EASTERN THEATRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 12 May 1915, Page 5

EASTERN THEATRE

WESTERN GALICIA DESPERATE ENGAGEMENTS. RUSSIANS TAKE SEVERAL THOUSAND PRISONERS. PETROGRAD, May 11. (Official). There have been desperate engagements in West Galicia. The enemy crossr cd the Wisloka- near Krasno. We routed a division of cavalry and a regiment of Prussian Guards in the Shavli region. The- pursuit- lasted all night. We took sevorai thousand , prisoners last week. GERMANS CROS&THE DUNAJETZ REINFORCEMENTS FROM CRACOW. SERIES OF COSTLY GERMAN ATTACKS. - PETROGRAD, May 11. Military circles- state. that the Germans have brought up eight army corps from Cracow, and are massing artillery in overwhelming forces' oh the precipitous right :bank of the Dunajetz, which dominates tho low country opposite them. ' '• .

The Germans made a costly scries of frontal attacks' with reckless disregard of life. After a week the forces on the Duriajetz dribbled across until they were able to form on a new front cast of the river. The .Russian lino is now straightened, and is holding its own with increasingly frequent counter attacks. The Russians have been thrilled by the splendid 1 ample of General Korniloff's 48th -Division, which was cut off during the retirement on the Gorlic —Zoigroo—Dukla • road;-but cut its way through by an heroic effort and rejoined its own army corps. Its losses- were heavy; but it restored the Russians' confidence' in victory, which was severely tried during the retirement "on the Duhajetz. The Russians suffering the reverse were chiefly the victors of Przemysl, and noi the'Grahd Duke's main force. The Germans must master the line of th§ Wisloka defence's before they' can menace the Grand Duke's strategy on the southern slopes of the Carpathians. GERMAN STATEMENT. (Official)... BERLIN, May 11. General Mackenseh again drove the Russians from position after position, capturing 12,000 prisoners, despite the enemy bringing up troops hastily by rail and.fprced marches. The pursuit is proceeding. : RIVER CROSSED ON PONTOONS. 2000 AUSTRIAN'S AND -GERMANS KILLED, -

BUDAPESTH, May 11. - The following description is given of the crossing of the Dunajetz at Oftinov, where there are high banks on both sides. The Russians were well entrenched, and bridge construction was im"pp'ssible. Working silently at night, the Austro-German army (bored great tunnels towards the banks. They were fitted with rails, and carried pontoons, on wheels. The tunnels were, blown up at the last minute, and twenty pontoons were launched. Nine were destroyed by gunfire, and eleven reached the other banks-. Many" of the troops were dead or dying, but there- were sufficient survivors to enable other pontoons to cross. At least 2000 Austrians and, Germans were killed in the crossing of the Oftinpv. The Russian artillery was amazingly good at first, hut' later was weak owing to lack of -munitions.

GERMAN ESTIMATE OF RUSSIAN LOSSES.

j AMSTERDAM, May 11. 'An official Berlin message states that the Russian third army, consisting Of five army corps and several reserve divisions, • has' now lost 80,000 dead and wounded, besides sixty guns and 200 machine gains. v FRESH DECORATION ON GENERAL MACKENSEN. . (Rec. Mav 12, 8.55 a.m.) . AMSTERDAM, May 11. The Kaiser conferred a fresh decoration General Mackensen for breaking the Russian, -'front—kme of' the' proudest feats of the war.

The High Commissioner reports : London, May 11, 4:55 p.m. In the region of. Shayli r the Russians' offensive continued successfully. •A' Bavarian cavalry "division and a regiment of Prussian Guards was attacked" at Jeymi v station by cavalry on Sunday .'night, : and pursued for several dozen versts. , ■ In Western Galicia, after desperate engagements,, the enemy succeeded in crossing the upper part of the' Wisloka river in the' region of Krosno.