RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA.

TURNING THE ATTACK,

RUSSIA AT BAY. KEEPING THE ENEMY BACK. Received Oct. 3, 2.40 p.m. Petrograd, Oct. 2. A communique states:—A German attack on the railway cast of Mitawa was unsuccessful. Enemy aeroplanes bombed Ustovinsk, Riga, and the station at Oguer, doing little damage of military character. The Germans, after a heavy bombardment, carried some trenches northwest of Lake Sventen. We carried by assault the town of Dunilovitchi, northeast of Lake Medziol, and also dislodged the enemy from the village of Ajuny and the station of Medziol. Our . cavalry captured a large enemy convoy east of Lake Narotch. On the Lower'Servetch, east of Novo Grodok, we raided the villages of Jaki and Korolitzy, and the Germans fled to their main positions, discarding their arms. We drove the enemy over the river Guara, near Zurietche. The enemy, after artillery preparation, attacked iis near Oborki, southeast of Kolki, and advanced one hundred paces, sustaining enormous losses. They then broke, and fled in disorder, with heavy losses. The fight continues south of Oborki.

ON THE ROAD TO RIGA. - THE OFFENSIVE ARRESTED. Received Oct. 3, 2.40 p.n.. Petrograd, Oct. 2. Military critics consider the enemy's offensive from Riga to Pinsk has been arrested. .:, GERMAN STATEMENT. Received Oct. 4, 12.5 a-m* Amsterdam, Oct. 3. A German report says: Genera] Hindenburg has taken 1100 prisoners near Smorgen, and General von Linsingen took 1300 on the Kormin. We have captured a further 1100 at other points. The Russians attempted to break through westward of Taraopol, but failed, leaving 500 dead. ENEMY HELD UP. GRiSAT OFFENSIVE A FAILURE. Received Oct. 4, 12.20 p.m. Paris, Oct. 3. Official: The great German offensive towards'the eastward of Svientziauy may be considered a complete failure, the enemy everywhere being thrown back to-' wards their fortified entrenchments on the position from Dvinsk to Vilna. The Russians have straightened their line southward of Dvinsk to the westward of Vileyka, and have completely held up the German offensive in the direction of Pinsk and Riga.

GAIXAXTRY OF THE DEFENDERS. Received Oct. 4, 12.40 a.m. Petrograd, Oct. 3. As a result of a bayonet action we captured the cemetery at tii.; southern end of Lake Xarotch. The enemy has been driven back a, considerable distance from tie Stileika railway The engagement upon Vilia, and no"tli of Smorgon, has developed into a stubborn battle. There is also a hardfought action south-cast of Koike. In the middle Styr region energetic operations have lasted for twenty days, and arc still unfinished. As a result the Russian have wrested the initiative in Wileit, a region from which the enemy was decisively rcspulsed. The German attack destroyed their seheme of actions. Some days there was great intentivencss; the enemy w ;l s being gradually held in check, then tlieir oll'etiaive broke, and then, finally, they were repulsed. EnoTinous losses were inflicted. The Russians, by well-contrived plans, turned their defensive into an offensive, and this was accomplished by skill and perseverance which testify to the highest gallantly of the troops.