OPERATIONS REVIEWED.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15309, 19 June 1915, Page 10

OPERATIONS REVIEWED.

STATEMENT BY THE RUSSIAN *' ETB-WITNESS." GERMANS' "BIG SUCCESS OF TECHNIQUE.'' (-eceived June 18th. 9.15 p.m.) LONDON. June 13. Tho Pviisfiian 'Taye-witness," in a Ktatement covering the period May 3rd-19th, .says that Germany's counterstroke to the Itussian advance in tho Carpathians was carefully prepared and the biggest effort yet made to bolster up Austria. Tho German attacks throughout have been principally confined to intense artillei-y work, whole areas being covered with shells till the trenches and men were levelled out of existence. After pounding out, our troops by means of artillery the Germans advanced in elo~e formation, but in almost every case their infantry attacks were abortive. Nearly all of our regiments have suffered great losses from sb -:._re. Tne enemy's airmen delivered intermittent but violent bombardments, and onr hospitals had to bo removed rearwards. At one advanced bandaging point, German soldier., raging drunk, burst in and bayoneted tho doctor. Nine shells fell on a hospital at another point, and one struck the operating room, and wounded a lady doctor. Some of the German troops engaged against our Third ._rmy were reserve division!- from the neighbourhood of Verdun. The Austrians kept up a ceaseless but futile cannonade. They hardly "placed" the Russian batteries, and their progress in rangefinding was very expensive. It was a different story when the Germans undertook the initiative. The difference in accuracy between tho Austrian and the German artillery was soon made clear, and Ru.sian regiments suffered terribly. The right wing of the Itussian advance in tho Carpathians was outflankod, and had to come backward. Half of one army corps rectified its position without serious loss, but tho other division had the greatest difficulty in fighting its way through,- and lost-heavily. ' The Germans scored a big success of technique, and wiped out a good number of lives; still, tho Russians are firmer than ever, and more and more nien are pouring in. During the retreat towards the San, j the enemy's airmen wero übiquitous. At one time ten aeroplanes flew over our lines, three being brought down, and I their occupant- killed.