THE RUSSIANS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 7

THE RUSSIANS

FURiausjicmc PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. Tho High Commissioner reports; LONDON, October 12, o.Co a.m. Petrograd reports: “There has'been furious fighting on tbe Dyinsk front against the German offensive.. The enemy wore forced from Garbonovka and south-west of Dvinsk, where enemy trenches wore captured and the Gormans pursued to tbe south-eastern end of Lake Medminn and Lantzes Ghey. The Russian cavalry have occupied Bustje. The enemy offensive lias been repulsed on the Niemen. On the evening of the 10th wo captured'the third lino of euemy trenches at Kolski.” (Received October 12, 11.30 p.m.) PETROGRAD, October 12. A communique states: “Our aero* planes bombed several villages southwest of Friedrichstadt. There was furious and successful fighting at many points on the Dvinsk front. We put the Germans at Garbutovka to flight, and expelled them from tho trenches near Lautzessei, south-west of Dvinsk, pursuing them. We occupied the line from the south-eastern end of Lake Medmuskge to Lautzessei. Our artillery murderously assailed the enemy advancing near Kovel railway towards the Styr. There was an obstinate battle below Kolki, which ended in our occupying the third line trenches.” AUSTRIAOEPORT CAPTURES AT BELGRADE, By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 12, 11 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 12. , An Austrian communique says: “The Russian offensive has slackened considerably. “After we had dislodged tho Serbians south-east and south-west of Belgrade, nine naval guns, twenty-six field guns, a large quantity of material, , and six hundred prisoners were captured at Belgrade.” BRITISH . SINKS GERMAN VESSELS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 12, 11.30 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, October 12. A submarine, believed to be British, sank a German collier off Aalapd, and also shelled the ore steamer Germania, which was beached. - >r The crews were saved. j (Received October 13, 1.20 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, October 12. The Lulea was laden .with three thousand tons of copper and other metals. THE DARDANELLES MINOR FIGHTING ONLY. By Telegraph—Press (Received October 12, 4 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 12. Turkish communiques for tho last few days speak only of minor fighting in tho Dardanelles. ATJKIEL SERIOUS CHOLERA EPIDEMIC. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Eeheived October 12, 11-p.m.) COPENHAGEN, October 12. There is a serious cholera epidemic reported at Kiel. THE FRENCH NAVY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF RESIGNS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright PARIS, October 11. Admiral Bouo de Lapeyrero resigned his position as Cominander-in-Chiet, Vice-Admiral Du Fournet succeeds him. [Admiral Boue do Lapcyrero is 61 years of age, and has held the' rank of Commander-in-Chief of the .French Navy since September. 1912. He has \ held commands in more, waters than falls to the lot of most French officers ■ —the l Far East; Zeeland, the Atlantic, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean having been in turn the scenes of his service during the past thirty years. Writing in the “Daily Mail” Year Book of 1914, G. Ward Price says:— At the present time the French fleet is passing through a period, of reorganisation. A certain difference of opinion has been found to exist between the Naval General Staff and Admiral de Lapeyrere, the Ooro-mander-in-Chief, as to whether the naval squadrons should consist of sis or eight ships, the Commander-in-Chief himself favouring the latter disposition. This question is still pending, and awaits the of M. Pierre Baudin, the Minister for Marine. Admiral Boue do .Lapeyrere is a strong advocate of the system of personal control of a naval commander over his fleet, exercised from the fighting line itself. He takes his place in the conning tower of his flagship when his ships clear for action in manoeuvres, and never leaves his post until the engagement is over, watching each phase of the, conflict as it develops around him, and taking his decisions undisturbed by. the roar of the heavy guns and the quivering of his ship under the recoil. Hero, again, the Admiral, who may he termed the Sir John Fisher of the French Navy, is at variance with the views of some of his staff. He follows the English naval tradition, in remaining as close as possible to the operations of his fleet. The General Staff, on tbe contrary, favour the German custom of keeping the admiral commanding outside the actual fight, in an isolated ship, beyond the range of the enemy’s fire, where he may work out his dispositions under less distracting circumstances. '’Energetic, popular with his subordinates, both officers and men, and a close student of the lessons of modern naval_ warfare, Admiral Boue de Lapeyrere. is a good example of the best qualities of the French sailor. It is never doubled in France that the leadership of th<* French Navy in case of war has been entrusted to good and capable hands.]