EASTERN THEATRE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17198, 19 June 1916, Page 7

EASTERN THEATRE

BRUSSILOFF’S thrust.

THE STRYPA STRUGGLE.

MORE RUSSIAN CAPTURES

By Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright,

PETROGRAD, Junp 16. A communique states'.—The heroic effort of the troops under' General Stcherbatoff overthrew the Austrians in the Guilovody district. The struggle on the west bank of the Strypa, northwest of Buczacz, continues. Wc have already captured 6000 men. IN VOLHYNIA. RUSSIANS PRESSING ON. (Received June 18, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 17. A commumquo states: —1 ighting continues in South Polesie, and the enemy has suffered heavy losses. V e captured 1750 men during a, powerful out fruitless counter-attack by the snemy in the Styr region toward Sokal, south of Vladimir Volynski. Our cavalry continue in pursuit of the enemy in the Styr region toward Sokul, General Sakharoff’s troops, by desperate fighting, dislodged the enemy from fortified positions on the river Plasbovka, south-west of Dobno. One of our young regiments forded tho river, with water up to their chins. One company was engulfed and died a heroic death, but tho valour of their cam- ; -des resulted in the disorderly flight of tho enemy, of whom 5000 wore made prisoners, many machine guns and thousands of rifles also being captured. ADVANCING ON BRODY. AUSTRIANS DEFEATED ON STRYPA FRONT. (Received June 18, 11 p.m.) PETROGRAD, Juno 18. A communique states: —The Emperor of Japan has congratulated the Czar on the glorious victory in Galicia. Iu order to arrest our advance towards Lemberg tho enemy, reinforced by elements from other fronts, is making at many points furious counter-attacks against General Brussiloff. The enemy’s offensive at Gadomitche, westward of Kolki, was repulsed, and the Russians, pi easing on in pursuit, pierced the defences on the northern bank of the Styr. In the course of a hot engagement on the Stokhod tho Siberians brilliantly carried the village of Svidni, while the hussars of White Russi«, supported by horse artillery, charged through three extended lilies, sabring two Austrian companies. Wo occupied Radziviloff, and pushed the enemy back to Brody. The enemy on the entire Strypa battlefield on Friday was in flight, and was thrown into the utmost confusion by our salvoes. Germans and Austrians ivere intermingled, falling in hundreds. Several brigades and our artillery at full gallop occupied open positions and fired at point-blank on tho fugitives. Their dash was irresistible. The fighting was fierce in the Haivaronka district on the Strypa. The enemy is

furiously attacking the Sniatyn railway. An enemy column lias been thrown across the River Czerniava, which joins tho Pruth midway between Kolomca and Sniatyn. The Russian thrust at Radziviloff has reached Potehayelf, eight miles southeastward. It represents an advance of ten miles. _ 'The Russians on the Stokbod aro within twenty-five miles of Kovel, n vital railway centre, through which the German reinforcements are pouring southward. The fighting at Prsevloka, northward of Buczacz. is important because it is within twelve files of the strategic railway from Podhayts to Lemberg.

BRILLIANT RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

ENEMY FALLING BACK. (Received:Juno 18, 11.25 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 18. The enemy northward of Lemberg is falling back on the strongly defended lino Viadimir Volynski-Sokal-Stoyanoff, twenty miles cast of feokal. To this line the Germans are hurrying reinforcements. The Russians are advancing towards Lemberg on both sides of the Dubno-Lemberg railway. Their storming of three miles of formidable positions along the flooded river ITashovka, a trioutary of the Styr, flanked by a series of ten lakes and supported by fire from heights in the rear, was a wonderfully fine feat, which, with the capture of the Rostok forest, southward of Potchaycff, decides the fate of the whole Kremenetz region. In order to escape General Sakiiarofi’s northern and southern claws the enemy hastily retreated westwards towards Brody, leaving another section of the Lemberg -railway in Russian hands. The battle north-westward of Buczacz covers a twelve mile front. The Austro-Germans are evacuating towns and villages southward of the Pripet. The left bank of the Pripet is strongly fortified. HOW LUTSK FELL, AUSTRIAN CONFUSION. (Received Juno 18, 11.25 p.m.) PETROGRAD, Juno 18. Correspondents eulogise the gallantry of tli© Russian othcers, who are invariably in the forefront of the attacks, while the colour-bearers headed some of the fiercest and most sanguine charges against Lutsk defences. The evacuation of Lutsk was a panic-stricken flight, with infantry, cavalry, guns, hospital and supply trains inextricably mixed, all struggling with an absence of orders towards Torchin. A portion of tho mass took the Charukoff road, but quickly retreated on learning that tho Russians had enveloped Lutsk from the south. A Russian armoured, car detachment before Lutsk dashed through gun, machine gun and rifle fire, broite the enemy’s line, and scattered Ills reserves, enabling the infantry to occupy the trendies and enter tho town almost without casualties. Several French prisouers employed in building officers’ summer, barracks on the Styr were rescued..

CZERNOWITZ ABANDONED. LONDON, June 16. The “Daily Telegraph's” Petrograd correspondent states that General Letcnitzky’s troops have surrounded Czernowitz on three sides. The eue-

niy’s tardiness in. evacuating the town was duo to a desire to remove important stores. . . _ , The Russian advance m the larnopol district lias not been pressed for tile present, because the development or success northward and southward will compel withdrawal from Tarnopol and the acceptance of a battlo more or less open. Bucharest reports state that Czornoivitz has been evacuated. FIGHTING IN BUKO WIN A. BULGARS CALLED IN TO HELP. (Received June 18, 11 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 18. Czernoivitz is the scene of iurious fighting. The town is almost demolished. The enemy is still clinging to tho suburbs, but the Russians havo nearly surrounded thorn, interposing a barrier preventing the garrison from functioning with the Austrians in Bukowina. Two German corps are hastening to Galicia and two Bulgarian divisions towards Bukowina. The Austrians near Olylca abandoned a, badly damaged armoured train. (Received Juno 19, 1.25 a.in.) PETROGRAD, June 18. A wounded Russian officer relates that tho Germans, attempting to check General Rrussiloff’s advance, employed their favourite battering-ram stroke and threw forward tlireo divisions, which the Russian artillery smashed successively. THE RUSSIAN CAPTURES. PETROGRAD, June 16. Russian successes continue, and a further 14,000 prisoners havo been taken. PETROGRAD, June 17. An official repoi't asserts that the ammunition captured in the present offensive would suffice the entire army for several weeks. ENEMY REPORTS. FIGHT AT BAR AN 0 VITCH. COPENHAGEN, Juno 17. Gorman newspapers state that tho Russians, after a three hours’ bombardment, destroyed strong Austro-Gennan lines nor Ji of Raranovitcli. Fifty thousand Russians attacked, but advancing over-far were compelled to fall back two miles. The newspapers add that the Austro-G emails ore now . strongly reinforced raid havo taken up a new position. A Enrich correspondent says that Austrian headquarters report that fighting north of Baranovitch lias developed with, unparalleled severity. . AMSTERDAM, June 18. A Gorman communique states: Fighting lias developed in the Stokhcd and Styr sectors against General von Linsingen and against portions of General von Bothiner’s force, which is fighting northward of Przevloka.

RUSSIAN ARTILLERY. USING JAPANESE EXPLOSIVE. ROME, June 16. The newspapers state from a Russian source that trio effectiveness of tho Russian artillery in the present offensive is due to great Japanese guns and Japanese shells charged with a new explosive, tlio destructiveness of which surpasses all expectations.

WITHHOLDING NEWS. VIENNA DELUDED. LONDON, Juuo 10. The newspapers in Vienna are forbidden to publish Russian communiques and the public are without news, except Austrian communiques affirming that the Austro-Hungarian losses arc small and those of the Russians overwhelming. An increasing influx of Lemberg refugees is interpreted as making official statements mendacious. ONLY BEGINNING. ONE THIRD OF FORCES ENGAGED. COLONEL BEPINGTON’S VIEWS. ‘ Times ” and Sydney “ Sun " Services. LONDON, June 10. Colonel Repington, in “The Times.' says that the Russian advance is only beginning. The armies in the south represent only one-third of the forces, and when the other two-thirds come into play the staffs at Vilna and Lemberg will be sending each other disquieting despatches. It is unlikely that the Germans m Russia can effectively succour the_ Austrians. as all available German divisions were withdrawn for the Balkans and Verdun. Field Marshal von Hindenburg was sucked dry for the same reason. We shall see whether there are fresh divisions available from the interior of Germany. If there are none, and the Russians "should operate in the north, awkward times are ahead. Germany must not fix her eyes exclusively on 'General Brussiloff. The eastern theatre affects largo areas, and as the Allies are moving at last Germany must look- far if she wishes to embrace the horizon, which will scon be aflame.