THE SWEEPING OF GALICIA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 144, 19 June 1915, Page 5

THE SWEEPING OF GALICIA

DUE TO INTENSE ARTILLERY FIRE LONDON, 18th Jun^. A Russian oye-wttness, in a report covering the period from 3rd May to 18th May, states that Germany's counter-stroke to the Russian advance in' the Carpathians was carefully picpurod, and was the biggest effort yet made to bolster Austria. The attacks throughout were principally confined to intense ai tillevy work. The whole of the areas wero covered with shells till the trenches and the men ■were levelled out of existence. After pounding out the troops with artillery, the Germans" advanced in close formation ; but in almost every case, their infantry attacks were abortive. Nearly all our regiments suffered great losses by shell fire. Enemy airmen delivered an intermittent, violent bombardment, and our hospitals were removed to the rear. At onr of the advanced bandaging point?, German soldiers, raging drunk, burst in and bayoneted the doctor, Nine shells fell on the hospital at another point, and one stiuck the op* orating room, «yid wounded a lady doctor.

Some of tho German troops engaged against our Third Army were reserve divisions from the neighbourhood of Verdun. The Austrians kept up a ceaseless and futile cannonade, but hardly placed a Russian battery, and their progress at range-finding was slow and expensive. It was a different story when the Germans undertook the initiative. The difference in accuracy between the Austrians and Germans was soon clear. The Russian regiments suffered terribly. The first wing of the Russian advance in the Carpathiaais was outflanked, and had to come backward. Half of the corps rectified its position without serious loss. The 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, the Russians are firmer than ever. More and more men are pouring in. During the retreat towards the San, the enemy airmen were übiquitous. At one time ten airships flew over the Tines, and three were brought down and the occupants killed.