RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

THE GREAT BLOW. A TREMENDOUS SURPRISE, Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, June 13. The Austrian front has been broken from Bouznez to the Dneister, and the Russians have already regained all the ground lost since September, 1915. If the northern advance continues as well as the lemainder, it will compel a general Galician retirement. The offensive is one of the greatest surprises of the war, experts believing that Russia was still not recuperated and was not ready for an offensive of extraordinary energy and weight; but correspondents report that the Russian Army is thoroughly reconstituted and reequipped on modern . lines, with an abundance of artillery and munitions. They have substituted for the lack of railways a wonderful system of light lines, causeways and modern bridges. The Russian defensive positions for hundreds of miles are perfectly made, the trenches being practically impregnable. ffierman war correspondents are warning Germany that the Russian artillery is wonderful and the fire terrific, and it may seriously affect the Eastern campaign.

A CORRESPONDENT'S STORY. BRUSILOFF'S MARVELLOUS FEAT. 450,000 PRISONERS. , Received June 14, 7.20 p.m. London, June 14. The Daily Chronicle correspondent says: ' General BnisiiofPs scheme was so perfect that lie was- able to commence his offensive at two days' notice, even over the "nightmare" country of the Polyes-'r forest and marshes, where the army had been living on islands in.channels of black water, while the advanced positions practically lived on rafts that were stranded half way between the banks and were only approachable over log roads. "It is impossible to exaggerate the resource and ingenuity whereby General Brusiloff contrived to pour his dense attack over narrow paths, through mandrowning quagmires, and rush the Austrian positions. The single impulse was to reach the rising ground, of which Lutsk is the centre. "Along the Saretli front, where there is more open country, a Belgian armored car corps did excellent service. "The population of Kieff are,renewing their emotions of the early davs of the war. Long grey and blue columns of prisoners are arriving. The police will not allow demonstrations. The earlier Austrian prisoners are employed at street cleaning and similar work, and they greet their former comrades with howls of derisive welcome. "General Brusiloff has thus far captured 450,000 Austro-Germans and 500 guns."

A SLIGHT LULL. 116,000 PRISONERS. Received June 14, 7.20 p.m. iPetrograd, June 14. Latest tidings from the southern front state that there is a temporary lull. The communique says that in view of the Austro-German troops at many places being withdrawn out of reach" of our blows, our armies have recorded little increase of prisoners. To-day the total is 1700 officers and 114,000 men. General Letehtzky captured 754 officers, 37,633 men, and 201 guns and machine-guns. We have crossed the Dmeister and captured many fortified points, and are continually making progress.

THE ADVANCE ON LEMBERG. IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED RUSSIAN VALOR Received June 14, 9.50 p.m. Petrograd, June 14. Ihe Germans are not venturing to transfer reinforcements to the Galician front, but, instead, are endeavoring to create a diversion north of the PrTpet. They had some local success in capturing the village of Kochany, but this is quit? incapable of materially affecting events. General Letchtzky's armv has performed with prodigious- valor. The precipitous bank of the Dneister lias been converted into one continuous stronghold. The Austrians regarded Dobronowce and the surrounding mountains which ore thickly covered with forests) as reliable protection against an advance on Czernowitz, but General Letehtzky overcame all resistance. General Brusiloff's capture of Demidovka places the Russians in command of an important forest region, forming a natural stronghold, whereof the Ivka and the Styr may be compared to immense moats, protecting two sides of the position. Thus it is a valuable base, and it will enable General Brusiloff to checkmate any Austrian effort to counterattack. The Russian offensive to the northward is violent. The eighth army, which advanced thirty miles in the direction of Kovel, will soon be in a position to assist the thrust of the troops beyond rarnopol, and join them in advancing on Lemberg.

SUCCESS OF CO-ORDINATION. HINDEXBURG FORESTALLED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received June 14, 5.5 p.m. London, June 13. The Times, in a leading article, says that the magnitude of the Russian offensive and the huge capture of prisoners and booty is a signal example of the advantages of co-ordination, which is belatedly governing the Allied operations. Austria was surprised by the sudden revelation of the number, power, and accuracy of the new Russian artillery, which is swiftly reversing the impression created by last summer's retreat. Russia is armed anew, and no longer experiences the anguish of finding her guns outranged and sacrificing incomparable infantry through lack of artillery.

The process of re-armament is probably not complete, but Russia is daily wearing the time when she will meet the enemy on equal terms. has now struck at the right moment and in the right region.

If General Hindenburg intends moving from Eiga to Ovinsk lie is an uncommonly slow starter, but lie is seriously handicapped by the withdrawal to the West of reserves, and by the High Sea Fleet's unlucky challenge in the ■North Sea, which marred the prospect of a Baltic blow, on which General Hindenburg was,'counting. Nevertheless, it is too soon to say that General flindenburg's prospects are shelved. There is an indication that the forces are beginning to move in Germany, who is reaching a condition when she will strike anywhere and everywhere in the search for success.