THE STOKHOD FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, 4 August 1916, Page 5

THE STOKHOD FRONT

FURIOUS FIGHTING CONTINUES

ADVANCE ON KOVEL CONTINUES

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

PETROGRAD, Aug. 3. Furious fighting as proceeding on the whole of the Stokhod front.

The Germans, driven to desperation, are launching counter-attacks without cessation. They poured iu fresh divisions on Monday and Tuesday:, but- the Russian fire mowed them down with huge losses. The cannonading continues day and night. The bitterness is increased owing to the persistence of enemy aviators iin bombing, hospitals and dressing stations.

The Russians have advanced ten miles towards Kovel since they crossed the Stokhod bend.

The experts are confident that General Lesh will deal effectually with the German flank attacks north, of the KovelSarny railway. ' The fighting in this region covers a five miles front eight miles north of the railway, but the marshy country between the Stokhod and the Thuria does not permit of rapid evolutions by masses of .troops, while the scarcity of roads prevents the extensive employment of German heavy artillery. The Russian crossing of the Koropetz river, in Southern Galicia, threatens Stanislavoff and Halicz, besides further turning Bothmer's forces from the south, while General Sakaroff's advance south-west of Brody has increased Bothmer's predicament from the north.

AUSTRO-GERMAN REORGANISATION. (Reuter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDx\M, Au S . 3. It is officially announced at Berlin and Vienna that the command of the armies on the Eastern front has been re-arranged in view of the Russian offensive. With the assent of the Kaiser, who is at present on the Eastern front, Hindenburg has been placed in command of the Austro-German alliedarmies, which are combined for uniform employment. MESSAGE CONFIRMED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec Aug 4, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3. An officially confirmed message states that in view of the general situation and the Russian offensive, Hindenburg has been appointed to supreme command from, the Baltic to Galick. GERMAN ATTACK AT SMORGAN FAILS. (Australian, and N.Z. Cable (Rec Aug 4, 11.30 a.m.) PETROGRAD, Aug, 3. The Germans atacked with gas at Smorgan without result.