RUSSIA'S CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 223, 18 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S CAMPAIGN.

GERMAN DIVISIONS SURROUNDED. 0

ANNIHILATED BY INFANTRY. BRITAIN'S MILITARY FORCES. DANGERS OF COMPULSORY SERVICE. The Russians surrounded two German divisions on ihe Sereth. The enemy preferred death to surrender, and were killed, "fighting like lions," as a Petrograd message puts it. The Germans report further progress north-east of Vilna. Vidzy having been captured after house-to-house fighting. A letter found on a dead German soldier declare;; that the losses in Poland were enormous, and that the dead before Warsawcould be counted in thousands. The writer asserted that the Bavarians took no prisoners, but stabbed- the Russians to death. Reports from Constantinople indicate that official circles are still hopeful, but that the masses believe that the city is doomed. A hundred thousand wounded have reached the capital. The Turco-Bulgarian agreement is interpreted to mean a continuance of Bulgaria's neutrality.

ENEMY'S PROGRESS IN THE EAST.

ADVANCE IN THE VILNA DISTRICT. HOUSE-TO-HOUSE FIGHTING AT VIDZY. (Received 11.15 a_m.) BERLIN. September 17. An official communique states that General yon Hindenburg occupied Vidzy, 40 miles south of Dunaburg, early this morning, after severe house tohouse fighting. The attack is proceeding north of Vilna. *• AUSTRIAN ACCOUNT OF THE CAMPAIGN. RUSSIANS ENFILADES BY ARTILLERY riP.F. (Received 11.15 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. September 17. An Austrian communicue says that the Austrians had taken prisoner 1,900 southward of Zolocza. Tie Russians advanced on the western bank of the Ikwa River, but were driven to the east bank, and suffered heavily by the Austrian artillery's flanking fire. 1

RUSSIANS SURROUND TWO GERMAN DIVISIONS

ANNIHILATED IN ATTACK ON THE SERETH. ENEMY PREFER DEATH TO SURRENDER. (Received 11.15 a.m.) PETROCRAD. September 17. The Russians on the River Pereth completely encircled the third and fourth German divisions. -^k Thf latter fought like VABL n 'l preferred death to surrender. An officer of the igh suspended on the points of Russian bayonets, continued firing his ..vulvcr until he expired.

GERMANS' FRIGHTFUL LOSSES IN POLAND.

DEAD BEFORE WARSAW COUNTED IN THOUSANDS. DEAD SOLDIER'S LETTER REVEALS HORRORS OF CAMPAIGN (Received 10.35 a.m.) PARIS, September 17. A letter found on a German soldier killed in Poland states that the losses sustained by the Germans were frightful. The dead before Warsaw could be counted in thousands. "We endured one winter c-mpaign in Russia but never will again. Wo were told that we would not have to (jo beyond Warsaw, but the pursuit continues. The morale of the men is not very good owing to great losses. Deserters and gaolbirds are put to work the poison gas reservoirs, which is very dangerous work. If they refuse their brains are blown out. "The liavarians seldom take prisoners, bat instead stab them to death."

RUSSIANS REPULSE ATTACKS NEAR DVINSK

FALLING BACK FURTHER SOUTH UNDER PRESSURE. DESPERATE FIGHTING ON THE STRYPA. PETROGRAD, September 17. An official communique says:—"We repulsed repeated attacks south-west of J'vinsk. "The enemy northeastward of Vilna crossed to the left bank of the River Vilia. "We are falling back in the Pinsk region under pressure. "Desperate fighting continues on the Strypa, westward of the TarnopolT.__o''ovla line, the enemy clinging to the passages of the river."