STILL IN RETREAT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 5

STILL IN RETREAT

FOR RUSSIA ■ ■ URGENT APPEAL TO THE ARMY FURIOUS ATTACKS HURLED BACK Tho Kussiane are still in retreat. This disheartening announcement is mutlo with pathetic frankness in fho Hussian official communique to-day. Superiority of numbers havo not availed against disregard of orders, flagging morale, and tho pernicious propaganda of traitors. Tho Provisional Government has issued an urgent appeal to the Army, calling upon the soldiers, in the name of Froo Russia, to sustain the splendid victories won' just tho other week, when 3G.000 prisoners and a vast haul of war material were taken. The internal crisis is stated to be almost over, but the political situation is still obscure. iA (resolution comes from the 1 Front, asking that M. Keronski should assume tho powers of ' a Dictator. .In tho West a terrific struggle for Biipromaoy is being fought out to a grim finish lwtween the-French and tho Germans in tho region between Hurtobiso and Oraonne. It is apparently an attack "at all costs." The enemy's assaults aro continuous, reckless, but so far .- futile. Thoro are no developments of material import on tho other battlefronts. Mr. Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister, has delivered a scathing reply to the speech delivored by Dr. Miohaelis, and given tho Germans a clear view of tho Allies' intentions in the matter of opening peace negotiations.

RUSSIA APPEALS TO HER SOLDIERS

'< FOR THE FREEDOM OF YOUR FATHERLAND!" REVOLUTION IN GREAT DANGER (By Telegraph—Press Aeaooiation—Copyright). (Rec. July 23, 8.50 p.m.)London, July 22. A. Russian official repor.t sfc-.tos:—"The Provisional Government has issued a manifesto to the Armjveaying: "Three weeks ago, in accordance with tlio War Minister's order, our nrmies on tb'e south-western front made an offensive with a mighty revolutionary impulse, taking 80,000 prisoners. These horoic fighters, although threatened on. their front by German bayonets, and nearby with treacherous mutiny, held their honour, their Fatherland, their' existence, and sucj cess of ?he Revolution as more pueious than their lives. Tho nation's forces I have suppressed the mutiny in tho interior, but the Revolution is still in great danger. The external enemy, having gathered strength, has assumed an offonsivo cunningly coupled with the traitorous blow in > our rear. Soldiers! Go forward, heedless of those cowards, and save the freedom of our li'atherlaud!"— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asen.-Router. "OUR TROOPS CONTINUE TO RETREAT" (Rec. July 23, 10.40 p.m.) London, July 23. A Ettseian official report states: There is intense artillery activity southward of Dvinsk. The enemy continues to attack' westward of Tarnopol. Our troops contimie to rfetreat beyond tho Sereth. Tho enemy has occupied Zagorbelia, which is a, suburb of Tarnopol. Despite our superiority in numbers the retreat is almost uninterrupted, owing to the instability of. the troops, the disregard of orders, and the propaganda of the Maximalists. Tho enemy compelled us to evncuato Balindo and retire to the right bank of the Lbmnica.—Aus.-N.Z.-Cable Assn.-Beuter. . ■ • . ■ . THE BREACH IN THE RUSSIAN FRONT GAP SIX MILES WIDE. ' Petrograd, July 22. • Dispatches from Galicia- state that the breach in the Russian front is six miles broad and five miles deep—Reuter. KORNILOFP COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE SOUTH-WEST Petrograd, July 22. General Korniloff has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the southwestern front, in succession to General Ohitor.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Roc. July 23, 8.50 p.m.) , London, July 22. A German official report states:—"We pressed on. and reached the BrzezanyTarnopol railway at several points, everywhere defeating the newly-arrived Russians in desperate encounters. The Seventh Russian Arnvy, near Brzezany, isalso yielding to our increasing presence on the flanks. Tho prisoners and licoty are largo. W/a captured rioh war stores at Jezierua. The Russians strongly ntr tacked between Krevo and Smorgon, but the assaults broke down heavily. Fresh fighting is proceeding.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. A later communique states;—" Fighting is proceeding at a few places routhward of Siuorgon. Tlie Russian front from the Zlota Lipa to tho Dniester is yielding under the pressuro of our attack on the Sereth."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' KAISER GOES EAST. Copenhagen, July 22. The Kaiser lms gone to tho East front.—Router. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. July 23, 9.10 p.m.) London, July 22. An Austrian official report states:—"Our movements towards Kazava have bcun. Taraopol and numerous villages eastward of tho Screth are aflame."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. STIRRING APPEAL BY M: KERENSKI Petrograd, July 22. M. Kerenski has stirringly ajmea'led to the country's soldiers and sailors to end the .prevailing confusion. Ho,points out that the enemy's offensive has begun, and may result in tho defeat of the Revolution, and summons ell classes to support the Govorumcnt gainst external and internal enemies. He particulurly Hi-Res tho cessation of the chaotic state in the Baltic licet, which any end disastrously if tho onomy fleet should attack it. Ho declares that the recent disturbances were tho outcome of a German plot.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. KERENSKJ, TAKES CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. Petrograd, July 21. Tho Anarchists havo abandoned their last citadel, General Durnovo's villa. Host of tho workmen havo resumed work. M. Keronski has issued orders to arrest all who are guilty of -"f.lations with Gormany. Already soveral notorioup Maximalists hnvo been arrested. The whereabouts of Lenin is unknown. Mutinous troops have been disbanded, and further troops havo arrived from the front. Prince LvofT's resignation was followed by stormy Cabinet moetings. J!. Kwenski. who had just returned from tho front, criticised Ministers' handling of the recent situation, and declared they should havo used tho fullest powers to suppress the mutiny. -Reuter. DELEGATES FROM THE FRONT FAVOUR DICTATORSHIP UNDER KERENSKI , . , ' Pctronrad, July 22. Delegates from the rroobrajonsky Rogimcnt and from the front havo rnssed n resolution favouring M. Koronski's appointment to a Dictatorship. It is impossible to forecast what may linppon at tho front. It is significant that the Russian communiques admit a collapso of morale, but tho most important fact is that von Hindenburg. aftor a prolonged polioy of inactivity, hns launched an offensive-, tho offect of whioh upon the morale of tho troops ynll bo inoaloul-ablo.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Aesn,

SOCIALISTS DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE REPUBLIC. . Petrograd, .Inly 22. Ministers have discussed the immediate proclaiming of Russia a Democratic hepnuue. The final decision has been postponed until tho Uxosutive of tlie Soldiers' and Workmen's Council has pronounced its opinion. Tho ciisfs is nearly over. Tho Socialist Ministers havo issued an ultimatum, demnnding the immediate proclamation of a Republic; abolition of all class divisions, ranks, badges, and medals; reforms of the land, financial and economic systems; the adoption of firm measures .vsainst counter-revolution; and the dismissal of all unfaithful generals. Tho resignation of Prince Lvoff was due to disagreement with tho Socialists on tho question of land reform.—Renter. MUTINOUS REGIMENTS DISARMED AND DISBANDED (Bee. July 2.1, 0.10 p.m.) vi- Petrograd, July 22. ,_. -VJ; Jvorenski went to tho front to prevent a repetition of last week's disaster. Uio JiiGcuhve is disarming r.nd disbanding; all the regiments which renised to nsM. Jho general situation is quiet, but in several districts tho rebels fired at tho Executive army, killing several Cossacks.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRINCE LVOFF'S RESIGNATION (Kcc. July 23, 8.50 p.m.) Petrograd, July 22: I'rinco T;voff not only disagrees with his colleagues on the question of land reform, but opposes tho immediate proclamation of a Republic, declaring that a Constituent Assembly is the proper body. . Tho General Start on tho Rumanian front has telegraphed, demanding most stringent measures, including armed force, against the rebels.—Renter. TERRIFIC BATTLES ON THE FRENCH FRONT ENEMY DESPERATELY ATTACKING THE HURTEBISECRAONNE LINE SPLENDID VALOUR OP THE FRENCH (Rcc. July 23, 9.10 p.m.) London, July 22. A French official communique states-.—"There has been a. violent enemy bombardment along the Aisno front ftom Chevrigny Spur to the south of L'Ornbeny. The Germans at daybreak powerfully attacked with fresh troops which hud been brought up the previous evening between Hurtebise and tho casemates of the palteau. The hostile waves of assault were shattered by our fire and thrown back on their own trenches. Our heavy batteries dispersed the enemy's masses south of Ailette with severe ksees. Simultaneously our guns brilliantly repelled a violent attack on the casemates of the California Plateau. Tho .-vtillery duel continues with-redoubled intensity over the whole region. The'enemy is most activo at night time on both banks of the Meuso. There have been lively artillery duels in tho regions of Avocourt, Bczonvaux, and on the whole of the St. Mihiol sector. The Germans attacked at two points north of Bezonvaux. After a sharp fight wo completely drove them out of some elements in which they had- gained a footing. Two of ,tho enemy's attempts to reach <nr trenches on tho heights of tho Meuso at Touchot, near tho Chevalier's Wood failed." A later ooinuiuniquo States:—"The battle continued all daylong with extreme violencn in the region of IXurtebise' and C'raonne. Our observers huvo located numerous German batteries. Tho whole of the enemy's principal efforts are directed against tho casemates of the California Plateau, which powerful effectives incessantly attacked, ours resisting with admirable bravery, and vigorously coun-ter-attacking. The enemy was thrown back often from the casemates to which ho had clung, with enormous The enemy obtained a foothold on tho California Plateau first lino during the afternoon. Desperate fighting continues. Tho liveliest artillery activity prevails in Champagne and on tho "left of tho Mouse." THE FIGHT FOR THE CHEMIN-DES-DAMES ■ (Bee. July 23, 9.40 p.m.) London, July 22. Hauler's correspondent at.French Headquarters, describing the German'attack oil a, four-mile front on the fleniin-dcs-Danies sector on July 18, in which the fiftieth Division of the Prussian Guards, composed of picked battalions, participated, and were repulsed, says: "Everywhere along tho crest the Germans have only a stone's.throw to climb in order to reach tho French front line. In some places tho lines are only fifteen yards apart. The French are hanging almost vertically over tho Germans. The latter obtained a single success at one roint, because it was practically impossible for tho French'artillery to protect their own front line. A. desperate hand-to-hand conflict raged all night, but the enemy was driven out of all his momentary gains by the morning."—Reutcr. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT' ■ (Roe. July 23, 8.50 p.m.) London, July 22. A German official report states:—"The enemy's fighting activity has ircreaso<l generally on the West front. We successful)- penetrated tho French positions at Braye-en-Laonnais, and Cerny."—Ahs.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eentw. "ONE OF THE MOST DESPERATE BATTLES OF THE WAR" Paris, July 22. M. Marcol Hutin writes:—"One of the most desperate battles, and probably the most merciless, of the war, has terminated south of Cerny, in an uncontestabla victory for tho French infantry, and a bloody defeat for the best r,F the German tropps, represented by the Brandenburg Guards. The heaps of the enemy's dead testify to his phenomenal losses."—A.us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT

LINE ADVANCED AT MONOHY-LE-PBIEUX.

London, July 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Patrol encounters last night north-west of St. and south cl tens resulted in our favour. Wβ slightly advanced outline south-oast of Monohy-le-Prieux. Hostile'artillery is active at Armentiores and tho coast."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter.