RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

SEVERE FIGHTING. TENACITY OF GERMANS. VIOLENT BOMBARDMENTS. RUSSIANS REPULSE ATTACKS. Eeceived June 22, 5.5 pm. Petrograd, June 21. A Russian communique says: The village of Gruzitince Ims changed hands several times. Wc raided the village yesterday, capturing four hundred prisoners. Heavy German fire obliged us to again evacuate it. The Germans l'ear Vorontchine, north-west of Kisseline, are fighting with tho greatest tenacity, and under cover of artillery are repeatedly attacking. Yesterday evening our new regiment attacked with groat spirit, ■.■ outing the Germans. The Germans near Raymicsto, on the Stockhod, attacked in mass formation. There was hand to hand fighting, and the Germans fled, leaving some prisoners. We have crossed the Sereth River.

General Brußiloff captured between June 4 and 17, 3350 officers, 109,134 men, 108 guns, and 550 machine-guns besides, much material. The Germans violently bombarded Ikskull bridgehead and the northern sector of the .Tacobstadt positions. On Tuesday night, after an intense bombardment south of Smorgon, the Germans assumed the offensive and penetrated our trenches in one sector, but we soon dislodged them and they were riviven back to their own lines by an artillery counter-atack. Elsewhere all uttacks were repulsed. THE AUSTRIAN DEBACLE. RUSSIA PRESSING ON. Petrograd, June 21. General Kaledin is pressing westward and southward of Vladimir and Volynsk, and attempting to cut the enemy's communications with Kovel. He is also progresisng towards Lemberg, between Vladimir, Volynsk and Sokal. This extension of Genera,! Kaledin's front, which is spreading eighty miles southward, indicates a forthcoming junction with the army operating from Brody towards Lemberg.

The Austro-Germans drew reinforcements from the Italian, French, Balkan and Pinsk-Baranovitchi fronts.

NEWSPAPER OPINIONS.

Times and Sydney Sun Services, London, June 21

Mr. Washburn, writing from the Russian headquarters, gives the latest inventory of prisoners and trophies to Sunday. The list includes 2806 officers, 1#9,157 men, 174 guns, J34 machine-guns, 111 trench mortars, and enormous quantities of munitions and materials. The authorities estimate that over 300,000 of the enemy have been put out of action in the past fortnight. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe, writing from Petrograd, says that the Russians are methodically developing the attack, and if the enemy is swept from his new positions the Austrian discomfiture will he complete. General Ptianzer'a positions in Bukowina are critical, and if hard pressed back into the Carpathians some sections of their lien will be utterly routed, as is indicated by the captures by the cavalry. Rad/.iviloff, with two German army corps, was sent to.Volhynia, and two Bulgarian divisions to Bukowina.

Swiss and Dutch newspapers agree V'iat the Austro-German military writers are preparing the public for further bad news by hinting that General Bothmer will probably be compelled to retire, owing to the danger of envelopment.