we abandoned two days ago. We were obliged to retire in some sectors, but j repeated our counter-attacks southward ' of Silno, and dislodged the enemy from the trenches.