18,000 PRISONERS IN TWO DAYS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3129, 6 July 1917, Page 5

18,000 PRISONERS IN TWO DAYS

AUSTRIAN LINE BROKEN BIG ATTACK ON THE ' FRENCH COSTLY AND FRUITLESS . ATTEMPT: Something approaching an Austrian debacle hag followed Brusilolf'g brilliant thrust in Galicia. Three hundred officers and 18,000 men were captured by the Russians in Sunday's and Monday's fighting. Tho Austriaris admit that their line lias been broken.. The breach has been temporarily closed by the Turks, pending the arrival of Austrian reserves, which are being culled from every quarter. The enemy is reported to be evacuating Brzezany. Brusiloff's advance covers a front of 20 miles, and his progress is exciting the greatest alarm in Germany. The lull on the British front continues, but on the French line the enemy is continuing his persistent attempts to score. His latest attack, an exceedingly powerful blow with heavy forces, has just failed, -with costly losses to the attackers. Shipping casualties from the depredations of tho German submarines show a drop in this week's analysis of losses. In China the situation is rapidly developing tho aspect of civil war. The deposed President is stated to have escaped and found sanctuary in the Japanese Legation.

AUSTRIAN LINE DEFINITELY BROKEN REPORTED EVACUATION' OF BRZEZANY RUSSIANS ADVANCING ON 20-MILE FRONT (By Telegraph—Press Asoooiation—Copyright). ( Petrograd, July 3. The Austrian line is definitely broken, and the advance continues. General Brusilofi' has ordered the entire army to be prepared;—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 18,000 PRISONERS IN TWO DAYS i ■ (Rcc. July 5, 6.20 p.m.) ( London, July i. A Russian official report states: "During the fighting- on Sunda.y and Monday jve captured 300 officers and-18,000 men, 25 guns, and 33 machine-guns."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. AUSTRIANS ADMIT THEIR DEFEAT (Kec. July 5, 10.35 p.m.) Rome, July i. The Austrian* papers for the first time admit that their front near Zboroff has been broken, and that reserves are being brought from every quarter. The losses are colossal. The breach is being provisionally closed by the Turks.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. BRZEZANY INVESTED ON THREE SIDES. "' / Potrograd, July 3. The enemy is- reported to be evacuating Brzezany, which is invested from three sides. 'Units from four Russian armies are co-operating in the Galician advance, which covers a front of twenty miles.—Renter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT London, July i. A German official message states: "There is lively artillery action between the Stochod and tho Naraiovka. .New .strong Russian attacks at Brzezany failed, with heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. (liec. July 6, 0.25 a.m.) London, July 5. A Gorman' official report states:—"The Russians made repeated attacks on Brzezany, but were unable to advance, despite reinforcements. There is strong artillery activity at Koniukhy, Zboroff, on the Stochod, and at Brody. -Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. BRUSILOFF INTERVIEWED-WHATt MIGHT HAVE BEEN (Rcc. July 5, 7.25 p.m.) ' London, July ■!. General Brusilofi, in an interview, said that his offensive last year might have ended the war if the High Command had co-operated with him, which it did not. It was tho retreat of 1915 that made him a revolutionary—Renter. CHEERING CROWDS IN, PETROGRAD

PATRIOTIC SENTIMENT REAWAKENED. Petrograd, July i. Crowds are cheering in the'streets. The American Commission is delighted at the reawakening of patriotic'sentiment in. the people. Cossacks are making speeches in the factories, urging upon the workmen that this is Russia 6 supreme eftort. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "TEMPERED IN THE FIRES OF REVOLUTION." London, July 4. The Provisional Government announces that all the regiments engaged in the offensive will henceforth bo known as Hie "Regiments of the 18th June. This is Russian '-old-style" date, which is memorable for upwards of a century, and'the Government hopes to make it the starting point of a. new era of national life. The Congress of Workmen and Soldiers Delegates has addressed a stron" message of encouragement to the armies engaged in tho offensive. It describes them as organised on a democratic basis after being tempered in the fires of revolution,".and now valorously struggling for freedom and general peace. Tho Provisional Government, in a vigorous appeal, urges all citizens to mass as one man behind the army fighting to safeguard the revolution and the freedom of Russia, Tho Government has also sent messages to the Army and Navy, urging tho Navy to emulate the Army in saving the country from external danger, and prove that the gift of freedom, which has regenerated the Army is equally invigorating the Navy and inspiring it.to new triumphs.—Aus.-N./. Cable Assn. OPINION IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY (! ROUND FOR SERIOUS ALARM. Amsterdam, July I. Reports published in Cologne and Berlin show that General firtisiloff's vigorous onslaught in Galicia has caused great alarm. Ihe battles on the Eastern front are described as the fiercest which have occurred., . General von Boehm-Erniolli's army is seriously menaced. The Russian attack is generally ie'..nrdixl in military circles as part of a great plan to clear tho way for the lecaptare ofLemberg. The "Cologne Gazette" states that fully 200,000 Russians are participating in the Galician battles. Advices from Vienna states that von Hmdenburg and von Ludendprff have discussed tho new situation, and are now conferring with General Are von Straussenburg (Austria-Hungarian Chief of Staff) at Austrian German troops who were training at Beveloo, and until now were destined to fight in Flanders, are being rushed to Galicia. . Austrian war correspondents state that the Russians, after three days violent fighting, maintain the stubbornness of the offensive, and aro fighting with tho same fury as before tho revolution. The Russians concentrated twenty divisions on a front of thirty miles, making incessant and successive massed at-tacks.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE TRADITION TO SUFFER AND CONQUER London, July 4. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says the fighting in Galicia has' demonstrated that the men at tho front are worthy of tho great name of Russia. Their losses are heavy, which is in accordance with the Russian Army's tradition that it holds tho world's record for ability to suffer without losing its military qualities. The struggle is severe south-west of Brzezany, where I hern is a hilly, wooded, and well-watered area, where the Germans have mado special redoubts that will require long hammering before attack is possible. —Aus.-N./i. Cable Assn. EARLY PROSPECT OF POLISH INDEPENDENCE. \ (Rec. July 0, 0.25 a.m.) ! Washington, July 1. I A representative of tho Russian Mission here announces the early independ.1 enco of 'Poland.—Aus.-N.is. Cable Assn.

PROLONGED ATTACK ON THE FRENCH POWERFUL GERMAN OFFENSIVE REPULSED HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED The High Commissioner reports:— London, July i, 3.20 p.m. A French official report states: "Yesterday a powerful German offensive was prolonged all night from Jouy as far as eastward of the California Plateau. The Germans violently and repeatedly attacked with large effectives, the assault being principally directed on points ea6t of Froidmont Farm, west and east of Cerny, and north of Aillcs, also on the casemates of the California Plateau. Tho attack was completely checked with heavy losses." London, July i. A French, official communique states: "There is considerable artillerv activity north of St. Quentin, on thcleft bank of the Meuse, towards Hill 304, and in the Champagne, in the sectors of Mont Cornillet and Mont Tetu."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE BRITISH FRONT London, July -4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There is considerable reciprocal artillery fighting in the region of Ypres. The enemy made a raid to the south-east of Laventie. Aerial activity by the enemy has markedly increased. Our aeroplanes participated in successful artillery work and bombing raids.''—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. July G, 0.25 a.m.) London, July 5. A wireless German official report states:—"We repulsed two French attacks eastward of Cerny, nnd moved our positions forwavtl, taking prisouers."--Aus.-N.Z. Cable As/n.-Reuter. AMERICAN EXPEDITION ARRIVES INTACT GERMAN SUBMARINE ATTACKS FRUSTRATED. Washington, July 4. It is officially announced that all of General Pershing's Expeditionary Force has arrived, without the loss of a single life. The Germans made their first submarine attack on the transports at 10.30 on the night of June 22, in a part of the Atlantic which was presumed to be free of submarines. The convoy protecting the transports used their Eig guns so effectively that the U-boats' torpedo fire was scattered and ineffective. The second attack, which was made beyond the rendezvous where the transports were picked up by additional American warships, completely failed. It is known definitely that one U-boat was sunk, and the reports indicate that others were destroyed. Evidently the Germans had .specially prepared to attack the transports, allotting several submarines for that purpose. The Federal officials are investigating a report that Germany was fnlly informed of the time of departure and route of the Expeditionary Force, and is redoubling the search for spies. There is much speculation as to how the information was conveyed to. Germany, and suspicion is increasing that there is a secret wireless station in Mexico.—Aus.-iC.Z. Cable As.sn.