THE RUSSIAN HAMMER

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 33

THE RUSSIAN HAMMER

GERMAN USE OF GASES. PETROGRAD, June 6,

The Germans earlier in the war used vitriol, which they squirted on our trenches. Later they used bombs containing concentrated formalin, causing much eye trouble. Over large areas these methods were apparently unsatisfactory, and they adopted gas fumes, but applied differently from their western methods. On the Galician front they ignited large quantities of straw before their trenches, into which objects resembling short lengths of rope were thrown, changing the character of both smoke and flames. The enemy were next observed trying to extinguish the flames with hoses. Their purpose evidently failed, as the enemy climbed out of their trenches and ran for their lives, Russian rifle fire meanwhile decimating the refugees. At other points Germans threw tins like biscuit boxes, which burst on impact, emitting dense poisonous fumes. The enemies on the Leg and San front, 18 miles long, from the village of 'Stany, on the left bank of the Leg, to Zarmina, 10 miles southward of Rudnik, made a determined night attack with the intention of turning the Russian right.

The Bzura-Rawka front is admirably adapted for the German chemical warfare, and dense poison clouds were launched on May 30. The smell was perceptible for 20 miles, and hardly a horse, cow, or fowl in the district was left alive. In the villages numbers of children and women were killed. The horses attached to the Russian baggage and ammunition trains stampeded or were killed. Reserve regiments, with muffled faces, rushed up and saved the trenches. The Germans cut their way through the entanglements, but were surprised at being met with an appalling fire, and the attack utterly failed. The patients poisoned by gas are suffering terribly in the hospital, their blood having turned into a watery fluid.

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

PETROGRAD, June 7

Official : The enemy, when pursuing their offensive towards Moseiska, were subjected to heavy losses. The Russians crossed the right bank of the Pruth between Delatyn and Kolomea and repulsed a series- of counter-attacks by large Austrian reserves.

SMART RUSSIAN TACTICS.

PETROORAD, June 7.

Correspondents narrate that the Russian army between the Pilica River and the Vistula, while withdrawing to new lines, inflicted losses totalling 20,000 upon the Austro-Germans by feinting attacks. The German formations halted them, while they swiftly concentrated against two Austrian divisions southwards. Three thousand Austrians were taken prisoners, and the rest retreated hurriedly, while the Russians, by a forced march, concentrated against the German formations and shattered them.

AXTMDRO NVRHHD

PETEOGRAD, June 6,

A revolting story is told of the treatment of a party of Russian prisoners in Poland. They were looked up without food for several clays until they were on the verge of starvation. Then they were turned into a courtyard, where jeering officers threw bits of bread to them. While the staggering wretches were searching for the fragments a kinematographer photographed the scene.

IN THE GULF OF RIGA. PETROGRAD, June 7,

A German submarine in the Gulf of Riga sank the transport Yonessei. Thirtytwo were saved. Russian mines and submarines sank or damaged three of tha enemy’s ships.