EASTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1916, Page 5

EASTERN FRONT.

SMART CAVALRY WORK.

STIRRING INCIDENTS.

Times and Sydney Sun Services.

London, June 23 The Times' correspondent at Petrograd records numerous stirring incidents in tlie offensive by the cavalry which recalled the Napoleonic era. For instance, on the Strypa the Russian- cavalry forced the stream with unexpected rapidity, and the Hungarians had no time to destroy the bridge, but hurriedly retreated. The following morning the Russian; awaited the arrival of an infantry brigade and then attacked in echelon form ation, the dragoons leading and the hussars and Ural Cossacks following. The regimental colonel, adjutant, chaplain and standard-bearer headed the charge, after the chaplain had blessed the men. Squadron after squadron charged until the fields were covered with hundreds of horsemen with lances unsheathed and sabres glistening. Many fell in their mad career.

The Hungarians sent three battalions to take the cavalry in the rear, but the Russians had posted dragoons with Maxims, which mowed down the dense masses of the enemy as they emerged from a copse. The Hungarian infantry fnn»ht bravely, seizing the lances of the troopers, but the charge was a complete success, and two thousand prison-

ers were taken. A GERMAN ROUT. BRILLIANT WORK OF THE

RUSSIANS. London, June 23. Tlip Daily Telegraph's Petrograd correspondent sends details of the capture of Svidniki. The Russians opened the bombardment of the Stokhod line early on the morning of the 10th. The Germans anticipated the infantry attack by assaulting in dense columns. The Russians fell back two miles, bringing the enemy under a flanking fire from machine-guns, and the ground was soon strewn with-dead. The survivors pressed forward, but ten minutes' bayo-' net work was sufficient to rout the German remnant, and the Russians followed up on their heels and crossed the Stokhod before the Germans had time to destroy the bridges. Armored motors completed the rout. The Russians then prepared to advance on Svidniki, but were faced with extreme difficulties owing to the marshy ground. They waded chest deep in mud under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, carrying their own machine-guns rifles and ammunition on their heads and .shoulders. Every wounded or unwary Russian was swallowed by the pitiless bog. The Russians reached firm ground after floundering in the mire and charged the village with the bayonet. Tvc German Landwehr legions which, were holding the village fought bravely, baricading the cottages and mounting machine-guns on the, roofs and in the windows. Every building had to be stormed and the garrison was practically wiped out.

The Germans re-captured the villagt temporarily, but' the Russians re-storm-ed it and took prisoner several hundred men. The Germans used a new shell with a double explosion, nicknamed "orphans" by the Russians owing to their wailing sound in the air. The Russians counted 500 German dead on one Stokhod bridge. All the woods near Svidniki were thickly strewn with dead, and great numbers were swallowed up in the swamps. THE THRUST CONTINUES. RUSSnvs VERY ACTIVE. Petrograd, June 23. The RiiMsian thrust towards Kovel has !;.m the German line ty 50 miles at a moment when the Germans are trying to hold their lines with minimum forqes. The Russian advance has caused unusual German activity. They rushed in the Austrian breach at Volhynia, and are also persistently attacking on tin northern front, especially in the Smprgou sector, which covers the approaches to Vilna. The Germans do not possess sufficient troops for a big offensive at this point, and the attacks are intended to prevent the removal of Russians south-ward.

The Germans uc energetically endeavoring to «heck General Kaledin's advance towards Kovel, but General Kaledin is pushing his successes on an extended front four miles northward of Gaidomichi, upon the Styr, where the Russians forced a crossing. The Germans, after a hard fight, compelled the Russians tp abandon the village of Gruziatin, although General Kaledin temporarily checked his troops putting the Germans to flight, indicating that the Russian advance has not stopped. General Lechitsky has crossed the Sereth, and continues to drive General von Pflanzer to the Carpathians. OFFENSIVE CONTINUES. P.cceived June 25, 5.5 p.m. Petrogred, -Tune 24. A communique reports: Fighting is in progress at the Oginski Canal. The enemy's attempt', to cross the canal failed There is local .fighting on General Hrusiloff's front, on the old ground, and in other districts, notably near Radziviloft'. The enemy continues to receive i"inforc.inents from the French and Italian fronts. Our offensive continues in Bukowina, mid .we have occupied Gurahainora and Btridja, westward of Radutz and Chemnitz. A GERMAN REPORT. Received June 25, 5.5 p.m. London, June 24. A German communique says: Our attacks west and south-west of Lutsk are progressing, despite repeated Russian counter-attacks We completely repulsed Russian attacks northward of ferody,