NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17199, 20 June 1916, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

The fall of Czernowitz had been anticipated for several days and consequently when the news camo through it was taken quite as a matter of course. • Tho connection of Leshitsky's very energetic campaign eouth of tho Dniester with the operations further north is not very apparent, particularly iu view of the fact that botwoen Buozacz and Zaleszcziki, on tho lower Strypa, the Russian offonsivo has been making no marked progress.. Leshitsky's offensive, therefore, has appeared to be almost a soparatc campaign. The explanation of this appearance lies in tho nature of the Dnioster country. Tho wholo course of the Dniester east of Noznioff, near tho confluence of the Zlota Lipa, to the Russian border, has been described as a "dead belt," becauso the river, with its remarkablo windings, flows in a long gorge, with banks from 150 to 300 feet high. Dense fo.re-sts clothe the heights. The river itself may ,bo no more than 300 yards wide, and its depth probably not more than seven feet, so that it is easily crossed and easily bridged. But large forces cannot operate in such country becauso of the opportunities for defence, and for the most part small detachments have occupied the banks, with conveniently posted guns and machine guns sweeping tho approaches to tho more convenient crossings. Tho tributaries flowing from tho north all have'their own gorges, and it is for that reason that, no lighting has been reported on the Strypa between tho bridgehead at Buczacz and the confluence with tho Dniester.

South of the Dniester tho Austrian defensive position was established on a ridge of hills known as the Berdo Horodytscho, covered with thick oak forest. Here, again, there was no great opportunity for offensive operations on any considerable scale, and it may be recalled that when Loshitsky previously attempted to advance at Toporoutz, north-oast of Caernowitz, bo was held up on tho foothills. In that offensive, however, he gained useful positious, giving him access to tho hills and consolidated his now lines. Further north, not far from ' the Dniester, ho prepared au offensive

came for Brnssiloff'a big move. The reports of the operations- are too meagre to afford anything like a complete story, but it appears that when Brussiloff struck on the Lutsk sector Leshitsky attacked' Okna and Dobronoutz and captured them, and simultaneously made an advance in strength at Toporoutz and llarantco. This latter advance was plainly directed against Czernowitz and the Austrians ' must havo rushed all available troops to meet it. ' Leshitsky, however, while maintaining his offensive towards Czernowitz, sent a strong cavalry force over tho hills, by the road from Dobronoutz, to cut the railway north from Czernowitz to Zaleszcziki. Accomplish-

ing that purpose, the column pressed on to Sniatyn, apparently encountering little opposition, probably crossed the Pruth at that point and cut the Czernowitz-Kolomea railway. It must have pushed further west towards Kolomca, because the reports show that it encountered opposition. It is evident that tho Russians have had a column operating south of tho Pruth and east of Czernowitz, but no information as to its movements has been telegraphed beyond tho fact that a detachment entered Rumanian territory in error.

The messages relating to the Russian operations aro in some oases rather difficult to follow, possibly because certain of them are delayed on the way. The continuance of the Austrb-German resistance on the Sckul-Kolki sector of the Styr, while the Russians are in occupation of Svidliiki, ten miles to the west, is a case in point. The Russians crossed the Styr at Roshitse, ten or twelve miles above Lutsk, and pushed north-west along tho railway towards Kovel. • They forced tho crossing of the Stochod at Svidniki and captured that station. Unless Sokul is covered from tho south by swamps it ought to have become untenable, and it is not easy to understand' how the enemy could hold' on oven at Kolki, particularly as Brussiloff appears to have a very strong cavalry force on this sector. In the Lutsk region the Russians havo made a clear advance of forty miles, and though the day's messages do not add greatly to the information previously cabled it may be assumed that the advance on the southern flank, if not on the northern, is being pressed rapidly.

The most effective Austrian opposition on the whole front has been that on the sector west of Trembovla, along Strypa.. There is a stretch of tho river, extending perhaps to fifteen miles, that offers no great obstacle to military operations. It is between the marsh area and the gorgo of the Strypa. Its northern limit is marked by a small lake, four miles long and perhaps half a niilo wide, called Lake Ishkoff. A little to the south a road to Podhaytso crosses tho river. Then tho stream widens again, below the village of Siemikovitsc, and marshy banks prevent access. But a few miles further down tho river is again easily reached, at Sokoloff, Burkanoff and Hajvoronka—names that have already figured in tho communiques. Below Hajvoronka is Visniovehyk. and four or five miles further south is Bobuhnce, which is really in tho upper portion of the gorge.

There was very fierce fighting on this sector in September and October of Inst year, becauso both sides appreciated tho value of command of tho crossings. The aim of tho Russians was to° establish bridgeheads, and thenopening success seemed to promise a permanent footing on the west bank They captured Siemikovitsc, Burkanoff and Hajvoronka, and crossed the Strypa, but tho arrival of enemy reinforcements, both Austrian and German, compelled them to retire to the east bank, where they remained m noil established position, guarding tho crossings. At the end of October th* Austrians opened an offensive north of the Dniester, between Zaleszcziki and Buczacz. and to counter it the Russian* attacked Siomikovitse violently. Forcing tho passage of tho river, the Russians attempted to deploy, but woro stopped by strong German forces, and there followed a long struggle of the utmost intensity. In a few days thoro were fully 40.000 men on either side engaged on a front that was not moro than a mile and a half wide, tho lake to tho north and tho swamp to tho south preventing the extension of the battle. After driving the Russians to the west bank the Austrians crossed in turn. They were hurled back on the river, pinned to the bank, and thero died fighting.