The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1916. THE GALICIAN CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1916. THE GALICIAN CAMPAIGN.

The most stirring war news just now is that connected with the great Eussian offensive in Galicia, Recent communiques ihave shown that there has been heavy fightir.g on the Zlota Lipa and Dniester, in which great losses were inflicted on the enmy. Then came the news that the Russians had carried the whole of the last lines of the defences on the Brzezany sector, resulting in the Austrians having practically to abandon the line of tlie Zlota Lipa, and though they offered a strong resistance at Kozowa, as well as 'between Kozowa and Brzezany, that resistance was- broken down. It a not only at Brzezany that the Russians are moving, for the whole of the Rybniki-Halicz railway is in their hands as far as the Dniester, and they obtained a' most favorable position for attacking the enemy on the Guila Lip.i. Simultaneously they commenced an advance south of the Dniester towards Halicz, which they bombarded with such effect that the town was in flames. Today's cables state that Halicz is wavering, the Germans and Turks vainly striving to keep off the line of batteries which is enveloping Halicz in a cloud of destruction and death. When Halicz falls there is only the Nekoliev position to dispute the Russian advance on Lembeiig. One of to-day's cables states that a mystery concerns the stern battle at Halicz, where the Germans are making desperate efforts to secure the retreat of an army which once numbered 150>000. General Brusiloff has proved too clever tt strategist for the German General Staff, and it now seems to be a question whether the enemy can escape. Brussiloff's aim has been to envelop the enemy, and he appears to have a good chance of success, although he has a front of three hundred miles to keep secure. Russia's goal, as we have already pointed out, is to maintain pressucr on Austria and assist m crushing Bulgaria and Turkey, thus freeing the Allies for their final concentrated attack on Germany. The programme has been well thought out by the Allies, who are still acting in concert, their- various operations being coordinated so as to lead up to the desired finale. The double attack on the main crossing of the Dniester has for its object the pvelopment of Bothmer's army. It is not surprising, in the circumstances, that the centre of the Austrian force is withdrawing, and whatever the fate of Halicz may be, it will now come as no surprise to find the Austro-German forces retreating everywhere south of the Stokhod, Certainly if the passage of the Gnila Lipa is forced, or if Haliez falls to the Russians, it will he difficult for the enemy to save Lanberg. The Austro-Germans are finding to their cost that the Russians whom they are now fighting are vastly different from those they drove hack with such comparative ease last year. Positions may now be considered as reversed, and the demoralised Austrians will find that when the concerted pressure of the Allies is brought to hear on them, the crumpling up process will be thorough and complete. Already they have allowed the Italians to move forward effectively, and as a factor in the war Austria should not in the near future count for much, if anything. The Galician campaign has struck a shattering Wow on the enemy, and its success will do much towards the final overthrow of the Central Powers with their allies.