RUSSIA'S ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 158, 4 July 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA'S ATTACK

AUSTRIANS RETREAT ACROSS THE STRYPA.

KONIUCHY CAPTURED AFTER TWO-DAY BATTLE

PROGRESS SN GALIGIA AUSTRIANS RETREAT ACROSS STRYPA HARD FIGHTING AT LENS The Russian advance in the sector west of Tarnopol continues, and the Austrians are retiring across the Little Strypa, while the Russian forces are advancing upon Zlochoff. The Russian Mission to America announces that the army has ample munitions to maintain the offensive, and further progress is anticipated. The artillery engagements have been severe, and a good deal of hand-to-hand fighting has followed. The enemy was aware of Russia's intention to attack, but, in spite of this, its defensive preparations proved ineffective. The Germans are preparing as a counter-move for an attack in the Riga sector upon a large scale. General Hindenburg and his staff have arrived in Austria to confer with the Austrian Headquarters Staff on the new position. The British advance posts at one point of the Lens sector have been driven in by an enemy concentration, but this is merely one of the ebb-and-flow movements of the battleline, and it is probable that already the lost posts have been won back. The French have won back trenches lost to the north of the Ladies' Road. It is officially announced that the British and American navies disposed of two pirates last week. The Greek army has given M. Venizelos an assurance that it is ready to carry out the orders of. the Government. The Austrians are concentrating heavy guns in the Trentino, where the Italians are prepared for a great attack.

RUSSIANS DRIVING TOWARDS ZLOCHOFF. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON. July 3. The Austrians have retreated across the Little Strypa. a tributary of the Strypa which Hows into the Dniester, south-west of Tarnopol. Tiic Russians are now marching on Zlochoff. 3-j miles to the north-west of Tarnopol on the Tamopol-Lemberg railway. The United Press Association's Petrograd correspondent states that German prisoners say that the Germans learned six weeks ago that the Russians would start an offensive on July 1-7; their defensive preparations did not materially affect the Russian victory. The correspondent adds:—"'The offensive was the carefully planned climax to M. Kcrensky's King campaign of iron-banded discipline. M. Kerensky may stand out as tiic greatest statesman-general of Europe.' - —(A. and N.Z.) The Little Strypa. across which the Austrians have retreated, is a small stream which flows into the Strypa to the westward of Tarnopol. The. withdrawal is a result of the fall of Koniuehy, which stands on the river _3 miles west oi' Tarnopol and which formed the apex of an enemy salient into the Russian line. The area was practically neglected in the great offensive which l>cijan in June last year, when the main drives were made through the Bukowina. in the south, and from the Styr to Brody. in the north. After two great bulges had been driven into the Russian line here by Letsch and Ijetchitzky. General Tcherbatchetf struck along the Strypa front, taking Buczacz and advancing to the Koniuehy area, where the offensive was ultimately relaxed. During the operations under Rrussiloff over 300.000 prisoners, many hundreds of srmis. and vast stores of munitions were, taken.

EFFECT MAY EXTEND TO OTHER FRONTS. LONDON, July 3. A Russian communique states: —Alter artillery action lasting two days, we attacked on the Koniuehy-Byshki front, south-west of Tarnopol, and occupied three lines of trenches. We took the fortified village ot Koniuehy, and advanced as far as the. Koniuehy stream, south of the village. We attacked south-west of Brzezanv. went of Tarnopol, and occupied strong fortified positions, which constantly changed hands owing to Oerman and Austrian counter-attacks. We captured on this front yesterday nine officei'3 ami 1.700 men. A later comintmiqlie slates that in the direction of Zolotchov and Brzezanv there is an intense artillery battle, but the communique does not mention infantry attacks. The Russians destroyed an enemy train on the Rumanian front. A German communique states: —There has been heavy lighting between thy Upper Strvpa and the east bank of the Naraiovka. The Russian pressure was directed against Koniuehy and a sector east and south of Brzezanv. After two .lav?' strong artillery action the enemy captured Koniuehy. Fighting was very bitter on both sitb s of Brzezanv. We maintained our positions after a swaying battle, in which the enemy suffered heavy losses. There were strong artillery actions along the Stokhod anil the Dniester. An attack north of tiic Kovcl-I.ut/.k railway failed.—(A. and N.Z. and Router.) Koniuehy lies -'10 miles south of the. Lemberg-Brody railway. It is in the district where the Hood* of the Dniester, on the surrounding marshland, stopped the Russian advance in I'll(5. General Brussiloif's stroke is evidently a shrewd one. as (ieneral yon Boohni already admits the loss of Koniuehy, and the effect< should quickly be felt on the French and Italian fronts. M. Marcel llntin. the French critic, points out that at the very moment ■"'hen Generals Hindenbiirg and Ludcndorf are visiting Austrian headquarters, endeavouring to arrange the marked differences dividing the two Kaisers, they are obliged to announce a Russian offensive, and warn the Germans that there is no longer probability of a glorious peace as the result of Russian defection. A dispatch from an Austrian war correspondent at headquarters, explaining the Russian success states that the offensive was prepared on the mostcomprehensive lines with an unprecedented concentration of artillery. The attacks were made by well-trained troops of high moral. It transpires that M. Kerensky, Russian Minister for War. three weeks ago informed the United States Government that a Russian offensive would be made early in .July. A dispatch from Pelrograd, received in New York, states that the Russian Minister for War. M. Kerensky. personally led the Russians to victory. Germans deserters state that naval operations on a grand scale are being prepared in the Gulf of Riga. Troops from other fronts are being concentrated, and formidable trenches and armoured works constructed. General Ilindenburg and General Ludendorff his chief of staff, are expected to inspect the preparations for an attack on the -Riga front in July. Although the enemy is bombarding the Russian first lines, small detachments erne I,\- nijjht to the entanglements and attempt to deliver peace pamphlets, and presents of wine and brandy. These overtures the Russians reject. A sudden visit has been made to Vienna by General Hindcnburjr and his chief of staff (leneral yon Ludendorff. It is believed that their conferences with the Austrian staff may lead to changes in the Austrian commands on the East front, and that more German generals will be appointed.—(A. and N.Z.)