EASTERN THEATRE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17529, 12 July 1917, Page 5

EASTERN THEATRE

ENEMY PREPARATIONS

CONCENTRATIONS ON RUMANIAN

FRONT.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERNE, July 10.

Notwithstanding the Russian offensive in Galicia, the Austro-Germans are concentrating large reinforcements on the Rumanian front, believing that the real offensive will be on the southernmost sectors, whore the Russians and Rumanians are in great strength. Much anxiety prevails in Germany and Austria because a successful RussoRumanian offensive might entail the loss of the Rumanian and Hungarian crops*

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE.

GENERAL KORNILOV’S ADVANCE. FURTHER SUCCESSES. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, July 10. A Russian official message states:— General Kornilov’s offensive continues. In spito of an energotic resistance and stubborn counter-attacks, fresh villages, moro than a thousand prisoners, three field guns, many trench mortars, machine-guns and other material have been captured.

SIX MILE ADVANCE

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and

Router. (Received July 11, 6.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 10. A Russian official message says: General Kornilov continued his offensive in the direction of Dolina. Thoro were sanguinary battles on the roads toward Haliea, and also in the region of the villages of Huciska, Pacykov and Pavclce. Bayonet fighting in Pavelce resulted in the enemy’s complete rout. We occupied the villages of Victorov, Majdan, Huciska and Pacykov and reached the village of Bukovitza. The onemy retreated to the river Lomnitza. The Russians have made such daring attacks in two days that the offensive has penetrated the enemy’s position to a depth of ten versts (about 6 2-3 miles).

STEADY PROGRESS ON GREAT

FRONT.

CZECH PRISONERS FIGHT FOR RUSSIA.

Router’s Telegram's.

LONDON, July 10. The “Morning Post’s” Petrograd correspondent says that-the Russian offensive is steadily progressing. The whole soMth-wcstern front, from Pinsk to the Carpathians, is now engaged, but the northern front remains inactive, despite the armies’ strong protests to Petrograd urging that the young garrisons stationed there 'should immediately be sent to the front. The Czechs imprisoned on the southwest front will immediately petition to be permitted to fight for Russia, and if suitable will be drafted to Czech regiments. Belgian armoured cars are participating in the offensive.

lIALICZ THREATENED. • “ The Times ” Service. (Received July 11, 11.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, July 10.

The. Austro-Geiman front between Hnlicz and the Carpathians has been broken by the Russians in the neighbourhood of Dniester. . They hav3 turned lialicz from the south and south-west, and now menace the Haliez bridgehead. Between July 2 and 8 General Kornilov took 14.000 prisoners and 55 guns, of which twelve arc Jioavy.

BAD WEATHER HINDERS OPERATIONS.

United Service. (Received July 11, 6.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 10.

Heavy rains and wind are hindering the Russian operations at Brzezany, but l the offensive is developing on a large scale. Strong activity has spread along the front of 140 miles to the southwest.

FROM THE ENEMY SIDE. FRONT BROKEN AT STANISLAV. Au»trolisn and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM July 10. A Berlin message admits that the Russians, smashed the German front at Sljpnislr.u.

FRANCO-BRITISH ARTILLERY ' HELPS RUSSIANS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

(Received July 12, 12.10 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, July 11.

The “Vossic-he Zeitung’s” correspondent in Galicia, describing the latest fighting, says that the Russian heavy artillery has been tremendously reinforced by British and French artillery and artillerymen. One heavy gun near Brzezanv is of 45 centimetres calibre.

WITHDRAWAL ADMITTED.

•Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and

Renter. (Received July 11, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON. July 10, A wireless German official message says:—

Fighting activity has increased near Riga, Dvinsk and Sinorgon. The Russians are inactive between the Strypa and the Dniester. Fighting north-west of Stanislan resulted in c*af withdrawal behind the Lukovitza stream.

WORKING LIKE CLOCKWORK

EVACUATION OF’HALICZ

EXPECTED.

Renter’s Telegrams. (Received July 12, 1.25 a.m.)

PETROGRAD. July 11. General Kornilov's cavalry, with-Cos-sacks, following up General Kirbach’s retiring army' south of Halicz, forced* the river Lukovitza, running parallel to the river Lukva. Tho western bank of tho Lukva dominates the wooded eastern bank, but it is considered unlikely that the demoralised enemy will be able to concentrate sufficient troops to prevent the Russians passing the river iu continuance of the advance in the direction of Dolina. The co-operation between the Seventh and Eleventh Armies north of Halicz, with tho Eighth Army to the south, up to the present has been like clockwork.

The, “ Petch,” in a military article, points out that the success of the Eighth Army separates von Bothmer’s German Army from Kirbach’s Third Austrian Army, which were in contact between Halicz and Stanislan. The writer anticipates tho evacuation of Halicz, which is not a fortress but only a strong bridgehead, protecting von Bothmer’s positions from tho east and south-east.