RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

THE NEW OFFENSIVE. SUDDEN AND FIERCE. GREAT RESULTS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, June 8. The Petrograd correspondent of the Mail cables that the ! Pripet-Roumanian offensive commenced on Sunday morning with dramatic suddenness and effect. The heavy artillery iire, which had been going on for some days previously, gradually increased in strength until the enemy experienced what was inflicted on the Russians last year. Beore they had time to summon reserves or realise the Russian design, they were fiercely attacked by dense masses of infantry, who had been waiting for months and eagerly longing for the opportunity to attack. The onslaught was so unexpected that numerous Austrian regiments were completely dazed and panic-stricken, the Russians sweeping over the trenches in an irresistible rush. There were heavy enemy losses besides tliqse taken prisoners. There is much rejoicing in Petrograd.

LUTSK CAPTURED. 11,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. IPetrograd, June 8. Renter states that it is officially announced that Lutsk has been captured, also 11,000 more prisoners. (Lutsk, an important manufacturing town, is in the Volhynia district, southwest Russia, at the junction of the Gijista with the Styr.) FURIOUS ONSLAUGHT OF RUSSIANS WHOLE BATTALIONS CAPTURED. ENEMY SURRENDER IN DROVES. Received June 9, 10.15 p.m. 'Petrograd, June 9, fcarly on Sunday the 'Russians left their trenches, dashing across the bullet swept ground towards the Austrian positions. Artillery had previously blown the entanglements to pieces, and owing to the unexpectedness of the attack they succeeded wonderfully, the enemy being thrown into the most complete disorder. The German officers tried to rally the troops, even shooting some of their own men, who surrendered in droves. The Russians on the flank enfiladed the Austrian?, who had been disarranged by the frontal attack, while whole battalions were captured, some being abandoned by thei.' gunners. The capture of Lutsk followed. 1 It is reported that the enemy are retiring along the whole front, 'and that the hospitals at Lemberg are hastily clearing. The Russian artillery is likened to Mackemea'a when the Germans broke through Galicia thirteen months ago.

THE SMACK. TREMENDOUS BATTLE RAGING. ENEMY ADMITS A NASTY KNOCK. Received June 9, 8.50 p.m. Berlin, June 8. The Frankfurt Zeitung says that the Russian offensive was carried out by tremendous forces. The concentrated five of the enemy's artillery exceeds anything yet experienced on the Eastern front. The enemy made successive attacks in the region of Okno with gigantic masses of men. and when the foremost trenches were entirely shot to pieces some, of the old guns were rendered unserviceable and left behind, while the infantry were withdrawn to the next prepared position. The battle continues along the entire front with undiminished violence. The Russians appear to be planning a main attack from the Rovno region. The Koelnisehe Volks Zeitung says that the Russians are developing their principal strength in the region south of the Polish fortress triangle, in order Co separate the Austrians from the Germans in the Pripct region. ON THE STYR LINE. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. Received June 9, 9.5 p.m. Petrograd, June 9. A communique states: We have taken positions at many points of the line of the Ikwa-Styr rivers, which we crossed, and are continuing the offensive. Our troops are nowtelose to the line on the Styrpa river. German attempts at progress on the south of the SmorgonDivina front were repulsed. AUSTRIAN CASUALTIES ENORMOUS. ESTIMATED AT 100,000 Petrograd, June 8. It is estimated that the Austrian losses are 100,000 dead and wounded between the Pripct and Roumftnia. The position was enormously strong, with i concreted trenches and heavy baulks of oak cemented together. In some places there were fourteen rows of barbed wire, but the Russian artillery was most effective in sweeping the obstacles away.