EASTERN THEATRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16922, 30 July 1915, Page 7

EASTERN THEATRE.

AT THE GATES OF WARSAW HEAVY ACTION PROCEEDS. THE SOUTHERN STRUGGLE. DESPERATE FIGHTING. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright . FETBOGRAD, July 29. The thunder of guns iu a heavy action in the vicinity of Pinseczno echoes through the streets of Warsaw. The arrival of wounded has convinced the population that tho situation is critical, although the Russians occupy a strong line. Meanwhile good reports have boon received from the zone of battle immediately north of Warsaw, heavy Ger-

man attacks being broken. Tho enemy's losses are terrible. Tbo Germans are making a heavr concentration behind Krasnostav, south , of Choi in. Trainloads of troops are constantly arriving:. For ten days the : Germans have made continuous efforts j to advance, facing tlio most stubborn i resistance they ever have encountered. j The Russians are fighting the fight of I their lives. The Germans are unable j to maintain steady drives, and tho ; Russians are counter-attacking. Tho : entire lino represents a zig-zag, owing | to German gains and withdrawals. Each position is fought over and over again. Each time the Germans halt tho Russians are at their throats. Though there have been retirements at many places, varying from ten to fifteen versts, nothing sufficiently important has been lost to warrant tbo opinion that a decision at a decisive point has yet been reached, or is in | sight. j Every Russian, corps has a separate ! story of heroism. Every position the I Germans take represents losses to them I of appalling magnitude. Each success means that the ground is piled with their countless dead. The Germans, though still attacking with determination and fury, aire in an advanced state of exhaustion. Each day sees them I reinforced with new ammunition and

Parras. The Allies should realise that tho Russians are making oven - effort humanly possiblo to break the German offensive, bleeding tho enemy as he never has been bled before. Each retreat strengthens tho Russians and weakens the Germans. The “Morning Rost’s” Potrograd correspondent says that tho Russians are dealing with tho northern and southern attacks by very different methods. T'lio couth is tho of hard fighting inch by inch. Tho Germans make no general progress, and seem to make prolonged pauses to bring np backward portions of tho line by pushing reinforcements from place to place. Tlius they are constantly under strain in tropical heat. Tho Russians have not yet been severely strained to deal with attacks with troops on the spot. The Germans north of G nibsieezow are still two marches behind their proper posirion, owing to successful Russian counter-attacks. The operations on the Narew front are more advanced. The Germans hitherto have concentrated on the princix>lo of exhaustion in this region, and steadily brought up increasing forces since the beginning of the week, putting forth the utmost efforts to follow up their supposed advantage in crossing tho Narew. Tho Russians astrule the Narew are preventing the enemy utilising his success hv direct counter-attacks and also are harrying his flank and rear. Heroic fighting proceeds in tho forest opposite Rozan. The soil on tho left hank of the Narew in this quarter is good and firm. Roads and many tracks traverse tho forest, which is four miles deep. A series of hills at the rear give admirable artillery positions. The Russians are checking the German advance in the forest. The Germans’ difficulties will really begin when they emerge. It is still impossible to say on which front tho decisive moment will first arrive. The development depends more on tho Russians than on tho Germans. Tho position is that the Germans are shaking the Russian web for two-thirds of its circumference, while the spider sits watching progress and awaiting the decisivo moment with uhbreathed forces. GERMAN CLAIMS. APPROACHING "WARSAW. AMSTERDAM, July 2S. A Genii an official report states: — We scattered tho Russians between Mi tan and tho Niemen, and wo captured Noworowo, north of Seroek. On both banks of tho Narew the Russian counter-attack south of Nasielsk failed, the enemy losing 2500 prisoners and seven machine guns at Nasielsk, _ and near Rozan. Wo stormed the village of Piemnow, near Blonie, which is twenty-four kilometres west of tho Warsaw forts. Tho position in the south-east is unchanged. AUSTRIAN REPORT. RUSSIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. (Received Julv 29, 9.45 p.m.l AMSTERDAM, July 29. An Austrian official report states: — The enemy made unsuccessful counterattacks near Sokal, likewise west of Ivangorod. SVEN HEDIN’S VISIT. COPENHAGEN, July 29. Sven Hedin has gono to Poland at the invitation of Marshal von Hindenburg, who wired: “Ho quick if you want to be in time to witness tlio conquest of Warsaw.” RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. DETERMINED FIGHTING AT MANY POINTS. (Received July 90, 1.45 a.m.l PETROGRAD, July 29. Tho following official report lias been issued:— The enemy advanced from Poneviej, near Sliavli, on Monday. Wo stopjied liis rearguard near tho village of Kavotch wlioro our artillery inflicted heavy losses. Tho enemy succeeded on Tuesday in crossing tho River Narew, near N'ovogorod, and occupied if portion of our trenches on tho left hank. We drove him back across the river. We nsunicd the offensive on Monday between tho Vieprz and the Bug and captured Maidam and Ostrovsky with 15U0 prisoners. We repulsed furious attempts to break our front in thedircotion of Grubieszow, inflicting heavy losses. Wo successfully assumed the offensive south of Sokal against forces which crossed tho Poturieza. Our troops on Tuesday hurled themselves against enemy heights and took ’many prisoners. The enemy reinforced, counter-attacked and determined fighting continues.