THE RUSSIAN HAMMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16415, 21 June 1915, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN HAMMER

MONTH'S GERMAN LOSSES. OVER A HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND MEN. PETROGRAD, June 18. Official : On a 60-verst (40-mile) front between the Rivers Tysmienica and Swica, between May 29 and June 15, the Russians captured 860 officers, 40,000 men, 100 machine guns, and 34 guns. The enemy's losses on the same front during the past month are estimated at between 120,003 and 150,000 men. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. GENERAL VON MACKENSEN'S DRIVE. BERLIN, June 18. Official : General von Mackensen defeated the Russians and drove them to previously prepared positions at Grodek. The newspapers state that the Grand Duke Nicholas has brought some splendidly trained troops from Odessa to Crodek. It is also reported that he has said that he will defend Lemberg at all costs. • RUSSIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. A STRATEGIC RETIREMENT. SUCCESS IN PRUTH REGION. PETROGRAD, June 19. (Received June 20, at 3.50 p.m.) Official : The enemy on the Bzura front spread a cloud of asphyxiating gas along the front for six versta. Our troops on the right bank of the San withdrew fighting across the River Tenev and in line with the Grodek Lakes. The enemy between Pruth and the Dniester were thrown back into Austrian territory. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. VARIOUS SUCCESSES CLAIMED. CONFLICTING REPORT FROM RUMANIA. LONDON, June 19. (Received June 20, at 3.40 p.m.) An Austrian official report states : We have occupied Tamograd. The Russians between the Lower San and the Vistula have retired at several points. We have occupied the Creszanow heights. Strong Russian forces have appeared in the mountainous Tegion eastward of Niemierow and in the Janow district. The Russians southward of the Upper Dniester, after hard fighting, were driven towards Koloomby. Our pursuing troops have reached the mouth of the Wenezska. In the eastern sector our artillery inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, who are desperately attempting to throw back General Pflanger in Bukowina. We there took eight officers and 1002 men as prisoners, and captured three machine guns. BUCHAREST, June 19. (Received June 20, at 3.40 p.m.) The Russians have forced General Pflanger's Ausfcrians, who invaded Bessarabia, to retreat to Bojan. They captured a great quantity of munitions and supplies. GERMAN NOTE OF WARNING. AGAINST OPTIMISM REGARDING GALICIA. AMSTERDAM, June 19. (Received June 20, at 3.50 p.m.) The Frankfurter Zeilung deprecates excessive optimism regarding the Galician struggle. They must not forget that Russia is dangerous, because she has human material that can only with difficulty be exhausted.