DVINSK ARMY'S VICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1916, Page 2

DVINSK ARMY'S VICTORY.

THE BATTLE OF iPLATONOVKA, AN IMPORTANT SUCCESS. The Petrograd correspondent of the Times wrote on November 21: — ; Tile ten days of fierce lighting in the region of the Lakes Eventen and Ilscn which ended on November 11 must be regarded as one of tlic most important events on the northern front since the Kussian Army withdrew from Poland. In the words of the distinguished veteran who has been directing the operation* at Dvinsk, "After two months' patient resistance we were at last able a fortnight ago to assume the offensive ourselves and compel the Germans to recede from their positions and in'their turn adopt defensive 'tactics. I think the German failure on this front will assume a permanent character." After the failure of the German thrust towards Illnkst, on the northwest front of .Dvinsk, towards the end of October, an offensive in the direction of Lake Sventen (west of the town} had become imperative as a means of drawing off a fresh Gorman division from that place. Its tactical fulfilment presented enormous difficulties. On October 31 our lines impinged on the southern shore of Lake Sventen and the northern extremity of Lake Ilsen, a distance of aiiout three miles (to the south-west). The disadvantages of this, are,obvious. The flanks of the neighboring corps to right and left were separated by almost the whole length of their respective lakes. Moreover, the western shore of Lake Sventen was commanded by a range of hills from which j the Germans could sweep the shore and watery These heights had to be won before the Russians could hope to force their way through.the interval between the lakes. In order to carry out this seemingly impossible? task, Russian skirmishers crossed the waters of Lake Sventen by night to a promontory immediately below the principal heights, nicknamed "BaldhilP and "Redhill," digging themselves in in face of a terrible lire. Meanwhile the Russian artillery, including light and heavy field guns and howitzers, skilfully grouped and handled, delivered an almost uninterrupted, hurricane fire, paralysing the efforts of the German artillery, and enabling our landing force to maintain its' position and receive reinforcements. The operations were assisted by the uneven character of the ground and the abundant shelter, but before the assault could be delivered our men had to cross a huge swamp, in which the advance! was retarded for several days, and for several days the nn-ii lay under rain and sleet on wet and half-frozen ground, receiving cold rations only by night. Gladly they obeyed the order to charge, and with an irresistible rush carried both hills. The carnage was terrific. We lost heavily, but flfe German casualties were at least double.

A PERILOUS MOMENT The enemy was compelled to divert hither a division which was proceeding to lllukst. and in the latest stages of the fightinjj it is believed that lie had at least three divisions engaged. A Ormnn eotintev-attaek resulted in our having to abandon fialdhill. Tlie position was extremely precarious. As tlie gallant colonel who had led the landing force to victory explained, '-\Yo had the enemy in front and the waters of the lake behind us, with no hope except in regaining the hill, and wp did it." The outcome of the battle was decided when our men had firmly esablished themselves on two commanding height*. Tlie corps on our right and left flunks simultaneously advanced to join .hands. Our line between the lakes, being freed from the galling fire from the hills, fought its way westward over difficult and swampy ground, where it endured extreme hardships, and captured a height upon which was situated the village of Plnionovka, carrying our left flank far to the west of Lake Ilsen. Our total casualties did not exceed "."'(10, including many cases of frost-bite, whereas a conservative estimate of the enemy's losses places them at 20,000. A BLOW AT THE GERMAN'S' MORAL. The results of this victory were great in every respect—strategically, tactically, and morally. Hero our young soldiers, who not long ago joined the colors, proved themselves worthy of the glorious traditions of the Russian infantry. Here our gunners worsted the Herman artillery on equal terms. Wp saved lllukst for the time and Dviusk. The soldiers, even the youngest uf them, were keen to get at the enemy. They speak with the utmost confidence of the ability of our heavy guns to support them. The battle of Plntonovka, as it is called by the soldiers, had an unmistakably demoralising effect on the enemy. After going over the battlefield yesterday, and following out step by step the. gallant fight made by our men, T visited the German trenches abandoned overnight because they had been rendered untenable by the flanking fire of our new positions.

The contrast between the Russian and flermnn trendies suggested that the tales of suffering and hardship and complete moral collapse that had been told a. few days ago by the 700 Herman prisoners taken during- the battle were probably true. Their rations had been reduced to one-third of a pound of bread, while the terrific Russian bombardment rendered it impossible to light a fire in the trenches.

The results of tin? victory of Platonovka are likely to make' themselves felt in other -sectors. It is rumored that the enemy are retreating in the. direction of 'Poneviezh. If this is true his position at Ilhikst will form a dangerous salient from which Jie is likewise bound to depart. During ray' visits to the trenches nt Platojiovka the soldiers were immensely interested to learn about the doings of the Allies'lu the West. I was asked to hear messages of greeting from the officers and all ranks with whom I have been privileged to live for the past eight days.