The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1916. ON THE EASTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1916. ON THE EASTERN FRONT.

This morning's cable news as to the progress of events, on both the Western and Eastern fronts will be read with considerable interest and 1 satisfaction. On the Eastern front big issues are turning on General Sakharoff's offensive south of Brody. The main battle is still along the Stokhod, and General Brussiloff's system of striking wherever there is a prospect of progress is proving highly successful. The capture of Brody ■was the result of an offensive that gradually spread south from the liipa sector, and the southward sweep is being continued towards Lemberg, the fall of which is imminent, for already the civilians have been ordered to evacuate the town. The Governor of Lemberg is evidently imbued with the inevitable bombastic optimism of German high officials, and his proclamation promising that "we shall soon return with heavy forces and wrest the town back" is quite in accord with the tone usually adopted by his imperial master. The Russians' successes on the Groberka and Sereth rivers have brought them within striking distance of the river Bug, the last material obstacle on the road to Lemberg. It was on June 22, 1915, that the Second Austrian Army, under General Bohm-Ermolli, reoccupied Lemberg, after it had remained in Russian hands for '203 days, but it is a very different Russian army that is now once more threatening tile town to that which was driven back by Mackensen last year, and it is under vastly altered conditions that the Austro-Germans are now attempting to stem the tide of Hussian victories. One of General Brussiloff's aims has been to widen the big salient, and thus weaken the opposition. On the Froth, von llindenburg is concentrating heavy forces against Brussiloll, and it is stated that the slaughter during the past week has been terrible, while the advantage rests with the Russians. Every thousand men that the Austro-Germans lose at this juncture is a serious matter for them, as they have practically reached the limit of their reserve man-power, but Russia has almost illimitable reserves '•> draw upon and: can regard, la roe

los«cs, should tbey occur, with equanimity. llindenburg lias begun his offensive Mjntli of Delatyn, along the line of the Priitli. Uo appears to be Germany's last hope, but the task lie lias undertaken illicit well make the stoutest heart quail. Oil tile sout.il of the Dneister the Russians are to-day credited with a great victory. They have broken through the enemy front and got astride of the Kolomea-Stanislau railway, capturing the heights beyond, as well as two thousand Germans, and they are pursuing the enemy. It is stated that the region captured covers 100 square kilometres (one hundred square miles). A glance at the map showing the Eastern front will give some idea of the extent, of the Russian operations, but only those who know the country itself can form any idea of the gigantic" task involved in this great Eussian sweep. Mountains, rivers, lakes, marshes and streams abound in profusion, and they all form more or less formidable tactical obstacles, but the hardy and determined men, led by skilful generals, have 50 far overcome everything in their victorious onward march. At times they have been held up, and occasionally have bad to draw back, but only to make a iresh move. It would seem that the crucial point of the offensive is approaching, for if, as may reasonably he expected, Hindenburg's forces arc defeated, the Eastern campaign will speedily end. The struggle that is now taking place is fraught wit'u momentous issues, and will be followed with concentrated interest throughout the world.