THE EASTERN THEATRE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16744, 28 December 1914, Page 7

THE EASTERN THEATRE

AN UNCEASING BATTLE. SLAUGHTER ON THE BZURA. REPEATED GERMAN CHARGES FAIL By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. LONDON, December 25. Tlio ''Daily Chronicle's" Warsaw correspondent states that tho battle of the Bzura is raping unceasingly and recalls that of the Yser in the terrible slaughter. The Russians and Germans axe strongly entrenched on opposite sides of the river. Tho Germans make incessant attacks in close formation, seeking to crush the Russians by sheer weight of numbers. So far tho German charges always havo been driven back with heavy loss. The Russians continue dashing counter-attacks. Tho outstanding example is ono by the Siberians at Sochaczew on Sunday, when tho Germans abandoned five machine guns and two aeroplanes. The scene of the fighting is a flat, expanse of damp fields. There is no snow, but a bleak wind and much water in tho trenches. Tho authorities at Petrograd attach much importance to tho Russians making a serious breach in the German line on the Pilica. i \. ~~~~~~~~~~~ - WURTEMBERGERS CUT UP. SEVEN BATTALIONS ANNIHILATED BY SIBERIANS. (Received December 27, 3.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 26. R outer's Petrograd correspondent states that tho Siberians on December | 19 almost wiped out seven battalions | of Wurtembergers who were attemptI ing to cross where the R-awka enters < ! the Bzura. The Germans left 1200 dead on the field after tho Siberians' bayonet I attack on December 21. The spoils captured at Mlawa include many waggons with Christmas presents for the Germans. j SITUATION UNCHANGED. | ALL GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. RUSSIA'S PRISONERS. (Received December 27, 3.40 p.m.) PETROGRAD, December 26. An official report states: — The situation on the Vistula is unchanged. All day and night attacks : in the district of Sochaczew and Boli- ! mow have been repulsed. Fighting ! continues on the banks of the Pilica. i Two infantry regiments with the greatest bravery among tho spurs of the Carpathians crossed the Jasielka River up to their waists in water, unaer a murderous fire, dislodged tho Austrians at the point of the bayonet, and took 154 prisoners. On December 23 the total numbers of prisoners in Russia were:— Officers. Men. German . 1140 131,737 Austrian . 31SG 211,447 THE WARSAW GASWORKS. PETROGRAD, December 25. The Government has confiscated tho Warsaw gas works belonging to a German company. The Russians found 900,000 roubles in a safe, evidently stored up for transmission to Germany. BOMB IN PETROGRAD. A bomb was exploded outside the British Legation, wrecking a neighbouring shop and killing the owner. The "motive of the thrower is unknown. DEFENDING ALL FRONTIERS. LONDON, December 25. General von Hoetzendorf, Chief of the Austrian General Staff, declares that the decisive result of the war will bo oi? the eastern front. Ho denied tho statement that Austria is taking special military measures against Italy, but admitted that it 1 was necessary to make preparations to • defend all frontiers. RIVER DAMMED WITH CORPSES. FIERCE FIGHTING ON THE 'BZURA. GERMANS' DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO CROSS RIVER. WHOLE BATTALIONS BLOTTED OUT. (Received December 27, 3.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 26. The "Daily Chronicle's" Warsaw correspondent gives further details of • tho fighting on the Bzura. The Ger- ■ mans on December 19 made five des- • perate night attempts to establish a ' footing on tho eastern bank. Though searchlights were playing and tho fire from tho Russian trenches mowed lines in the enemy's ranks, the Germans . clashed into the icy bullet-whipped water, which reached their armpits. Only ono reached tho east- . ern bank. Tho rest of tho at- ,' lackers suffered immense _ losses. Sometimes a whole battahou was blotted out in a quarter of an hour. General Madritoff, who made a reputation in the Japanese war, commanded the Russians in this region. The fighting reached its climax on • December 20, when a second German • attack succeeded in dragging several 1 mitrailleuses to a position enfilading the trenches of the First Siberians and captured tho trenches. Two hours later the Siberians, who were reinforced, retook, tho trenches and drove tho Germans into tho river. They fought hand to hand in the water, each sido receiv--1 ing reinforcements. The river, which is fifty yards wide, was literally dam- • med with corpses. Struggling wound- ' ed were drowned, entangled among the I dead. GERMAN ATTACKS CEASE. * AN OFFICIAL ADMISSION. (Received December 28, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 27. A German official wireless admits that tho German attacks on the Bzura havo censed. AEROPLANES BUSY. DESTRUCTION AT SOCHACZEW. PETROGRAD, December 27. Five German aeroplanes bombed Sochaczew. The bombs killed eight persons and wounded a hundred, ,igmted many houses and destroyed the mar--1 ket. '#*'

FIGHTING ON THE NIDA. FOUR THOUSAND AUSTRIANS CAPTURED. OPERATIONS IN GALICIA. (Received December 28, 12.5 a.m.) PETROGRAD, December 27. An official report states: — There lias been desperate fighting on the lower Nida. A further four thousand Austrians have .been captured. The fighting along tho whole front >n Galicia is favourable to the Russians. IN GALICIA. AUSTRIANS RECAPTURE USZOK PASS. TOWNS RETAKEN BY RUSSIANS. (Received December 28, 12.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 27. An official report from Vienna states: — The Austrians have captured the Ussok Pass. Tho Russians, in superior force, recaptured Krosno and Jaslo.