RUSSIA'S STAND MAINTAINED.

Evening Star, Issue 15907, 13 September 1915, Page 3

RUSSIA'S STAND MAINTAINED.

FIERCE FIGHTING ROUND GRODNO. ARTILLERY MORE EQUAL. SERETH VICTORY CONFIRMED. Press Association—By. Telegraph—Copyright. PETROGRAD, September 11. Official: Our troops are advancing- on the left bank of the Dvvina, fighting as they go.' ' The enemy, supported by strong artillery, developed a series of attacks in the directions of Skidel (east of Grodno) and the Lower Zelvianka. We repulsed the attacks, . but the Germans, renewed the offensive, accompanied by a severe fire of heavy and light artillery. Our batteries again Tepelled the attacks. The Germans then greatly increased their fire, and made a renewed attempt to pierce our front, but our concentrated artillery repulsed them the third time. We repulsed attacks near Rojany* by close-range fire and bayonet charges. The enemy then drove a large number of the inhabitants forward, under cover of whom they approached nearer our positions. ■ The -enemy .bombarded our troops at Kreznetz with asphyxiating shells. We have continued our successes in the Trembowla and Tchortkoff sectors. On Thursday we took S.(XX) prisoners. The Austrians, after their losses at Trembowla and Tchortkoff retreated precipitately. ' In general, our armies are calmly confident in themselves. ' The initiative by these, isolated engagements is gradually passing into our hands.'. THE GERMAN ACCOUNT. NORTH WING AND CENTRE. LITTLE PROGRESS CLAIMED. PARIS, September 11. A Berlin communique states that General Von Hindenburg, south-east of Friedrichstadt and east of Vilkomir, took 1.050 prisoners. The enemy are still offering obstinate resistance between Jesiori and Zehva, and counter-attacking. Strong forces attempted jto arrest the advance at Skidel, which could only be taken finally during the night after fighting with alternating success. We captured 2,700 prisoners in this region. Prince-Leopold is fighting with unabated •violence. He forced the crossing of the Zelvianka at some points. Fighting for the Tailway station at Kossow (northeast of Brest-Lltovsk) is proceeding. General' Von Bothmer repulsed severe counter-attarks, taking 300 prisoners. IN GALICIA, THE AUSTRIANS RETREAT. London 'Times' and Sydney 'Sun' Service*. _ PETROGRAD, September 11. j Official : Near Trembowla the Aus- . trians were forced to make a precipitate retreat. We captured 5,0C0 prisoners. FRENCH FELICITATIONS. PARIS, September 11. The French papers, commenting upon the battles of Trembowla, point out with enthusiasm the development of the operations which have brought about the Russians' success as showing the magnificent of morale and material- wh'ch -,the Prussian army preserves after the retreat, which was conducted in such good order. ENEMY ADMIT REVERSE. MINOR COUNTER-CLAIMS. AMSTERDAM, September 10. An Austrian communique states : There was violent fighting west of the Middle - Sereth, where the Russians were reinforced. SOFIA, September 11. An Austrian communique states : Deuogno, on the Goryn (which flows north past Rovno into" the Pripet near the Pinsk marshes), is in our hands. Strong Russian forces near Tarnopol attempted to enter the Austro-German positions, but were repulsed with heavy Josses. Further south we withdrew our Sereth front to heights east of the Strypa before superior forces. Heavy fighting is proceeding on the heights west cf the Lower Sereth. We stormed the stubbornly-defended village of Alba, west of Kossow. RUSSSANS IMPROVE SITUATION. , GENEVA, September" 12. The Russian offensive in the Sereth legion has reached, the Lemburg-Dubno railway, where the Austro-Germans are vainly resisting the advance, ENEMY DISPOSITIONS. REFORTIFYING- KOVNO. LONDON, September 11. Reuter's Petrograd correspondent states that there are 2,500,000 Austro-Germans on the Russian front, including 28 German corps in the Baltic Provinces and Lithuania, 20 Austro-German corps in the Pripet region, and 12 German and 30 Austrians corps in Galicia, including 11 Austrian and 9 German cavalry divisions. The Germans are feverishly restoring Kovno. Two forts have been constructed on the eastern side and two continuous lines of concreted trenches between the inner and outer forts. Guns of the heaviest calibre are being mounted. AERIAL ACTIVITY. AMSTERDAM, September 11. A Berlin official report states : A iwval airship successfully bombarded a Russian Baltic port and railways and returned . undamaged. POLAND ADMINISTRATION. ; AMSTERDAM, September 11. Dr Von Bethmann Hollweg, on beinrr asked to publish a decree authorising the ■use of the Polish tongue, refused.