RUSSIA'S BURDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16480, 4 September 1915, Page 7

RUSSIA'S BURDEN

THE GAUCIAN SUCCESSES. RUSSIANS MASTERS OF THEIR RETREAT. PARIS, September 2. A communique hails the Russian success in Galicia on the Strypa, and adds: "This victory shows that the Russian armies are masters of the conditions under which their retreat continues, and are capable of assuming the offensive -whenever the circumstances are favourable." GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. BERLIN, September 2. A communique states: General von Hindenburg stormed the village of Czar Noko, on the Vilna-Grodno Tailway. The North German Landwehr stormed F6rt 4, north of the Dombrowo-Grodno high road, capturing a garrison of 400 men. Later the Baden troops captured another fort. The Russians thereupon evacuated the rest of the fortifications in the outer line on the western front of Grodno. General von Hindenburg's troops east of Bialowieska occupied the crossings of the Swislocz ' and Makarowee after a hard struggle, taking prisoner 3070 men. Prince Leopold's army won their way out of the north-eastern border of the forest of Bialowieska, and secured a crossing over the Jasiolda in the marshes north of Grodana by means of a surprise attack. ; General von Mackensen continues his pursuit, and his whole line has crossed the Mncbwiez section. WINTER APPROACHING. AIM OF AUSTRO-GERMANS. COLONEL REPINGTON'S OPINION. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, September 2. (Received Sept. 3, at 7.50 p.m.)

Colonel Repington, military correspondent of The Times, commenting on the advance of the Austro-Germans in Galicia, after eight weeks' comparative inactivity, . says: " This implies a desire to turn the right of General IvanoS's armies and seize Lutzk and Kovno, thus depriving the Rus sian commander of an important group of railway communications, including the chief line traversing the Pripet district from south to north. If this is effected, General Ivanoff will he moTe than ever cut off from the Russians in the north, and with scanty railway communications. If they are retiring eastwards to Kieff the two main groups of the Russian armies will' endeavour to keep in totach by using bodies of the right troops in the Pripet region, which is unsuitable for the operations of large forces, and will shortly be impassable. " The renewed threat of an Austro-Ger-man invasion of Serbia merits respect. It would be a big thing to disarm Serbia and chain Bulgaria to the German chariot, breaking a way to Constantinople in order to fall intovthe arms of Enver Pasha and his crew. But it is a good deal to ask us to believe that those Balkan States owing their< existence to Russia and her friends are ready to become the instruments and victims of Teuton domination. There is no doubt of the greatest desire on Austria-Hungary's part to wipe out the memories of her defeats at Serbian hands. But winter approaches, and the AustroGermans are deeply involved in more im- ' portant operations. Germany, with unconquered enemies on two fronts,, and the ~ source of her recruiting Unable' to stand heavy demands for immense casualties •without enlisting above the military age, may well dread the Balkan adventure. If the Russian armies now round Vilna can hold their ground or retire slowly for the next 10 days, then they will be out of danger.. With winter near, the German armies will shortly be in a disagreeable position. The ' Russians are retiring through .forest swamps into vast spaces and solitudes in the interior, awaiting spring and the hour of her revenge." PARTIAL RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE. RETREAT PROCEEDING ACCORDING TO PLANS: LUTZK EVACUATED, AND OCCU- . ■ ." PIED BY ENEMY. PETROGRAD, September 3. {Received Sept. 3, at 11.30 p.m.) A communique states: We repulsed attacks at Friedrichstadt. Our troops are approaching Vilkomir. _ Our cavalry carried two villages near Szirwintz at the bayonet point, and took some prisoners. <The enemy's chief efforts are directed along the Olita-Merecz road, where we repulsed 'several obstinate, attacks. There was a stubborn fight near Oranz. After holding the enemy near Grodno as long as was necessary to enable us to evacuate this point, we crossed to the right bank of the Niemen. After holding the enemy in the Lutz district we fell back upon the Olyka-Radziwiloff front. We took hundreds of prisoners and a number of machine guns. The enemy occupied Lutz. Our troops in Galicia, in accordance with' the retreating movement from Stzr, occupied new positions, enabling us to cover oar movements with rearguards The enemy again suffered very heavily in th 3 regions of Zolochow, Zborow, and ■ Mounth-Stryp. We here assumed a partial offensive, capturing guns, prisoners, and much material.