RUSSIA COMMENCES UNITED OFFENSIVE.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 30938, 23 July 1917, Page 3

RUSSIA COMMENCES UNITED OFFENSIVE.

v„ ... \ RUSSIAN REGIMENT VOLUNTARILY RETIRES, < .. ALLOWS ENEMY TO DEVELOP LOCAL SUCCESS. /. (Australian and Renter)., Received Julv 22, at 5.5 p.m. LONDON. July 21. A wireless Russian official report says: Lively artillery firing has taken place in the direction of Y-ilna. ',■.,■••' The enemy persistently attacked twenty miles'south oLßrody, ■ '. At first all attacks were repulsed, but one regiment, between Batyov and Manajou left the trenches and voluntarily r.etirjecl; The : result'was, that the neighbouring units were forced,to retire, the movement also giving the enemy the opportunity to develop his success. Our failure, was largely due to the influence of 'extremists. Scveral detachments, on being ordered to support their comrades, held meetings and discussed the advisability pf obeying orders. 'Some i refused to'obey, and the efforts of the commander and committees Were fruitless. The Austro-Germans occupied a portion of-our' first line eastward of Brzezany and also at Bludniki. Westward of Halicz the enemy took the offensive on the 17th and captured the height southward of Novica. Our cavalry and infantry drove back the enemy and restored the position, i ■.-. A wireless German official report says: Between the Sereth and the Strypa wc are closely pursuing the retreating enemy. , • i (Australian and Reutcr). Received July 22, at 5.5 p.m. :y^'-■'";. '".' ■ LONDON, July 2b" iTwireless German official report says: We advanced between the Sei'eth and the Glota-Lipa through three strong zones of defence. The enemy suffered sanguinarily and retreated disorderly. We took a few thousand prisoners. There has been increased artillery attacks in the .regions of Dunaburg, Smorgon, Stockhod; and between the Zolta Lipa and the i Pneister. We repulsed the Russians near Novica. i ■ i (Australian and New Zealand CaWe Association.) Received July 22, at 5.5 p.m. . ' COPENHAGEN, July 21.

Advices from Berlin represent that the German attack at Zlossow is the prelude to an offensive. COUNTER-OFFENSIVE BY AUSTRO-GERMANS. RUSSIANS GIVING GROUND AT SEVERAL POINTS. • (Australian and Renter.) Received July 22, at. 11.5 p.m. '■■'.-' LONDON, July 21. A wireless Russian official report says the enemy artillery tiring is intense south-westward of Bvinsk", The enemy made a further offensive in the direction of Tarnapol. Our troops lacking stability elsewhere, and not obeying commands, continued to retire causing a •weakening of the line at Reniov, Sladki, Pokropuviuiand Syburov. We repulsed several attacks in the region of Novica, where the enemy occupied the heights to the north-cast of the village, The enemy attacked at the confluence of the Rimiisk and the. Seretli. A Rumanian counter-attack restored the situation. ' ( ■ : A 'wireless German report says: Our troops are before Tarnapol. ' ' • A wireless Austrian official report says: The Austro-Germans have passed beyond Augustowka, Czierna, and Fcsterovce. (Australian and Renter.) Received Jnyl 22, at 11.5 p.m. LONDON, July 21. A wireless German official report says: Pursuing the Russians, we crossed the Zloszow-Tarnapol road on both sides of Jezierun, on a width of forty kilometres. The Russians are burning villages and causing great destruction. Further fighting is expected. Tho Austria-Hungarians recaptured positions northward of Branny which were lost on Ist July. Russian attacks on the Dniester were broken. , We drove out the enemy from Badin, and'stormed the high positions at Novica, where artillery'firing has increased. STOCKHOLM, July 21. The Russo-Rumanians are active on the Lower Seretli.