GERMANS' GREAT EFFORT IN GALICIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15948, 19 June 1915, Page 7

GERMANS' GREAT EFFORT IN GALICIA.

STORY OF DOGGED, RUSSIAN RETREAT.

FORCED BACK BY INTENSE ARTILLERY FIRE.

WHOLE AREAS COVERED. BY GERMAN SHELLS, By Telegraph—Press Association— (Received June 18, 9.15 p.m.) London, June 18. The Russian "Eye-witness," writing on the period May 3 to May 18, says "Germany's counter-stroke in the Russian advanpe over the Carpathians was carefully prepared, and is the biggest effort yet made to bolster up Austria. The attacks throughout were principally confined to intense artillery work. ' Whole areas were covered by shells, till trenches and men were levelled out of existence.

"After the pounding of our troops by artillery the Germans advanced in close formation, but in almost every case the infantry ' if) attacks were abortive. Nearly all our regiments suffered great losses by shell-fire. Enemy airmen delivered intermittent, violent bomi. fcardments. '

"Our hospitals were removed rearwards. At one advanced bandaging point German soldiers, raging drunk, burst in and bayoneted the doctor. Nine shells fell in a hospital at another point. One struck the operating room and wounded a lady doctor.

v "Some of the German troops engaged against our Third Army were reserve divisions from the neighbourhood of Verdun. The Austrian kept up a ceaseless but futile cannonade. They seldom placed the Russians' batteries, and their progress in range-finding was slow , and expensive. It was a different story when the Germans undertook the initiative. The difference in accuracy between the Austrians and the Germans was soon clear. The Russian regiments suffered terribly.

"The right wing of the Russian advance in the Carpathians was outflanked, and had to come backward. Half a corps rectified its position without serious loss. The other division had the greatest difficulty in fighting its way through, and lost heavily. The Germans scored a big success in technique, and wiped out a good number of lives. Nevertheless, the Russians are firmer than ever,' and more men are being poured in.

" During the retreat towards the San the enemy airmen were übiquitous. At one time ten flew over the lines. Three were brought down and the occupants killed.''