TERRIFIC BATTLE RAGING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16282, 15 July 1916, Page 7

TERRIFIC BATTLE RAGING.

FURIOUS GERMAN ASSAULT. <J REPELLED BY SUPERHUMAN EFFORT. STERN FIGHTING ON SQMME. ALLIED GAINS EXTENDED A terrific st:uggle is proceeding on the Kovel front. After a violent bombardment of the Russian trenches, Austrian infantry were sent forward. They broke, but in their retreat were mown down by German guns. Then German infantry came on with incredible obstinacy, in spite of awful losses. It cost the Russians superhuman efforts to repel the attack. On the Stochod River both banks between the two railways converging on Kovel are in Russian hands. It is stated that seven additional German army corps have been detached from other fronts—four being from Trance—to endeavour to stop General Brussiloff's advance. On the Baranovitch front the I?uss:,xn progress is retarded by the strength of the enemy's lines »:uu the obstinacy of the defence. Though British and French communiques studiously refrain from giving details, it is unofficially '-:nown in London that in the stern battle whici. is proceeding in France, the allies' gains nortb of the Somme have sv&adily extended in the last three dayr. and amount a Gs.nsiit reverse. The German situation at Pozierts is seiious, as the British successes thereabouts have tiabled the French to c.vtend their lines from Hardecrmrt in the direction of Maurapas. The Crown Prince, in the lasi two days, has launched 50,000 troops in *he direction of Souvilli fort, r.crih of Verdun. Ground was gained at terrible sacrifice. Hundreds of machine<guns lining the slope..- wrought frightful havoc. Th?re has been sharp infancy lighting on other parts of the British front. The artillery on both sides has been active. On one sector the British captured some howitzers which they afterwards used against the enemy. Despite unfavourable weather the British aeroplanes are constantly working, and hostile machines over the German lines have been driven off. One British machine is missing. The Austrians have moved the Bukovinian Administrative Department to Kolozsvar, in Hungary. The Russian offensive west of Erzeroum is successfully developing, Turkish counterattacks at several points having proved futile.