THE EAST FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 18

THE EAST FRONT.

FALL OF CZERNOWITZ. PETROGRAD, June 19. The Russians up to Sunday had taken 3000 prisoners at Czernowitz.

Portion of the Austrian forces at Czernowitz retired towards Ko'omea and Kuty, and the remainder towards Dornavatra.

General Pflanzer's army is isolated, and is dependent on its own resources. A sidelight is thrown on the unexpectedness of the Austrian defeat by the fact that only 10 days ago Czernowitz University conferred degrees on several AustroHungarian generals. A regiment of Tartar •cavalry from the Bortehalin district especially distinguished itself on an unnamed front, charging the Austrian trenches and annihilating a battalion. A communique states: The enemy attempted counter-attacks to stop General Brussiloff's progress towards Lemberg. The Austrians at Lokatchi, south of the Lutzk-Yladimir Volhynsk road attacked us in mass formations, piercing one sector and capturing three guns. After the last shell fell our reinforcements routed the advancing enemy, the guns were retaken, and 300 prisoners were captured. A Russian regiment south-east of Lokatchi, counter-attacking, put the assailants to flight. A section of light artillery advanced to the edge of a wood and fired point blank upon the retreaters. Four machine guns were captured. There was a desperate fight at BojefF, in_ the same district, when we took iOOO prisoners and captured four machine guns. The enemy during attacks south of Aadzwiloff, used liquid fire. We took 1800 prisoners in this district. The Russians have crossed the Truth in many places, and are advancing rapidly towards the river Sereth. We captured 10 guns near Czernowitz, and took 400 prisoners during'the pursuit, as well as capturing two heavy guns and a thousand • wagons of provisions and forage.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. PETROGRAD, June 20

General Brussiloff, interviewed, said: " Our sweeping success is not a product of chance or due to Austrian weakness, but is the application of lessons Ave have learnt in two years' bitter warfare. At the beginning of the war we lacked the preparations which the Germans had been making for 50 years. I was convinced that, given munitions, we could do exactly what we have done during the last fortnight.

" The main element of success was coordination —for all the armies involved to attack on the entire front, begin at the same hour, aiid press equally at all points. It was impossible for the enemy to shift troops from one quarter to anotl er. " The most important fighting was at Kovno, where we made the greatest advances, striking seriously at the strategy of the whole enemy front. If we are'able to take Kovel, I believe the whole eastern front will be obliged to fall back. Kovel affects German and Austrian intercommunications. Tiie Germans realise the menace, and are pushing forward all available troops—some from the west and some from northern points. The Russian infantry has proved itself superior in morale —superior, even, to 1914." General Rrussiloh* explained that ,the great capture of prisoners was due to taking deep trenches in the rear or flank, and rendering escape impossible from the elaborate networks. They also had sufficient ammunition to use in curtain tire to prevent the enemy's retirement.

General Brussiloff thinks it is impossible for Germany to send as huge forces as previously to support the A'ustrians, and hopes to press the war against them increasingly. He says the general situation was greatly improved by the British fleet's action.