IN THE EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1916, Page 5

IN THE EAST.

THE NORTHERN OFFENSIVE. BFJBUX BY EVERT'S ARMIES ' ENEMY'S FIRST TRENCHES TAKES. GERMANS FEVERISHLY TRYING TO STOP THE BREACH.' Received July 7, 10 p.m. Petrograd, July 7. The offensive has begun by General Everts' armjeft, the centre of which is on a froiit roughly extending from positions facing Barariovitchi to the east of Vilna. fhe whole of the troops are possessed by a determination to drive the foe beyond the Xeiman. The Russians opened'with a hurricane or fire upon the German trenches. It was a veritable midnight inferno. The German gunners were strangely silent. The Russians monopolised the gunnery work. The horizon from Smorgon to Krevo was almost continuously illuminated by the exploding shells. The din was indescribable. Under this curtain of fire the enemy's first trenches were reached and the defences demolished. Many thousands were taken prisoner. The Germans are feverishly trying, but unsuccessfully, to stop the breach before 'Lutzk. AUSTRIAN LOSSES 500,000. FOR THE PAST MONTH. AUSTRIAN'S IN SOUTH GALICIA CUT OFF. Received July 7, 11 p.m. Petrograd, July 7. The General Staff estimates the Austrian losses at over half-a-million for the month, ; The Germans in the Chartorysk region are frantically striving to counteract the great Lutzk thrust. The Austrians in Southern Galicia are cut off from railway communications with Hungary and are unable to reinforce Stanislau from the Carpathians. The Morning Post's Petrograd .orrespondent says the Gulf of Riga is entirely blocked against enemy attempts from the sea. The Russian warships' guns are turned upon the German posi- , sions miles inland. I FURTHER'RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. Petrograd, July 6. A communique states: We routed the enemy on the right bank of the Dneister. capturing a fortified position westward of Issandvjivatchon, and also captured Mikulitchin, on the Delatyn-Koro-meso railway, near Baranovitchi. Amsterdam, July <l. Advices tr»in Germany state that the chief Russian attaeKs are northward of the Pripet, between Servech and Sgara, and north-westward of Kolomea.