RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8201, 26 July 1915, Page 5

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS AT SOKAL.

how petrograd views the situation: .

. ; PETROGRAD; July 24. Considerable'importance is attached to the Russian, offensive at the Sokal railhead, where the enemy was expelled. Details show,that the Russians advanced on Tuesday along the east bank of the Bug through Sokal and Poturzyea, and despite . fierce counterattacks captured the "first line of trenches. ■ The enemy was specially obstinate in the Poturzyea region, but his counter-attacks encountered pointblank artillery and rifle fire, followed by bayonet charges, by [which-several rows of trenches wero taken.

The gravity of the situation due to ■Genera] yon Mackcnsen's■• advance on the Trar.niki-Yoislavitze line is generally' ■ recognised, , but the army organ insist.^ on taking a,n optimistic view of the situation. Whether or not the Russians retire further in order to base their flanks on the Ivangorod-Brest-Li-tovsk line, which: would place Warsaw's fate in the balance, the idea prevails that the Germans will not attempt (word missing), 'in which: case they would represent the capture of Riga as jv 'groat victory. The Russians are requisitioning cattle, horses, and carts in the Baltic provinces for cash. All else that is useful is being destroyed. The population of Courland are flocking to Riga, where there'are admirable ■arrangements for their shelter.