RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

NEW RUSSIAN ARTILLERY. SURPRISES' THE ENEMY. Copenhagen, April 11. 'A sensation has been caused in German military circles by the improvement in the Russian artillery. They believe that French officers are directing the fire. The German losses at Narocz were colossal. They adopted the old plan of attack, not suspecting the presence of the new artillery. OFFICIAL REPORT. Reecived April 12, 9.40 p.m. Petrograd, April 12. A communique states: We checked a German attempted offensive at Iksknu bridgehead, and we continue to wrest fresh ground west of Erzerum. TREATMENT OF (PRISONERS. 'Petrograd, April 11. A Russian prisoner in Germany has smuggled a letter to Petrograd which states that the prisoners are almost famishing and that they sometimes are thrashed and bound to posts. General Ivanoff's retirement at this particular phase is to be regretted, because he is a fine tactician, and he may I be needed in the coming months. There ha s already heen much bitter fighting, and there is bound to be wore of it as soon as the conditions permit the serious msvement of Uie armies. According i© Reuter's xirregpcmdent in Petragrad, the Russian General Staff believes that the Austro-Germans are methodically preparing for a grand offensive on the eastern front, which lias been planned to begin as soon as the sun has melted the snows and dried the roads. The enemy has, it is thought, come to the conclusion that it is impossible to advance against the present Russian line by r frental aggressive, and has therefore projected a wide enveloping movement against both flanks. In the north he intends to carry out his plan by means of his fleet, whose task it will be to clear the altic of our Ally's ships, and force an entrance to the Gulf of Riga. At the other extremity of the Jront he proposes to strike at Russia through Rumania, who will be forced to take sides with one or, other of the two groups of belligerents. It is suggested that the numerous recent hinta in the German and Austrian Press at tne probability of Rumania joining the Entente Powers at an early date are designed to afford the enemy a pretext for his preparations for this scheme. "The attempt of the Germans to break up the ice on the Dvina," the correspondent says, "are explained oy his anxiety to prevent our Allies from anticipating this plan with an advance to push the enemy back from the Riga Gulf and to iob him of the possibility of using the strength of his fleet in co-operation with the land campaign. We are authoritatively assured for the moment the enemy simply lias not at his disposal .lie forces which would he necessary to carry the line of the Dvina and io gain possession of much-coveted Riga." A WORD TO TRAVELLERS. The excitement incident to travelling and change of food and water often brings on diarrhoea, and no one should leave home without a bottle of Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy. The intense pain which frequently accompanies this complaint will be relieve# by one dose, while it seldom takes more 'than a couple of doses to completely .check the diarrhoea. Sold everywhere.