VIOLENT BATTLE IN THE DVINSK AREA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 232, 29 September 1915, Page 5

VIOLENT BATTLE IN THE DVINSK AREA.

GERMAN , COLUMN LURED TO DESTRUCTION.

AXJSTp*iNS EVACUATE BRODY FOKTEESS.

BERNE. September 28. It is reported that General yon Mackensen has been ordered to withdraw from his position in Russia, lest his army he surrounded. There has been heavy fighting of extraordinary violence round Dvinsk Russian cavalry strong enemy column near Lake Tchichiry. Strong enemy artillery forced the Russians back to tfie lake district, -which was a veritable labjrinth. The Russians lured the enemy into marshy ground, which was surrounded on three sidee. Half the Germans were exterminated, and the remainder captured. The prisoners included three complete companies of Guards. Their artillery was also captured. Report* from the Austrian front state that the Russians reached Kovel. Jhe Austrians have evacuated the fortress of Brody, and have suspended fortification works in other towns in Volhynia. During the retreat the Austrians threw much artillery, many machine guns, and much ammunition, and forage into the River Stry. A~ Petrograd communique states:—"Four German attack.- westward of Vileika (east cf Vilna) were repulsed. We captured 1,000 unwounded Germans and 13 guns, including five of large calibre. "We compelled the enemy near Delcatrischi to fall back, with great losses. We surprised an Austrian battalion at Labusy, on the Snara, bayoneted a number and captured 364. The remnant were forced beyond the river. "Fierce house-to-house fighting ended in the capture of Sliesnitis, in tho Lower Stokho region. Xeariy all the defenders were killed. Austrian reinforcements compelled us to evacuate Novo Alexinatz. We countetattackeil with the bayonet, and re-expelled the enemy, killed many and captured 1,000." An Austrian communique saye: — "The Russians' counter-offeneive has been broken at Volhynia. They evacuated positions north-west of Dubno and retired near Lutek in an easterly direction. The bridgehead at Lutsk is again in our hands."