RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

THE GALICIAN MOVE. if FEARFUL SLAUGHTER. *USSUXS OVERWHELM AUSTRIAXS Reeclved Jan. 17, B.s,pin. London, .Jan. 17. 't The Bfcily Telegraph's Petrograd Correspondent says that the Russians opened a stupendous battle in Galicia at Christmas. Tlic cannonade became a continuous roar, and after a day the enemy left Jhe first trenches, where the Russian shdlls were bursting like a JftoWer of hailstones. 'The Germans had five tows of wire Entanglements in this area, and their defences on the Strypa were transformed into pits and hillocks. It was a scene of devastation, littered with splintered 'jpdite, tangled .wire, and mangled bodies ,cf Austrians. The intensity of the bombardment was without precedent. Many men ware buried in the fountains of earth ■which were thrown up by the explosions, while more were deadened, and the nerves of others were so shattered that the men we''practically imbeciles. Wnen the'guns had done their work the Russian infantry dashed forward, daring pit after pit. Many of the Austriang frantically waved handkerchiefs . as a signal of surrender. The, Russian gun 3 at Czernovitz pulverised the Austrian fortifications that had 1 been "built three weeks before. Among the prisoners were thirty Germans who ■lad "been supervising the Austrian ma-chine-guns and entrenchment sections, v During the .battle the roads to Czernoirittwere choked with trains of Austrian wounded, many of whom were left in the (open streets for hours in bitter weather. A rapid thaw is converting the countryside into a waste of mud, rendering the transport of artillery imand the'movement of infantry