RUSSIAN THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 15908, 14 September 1915, Page 3

RUSSIAN THEATRE.

NORTHERN FLANK CONTRACTS. STUBBORN STAND IN CENTRE] SOUTHERN SUCCESS MAINTAINED. _ Pr-Mss Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, PSTROGRAD, September 13. ■ A communique states : While continuing to hold the enemy, we have slightly withdrawn on the Niemen front, owing to a salient- having been formed. We repulsed desperate attacks on the Lower Zelvianka and destroyed a battery fit Zclva (west of Slonim), where the Ger : mans developed a most violent fire, attacking throughout/Saturday ,on the Baranowizy Toad (east of Slonim). The enemy in the Rovno region have been reinforced, and are continuing the . offensive in the Derahjno district. We are holding them, and their attacks are constantly being repulsed. The Austrian 6 on the Upper Goryn (south of Eovno) have Buffered great losses. A later communique states : The German advance by the Dvinsk roads continues. After a stubborn engagement with superior forces between Vilkomir and TJsiank, we fell back to the Lake. Dusiaty district. The enemy are determinedly attacking along the * Tight bank of the Vilna, and advancing towards the Godbrodze railway station. We continue to hold them. Fierce fighting continues in the Skidel district (east of Grodno). Prisoners describe the Austro-German forces as excessively fatigued through recent fighting. The losses for the past three days in killed alone were 100 per company. We captured north of Tarnopol 91 officers, 4,200 men, nine machine guns, and much booty. We repulsed the enemy with enormous losses. Armored motor cars, • dashing to the front of the enemy's defences, remained for hours pouring in a stream of bullets. Southward of Tarnopol we .assumed the offensive, and took many Austrians as prisoners during the pursuit from Tluste towards the Dniester. Altogether the execution of the general plan is daily improving our position. ALONG THE CORYN. AMSTERDAM, September 13. An Austrian communique says": We , crossed the Goryn near Derajno. Russian attacks near Tarnopol Have increased in violence. The enemy north of Tarnopol penetrated our trenches and occupied Dolzanka, but German and Honved (Hungarian Landwehr) battalions hurrying up caught the enemy on both flanks and recaptured Dolzanka, throwing the enemy back upon the bridgehead positions. The enemy's losses were heavy. We captured the strongly-entrenched village of Skuraty near Kosowo. ' The Kaiser has dismissed General Von Kleuge, whom he held responsible for the Austro-German check on the Sereth. EXPERT VIEWS. BLACK SEA ROUTE CLOSED. London "Times' and Sydney 'Sun' Servioe«. "LONDON", September 12. ' The Times's' correspondent at Petroprad says : " The Russian victories immensely modify fears with regard to Kieff and the south-west provinces generallv. The prospect of a further enemy advance in this theatre is contemplated without the slightest apprehension. The likelihood of it Teaching Rovno is admitted, but further progress is increasingly difficult, while the' Russian offensive ability in Galicia affords a Teliable pledge that ry any attempt-to-, outflank them; from the direction of Rovno will bo countered in good time. Meanwhile the enemy are mainly concerned to keep us occupied in the Rovno-Dubno Tegiou in order to prevent us from following up the Galician success, which has already foTced the enemy to retire from the direct routes . along the Dnieper and postpone operattions in that direction. "The effective Tepulse of the German naval attack in the Baltic confirms the impression that the German naval organisation is far inferior to that of the t land forces, and strengthens the confi--1 dence in the ability of the Russian navy to any attempts at landin"-." NO ROAD TO PETROCRAD. PETROGRAD, September 13. General Russky (commander of the defence in the northern region), in the course of an interview, said the capture of Petrograd was impossible, since the conditions \ regarding Russian shells, rifles, and fresh troops were slowly but surely improving, while the intervening ground offered endless difficulties to the German advance. A RUMOR. LONDON, September 13. The 'Daily Mail's' correspondent at Copenhagen reports that the Zeppelin raid on the Baltic ports.,was carried out by the aid of sketches made by the Kaiser when visiting the Tsar there'.