EASTERN THEATRE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17523, 5 July 1917, Page 5

EASTERN THEATRE

ETJSSIAN OFFENSIVE.

ADVANCE CONTINUES,

THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS ,;,.., u: TAKEN. ,; ■"" jßitr»li»n and N.Z. Cablo A«iociation %ud Eoutor. LONDON, July 3. A Russian official report says:— Wo continue our successful offensive in -the direction of Zolochov. ' "Wo have captured 6300 officers and men and 21 guns, 16 machine guns and several mine-throwers. Prisoners continue to oome in. South-east of Brzezany on Sunday wo took 2253 prisoners. Yesterday, after a severe battle, we occupied Presovce, and also strongly iortified positions on heigths west and eouth-west of Zborov and the fortified village of Korshiduv. We penetrated three lines of trenches and the enemy returned across the Little Strypa. We captured positions westward of Uzefuvka.

DETAILS OF THE BATTLE. ••>"' Reuter'a Telegrams. (Received July 4, 8.30 p.m.) . PETROGRAD, July 3. The following details of the new offensive are supplied, authoritatively: A portion of an army corps and a Finland division attacked under violent fire and took two lines of trenches north of Koniukhy, afterwards repulsing counter-attacks. Some regiments suffered severely, especially in officers. On the rest of this sector the artillery continues to demolish the enemy trenches, the enemy guns replying Vigorously. In the section where the »rmy corps was engaged our troops carried all the trenches on the slopes or Mount Sredniayo. Gora, east of koniukhy, which was strongly defended, lbey occupied Koniukhy and the forest west of the village as far as Koniukhy torrent, and the whole of the trenches south of Koniukhy, capturing many prisoners and machine-guns. Part ot the Trans-Amur division, after capturing the western outskirts of the village of Schybalin, took all three lines of trenches in the forest of Lysonia and deployed north of the forest, where they entrenched themselves. The enemy is violently bombarding the forest of Brzezany, which we are attacking. Detachments of a division of infantry carried two lines of trenches north-west of Koniukhy, and a Siberian army corps took two lines of trenches Bouth-west of Potutory. Other troops captured the whole of the first and part of the second and third lines of trenches east and south-east of Miotcbischov.

CAREFULLY PLANNED OFFENSIVE.

PRAISE FOB M. KERENSKY.

Anglian and N.Z. Cable-Association. NEW YORK, July 3. The United Press Agency s corresX ne ' w " . p e trograd states that EP nQen doners sav the Teutons Earned b£ weeks ago that theßu-ians Sd start the offensive on the Ist of T,?w The Teuton defensive preparaS affect the RusflkTheViC adds:-"The, offor iron-handed discipline in the "" B H rian army. M. Kerensky may stand out asX greatest statesmen and general in .. —,

AUSTRIANS IN RETREAT.

RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN GALICIA.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 3. The Austrian forces have retreated across the Little Strypa. The Russians are marching on Zolochov.

LEMBERG THE OBJECTIVE. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. PARIS, July 3. Major De Cripicno, writing in March, said that the Russian demonstrations at Lutsk and Brody, and between thStrypa and the Zlota Lipa, were all aimed at Lemberg. General Brusilov was prepared to resume the carrying out of tho great concentric manoeuvre interrupted by the advent of winter and the revolution.

PLENTY OF SHELLS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

WASHINGTON, July 3

The Russian missioners state that the Russian armies are plentifully supplied with ammunition for the continuance of the present offensive. They predict further victories.

BRUSILOV'S SUCCESS

THE NEWS IN LONDON.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

LONDON, July 3

The newspapers gave prominence to General lirusuov's lug success m Galicia, which is described as a splendid method of commemorating the opening battle on the Somme. The news was first given to Petrograd by M. Kerensky telegraphing to frihee Lvov that tiie Russian revolutionary army commenced its offensive on the Ist of July. Details are eagerly awaited.

The Germans admit Brusilov's initial success at Koniukhy, but claim that their well-organised artillery in subsequent fighting took a heavy toll. Their latest communique registers tjlie development of fresh battles further north.

Previous German reports had prepared their own public for a general Russian attack at certain noints of strategic importance as a mere threat, and as a movement to maintain large German forces on the eastern theatre who might otherwise have played an important part elsewhere. The revolution naturally weakened Russia's striking powor, but the renewed bitter struggle on the front will doubtless harden tho troops and emphasise the need for subordinating internal politics to military necessities.

FROM THE ENEMY SIDE.

THE RUSSIAN FRONT. A GERMAN ACCOUNT. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association »id Router. AMSTERDAM, July 3. A wireless German official message says that the. Russian attack at Koniukhy broke clown, but fresh attacks developed northward.

AN AUSTRIAN VERSION.

LONDON, July 3.

A wireless Austrian official message says that between tho Narajowka and the Strypa tho enemy, continuously employing fresh reserves, pushed its assaulting waves, totalling at least twenty divisions, into hand-to-hand combats, which were mostly repulsed before our first lines were reached.

RUSSIAN SUCCESS ADMITTED. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Re J tor. (Received July 4, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. A wireless German official messago says-.—Fighting activity has increased

at Riga and Smorgon. There has strong artillery iiro on tho middle Sto-Kiiod and on tho Zloba Lipii. Russian attacks on the liovol-Lutsk railway failed heavily. In East Galacia tho battle continues to move forward across tho heights on the west bank of the Strypa. Russian masses succeeded in extending northwards the gap mado in our lines on the previous day. Russian attacks from Koniukhy broke before our new. positions. The enemy has not repeated' his attacks against the heights of Brzezany.

NEWS IN PETROGRAD

WAVE OF PATRIOTISM

Router'a Tomograms. (Received July 4, 8.5 p.m.)

PETROGRAD, July 3

Tho news of tin Russmn success has transformed the city. Pessimism has vanished and a wave of patriotism has drowned the exploits of anarchists and mutinous soldiers. The national tricolour is prominent in the streets. A procession headed by General Russky and the Russian staff officers, arm in arm with officers of the Allies, marched to the headquarters of the Government, where patriotic speeches were delivered from the balcony.

APPEAL TO THE TROOPS

DECISIVE BATTLE HAS BEGUN,

Renter's Telegrams.

PETROGRAD, July 3

Tho Russian High Command of the armies on the western front has issued an Order of tho Day, which states that the army on the south-western front lias defeated the enemy, and that the decisive battle has begun, upon which depends tho fate of tho liberty of the Russian people. " Our brothers on tho south-western front," states the Order, " are advancing victoriously, and look to us for prompt assistance Wo will not betray them. The enemy will hear the thunder of our cannon. The troops on the western front will put forth all their efforts, otherwise the Russian troops who have entrusted us with the defence of their liberty and honour will curse us."

NOT READY FOR SOCIALISM

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

Australian and N.Z. Cnblo Association

PETROGRAD, July 3. M. Skobelev, Minister of Labour, in a speech, said that democracy's duty was to acknowledge that Russia was not yet ready for Socialism, and that it was essential to co-operate with tho bourgeoiso in order to secure freedom's triumph. The Government, ho added, -would take firm, onenrotio measures ajwr'nst street riots, shootings and anarchist demonstrations. Tn the meantime firmness was absent in Petrograd, although urgontlv """ded, as the anarchists were uncontrolled.

RIOTING ANARCHISTS

COSSACKS SUPPRESS ARMED DISTURBANCE.

Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received July 4, 11.10 p.m.)

PETROGRAD, July 3. Armed Anarchists surrounded the Crestv prison and liberated a number of prisoners, including two _ charged with espionage and another with inciting soldiers against their officers. A body of Cossacks surrounded the Bournevo Palace. The defenders threw bombs, but they did not explode. All tho conspirators were arrested, except an Anarchist who was found dead inside. It is believed that he committed suicide, as the Cossacks did not use arms.