A FRENCH REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 24

A FRENCH REPORT.

PARIS, September 27. Colonel Nadeau, attached to the Russian headquarters, telegraphing to the Paris Journal, says' that there have been considerable Russian successes south of Polesia (in the Pinsk sector), and the Russians are progressing constantly westward, methodically regaining the watercourses which the Germans had previously captured at enormous cost. The Russians are evexywhere advancing between Polesia and Rumania. There was not a German north of the Dwina (northern flank) on September 25. BIG TERRITORIAL GAINS. LONDON, September 27. The Times correspondent at Petrograd says: “The increasing intensity of tho German efforts near Dvinsk indicates the importance that the enemy- attaches to the capture of this city-, and also the general Dvina line. Our artillery has developed a hurricane of fire at Novo Alexandrovsk. This is a gratifying proof that the defenders of Dvinsk are well equipped with ammunition. The presence of Germans in the region of Vileyka points to the - strength of their thrust from Svientziany- across our line of retreat; consequently the expulsion of tire enemy from there is all the more important. Our territorial gains in the Kovel region since early September are estimated at 70 miles. The general offensive in the Volhynia and Galicia theatre has effectively countered General von Mackensen.” AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. AMSTERDAM, September 28. An Austrian communique states : The Russian counter-offensive has been broken in Volhy-nia. They evacuated a jaosition north-west of Dubno and retired near Lutsk in an easterly direction. The bridgehead at Lutsk is again in our hands. FEARS FOR MACKENSEN. BERNE, September 28. It is reported that General von Mackensen has been ordered to retire, lest he be surrounded. BOMBARDMENT OF RIGA. PETROGRAD, September 28. A naval communique says: We bombarded and silenced the enemy’s land batteries in the Gulf of Riga. A stray enemy projectile fell on a Russian ship, killing Commander-captain Viazemsky and also Captain Svinine. Our other - casualties were five killed and nine wounded. BERLIN, September 27. A communique states : A German airman attacked the Russian war vessels, including the shipline in Riga Bay. Hits were observed upon the shipline, and the Russians hastily steamed northwards. We captured another position southwest of Ovinsk, taking prisoner 1300 men. Fighting is proceeding along the entire frontier.