AUSTRIAN ARMY DIVIDED.

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

AUSTRIAN ARMY DIVIDED.

PETROGRAD, June 21

The Russians succeeded in dividing General Pflanzer's army. One part is near the Rumanian frontier, and the other is In the direction of the Car= pathians. A communique states: On the extreme left the enemy are falsing back 5 " disorder, closely pushed. We have occupied the villages on the Seroth River line. We are heavily bombarding different points on the Dwina front. ENEMY REINFORCED. PARIS, June 20. The Russians have advanced a considerable distance after defeating two divisions of General von Linsingen's command westward of Kolki (east of Kovel). The Germans have brqjight up numerous reinforcements, and are attempting to check the Russian advance in the Torchin district. THE GERMAN VERSION. LONDON, June 20. A Berlin communique states : A strong Russian attack on General von Linsingen, south of Logischin, collapsed. The enemy's continual efforts against the Styr line near Kolki were generally unsuccessful. The fighting is especially severe at Gelusiatyn, where we broke the Russian resistance. At several points upon the Kovel-Lutsk road wo advanced, arid the fighting continues. The Russians have discontinued their advance towards Goroco. RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUE. SERETH RIVER CROSSED. PETROGRAD, June 21. A Russian communique states : The village of Gruzitine has changed hands several times. We raided the village yesterday, capturing 400 men, but the heavy German fire obliged us to again evacuate it. The Germans near Vorontchine, northcast of Kisseline, are fighting with the greatest tenacity under cover of their artillery, repeatedly attacking. Yesterday evening our new regiments attacked with great spirit, routing the Germans near Raymiesto, on the River Stochod. They attacked in mass formation, and after hand-to-hand fighting the Germans fled, leaving some prisoners. We have crossed the Sereth River. General Brussiloff captured between June 4 and Juno 17 3350 officers, 169,134 men, 193 guns, 550 machine guns, and much material.

In the north the Germans violently bombarded the Ikskull bridgehead and the northern sector of the Jaccbstad positions. The Germans on Tuesday night, after an intense bombardment south of Smorgon, assumed the offensive and penetrated our trenches in one sector. They were dislodged and driven back to their own lines by our artillery and a counter-attack.

Elsewhere all their attacks were repulsed. General Kaledin is pressing westwards southward of Vladimir Volynski, attempting to cut the enemy's communications with Kovel. He is also progressing to-

wards Leraberg between Vladimir Volynski and Sokal. This extension of General Kaledin's front means spreading 80 miles southwards, and indicates his forthcoming junction with the army operating from Brody towards Lemberg. The Austro-Germans drew reinforcements from their Italian, French, and Balkan fronts, also from their Russian front further north, between Pinsk and Baranovitchi. Captain (?) Locker-Lampson, M.P., commands the armoured motor car unit of 100 officers and men. Many of them have fought in Belgium, France, Gallipoli, and German South-west Africa, and some Australians and New Zealanders are amongst them. The unit wintered at Alexandrovsk (near the Sea of Azov). Some of them were engaged in special work in connection with the Austro-German prisoners employed in the construction of railways. AUSTRIA'S HEAVY LOSSES. LONDON, June 21. Mr Stanley Washburn, writing from Russian headquarters, gives the latest inventory of prisoners and trophies up to Sunday as :—2806 officers, 169,157 men, 174 guns, 434 machine guns, 111 trenchmortars, and enormous quantities of munitions and materials. An authorised estimate states that over 30-9,000 of the enemy have been put out of action in the past fortnight. GERMAN REPORT. AMSTERDAM, June 21. A German communique states : Our attacks north-west and south of the Dwina, also at Bubatovka, near Smorgon, had good results, the enemy losses being heavy. General von Linsingen drove the Russians across the Styr, the Russians strongly resisting. We are advancing south of the* Turigar River. SANGUINARY REPULSE. PARIS, June 21. Marshal von Hindenburg's attempt to continue the German offensive southward of Smorgon (between Vilna and Minsk) has been sanguinarily repulsed. APPEAL TO BULGARIA. AMSTERDAM, June 21. Bulgaria has refused Austria's appeal to her to send forces to the Bukowina. ATHENS, June 21. It is reported from Mitylene that all German officers and non-commissioned officers who have been entrusted with the defence of the coast of Asia Minor have been recalled to Germany. PRESSURE UNRELAXED. PETROCRAD, June 22. A communique states : After an artillery preparation the enemy took the offensive last night on the Dvinsk front along the Ponevesh-Warsaw railways. They were everywhere repulsed. The Germans occupied part of our trenches at Dubatovka, southward of Lake Vishrevskoye. Our reinforcements drove the enemy out, and crossed the Krevlianian, south of Krevo. Our fire compelled the enemy to withdraw to the west bank. We repulsed a German offensive, west of Sokul, on the Styr, capturing 609 men. There was violent fighting west of Svidniki, on the Stokkod. We took 214 prisoners. The.femallness of the number was due to our men not giving quarter owing to the enenv. using explosive bullets. We ■:..: .:J further enemy trenches on the Strvpa, and occupied the town of Radaslz. June 23. Hundreds of Austrians were drowned in the Strvpa after the Russian success north of Buczacz. The Russians enveloped their trenches on three sides, and the Austrians were seized with panic and rushed into the river. Few reached the other side. BRILLIANT PURSUIT. LONDON, June 22. The Daily News Petrograd correspondent states that General Lefcchitsky was brilliant in his pursuit of the enemy. Part of the Austrians retired south along the Rumanian frontier and others towards the' Carpathians, hoping to hold the fortified line along the Nibrolida and Sereth. Rivers. Despiite the delay at Czernowitz the Russians reached the line simultaneously, bisecting General Pflanzer's forces between the Ketty and Sereth. The Echo de Paris states that General Letehitsky's vigorous advance continues. The Cossacks have reached Raclautz, in the Bukowina, 30 miles south of Czernowitz, and the outlook for General Pflanzer's right wing'is precarious. Some 40,000 persons who fled from Czernowitz when the Russians took the town have returned. The Russians are distributing plenty of provisions, and the town is but little damaged. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Petrograd says that prisoners state that the Austrian colonels lived far in the rear of their lilies, and gave their instructions by telephone hi the officers' dugouts near Dubno the Russians found baths, rugs, pictures, and mirrors, while flower and vegetable gardens were cultivated near by.

AUSTRIANS DRIVEN TO RUMANIAN BORDER, ROME, June 22. The Bucharest correspondent of the Co riero della Sera (.Milan) states that tl

Russians have driven 50,000 Austrians to the Rumanian frontier, and Rumania is preparing to disarm them if they cross it. ROME, June 23. Portion of General Pflanzer's army has been completely surrounded near Sereth. GERMAN ACTIVITY. TRYING TO HOLD OPPOSING FORCES. PETROGRAD, Juno 23. The Russian advance has caused unusual German activity. They rushed in tho Austrian breach at Volhynia, and are also persistently attacking the Everts front, especially the Smorgen sector, which covers the approaches to Vilna. The Germans do not possess sufficient troops for a big offensive at this point, and their attacks are intended to prevent the removal of Russians southward. The Germans are energetically endeavouring to check General Kaledin's advance towards Kovel, but General Kaledin is pushing his successes.on an extended front of four miles northward of Gaidomichi, upon the Styr, where the Russians forced a crossing. The Germans after a hard fight compelled the Russians to abandon the village of Gruziatin, but although General Kaledin was temporarily checked, his troops.are putting the Germans to flight, thus indicating that the Russian advance is not stopped. General Lechitsky has crossed the Sereth, and continues to drive General Pfianzer towards the Carpathians. The Russian thrust towards Kovel has lengthened the German line by 50 miles. The German's are trj-ing to hold their lines with the minimum of forces. A communique states : Fighting is in progress at the Oginski Canal. Enemy attempts to cross the canal failed. There is local fighting on General Brussiloff's front on old ground and in other districts, notably near Radziviloff. The enemy continue to receive reinforcements from the French and Italian fronts. Our offensive continues in the Bukowina. We occupied Guratamoru and Ffradja, westward of Radutzcishnitz June 24. A communique states: We made a surprise attack on German trenches in the Illukst region. There was an enemy bombardment at Kiby, on the Berezina, and a large force at nightfall attacked the Berezina farm. The enemy were routed, leaving many dead. There has been desperate fighting westward of Torchin. All the attacks in the Zuhilno district, and also south-eastward of Svinziki, were repulsed with heavy losses. GENERAL PFLANGER'S PLIGHT. PETROGRAD, June 25. A communique states: By the occupation of Garahemora, General Lf-tchitsky jammed a portion of General Pflanger's right wing against the Rumanian frontier. The Austrian left wing strongly holds Kolomea, the only remaining link between the enemy's Galician and Bukowinian forces. The latest reports state that General Pflanger's centre continue its flight to the Carpathian passes. We captured Kutz yesterday. GERMAN REPORTS. LONDON, June 23. A German communique states: General Linsingen's attacks west and south-west of Luck are progressing, despite repeated Russian counter-attacks. We completely repulsed Russian attacks northward of Brody. AMSTERDAM, June 24. A German eenmumique states: General Linsingen pushed an attack across the Zubilno-Zwiniaczc line. Severe counter-attacks failed. An Austrian communique states : The Russians in tho Czernwemos Valley are advancing towards Kuty. We repulsed severe attacks south-east and north of Raclzivioff. June 25. An Austrian communique states: Our encircling movement forced the Russians to abandon Kutz. Russian attacks north-west of Tarnopol, and also near Radziviloff. were repulsed. The AustroGermans advanced north-east of Gorochoff and north-we t and wert of Torczyn. STIRRING INCIDENTS. LONDON, June 23. The Times correspondent at Petrograd gives numerous stirring incidents of the Russian offensive. He states that their use of cavalry recalled the Napoleonic era. In one instance during the fighting along the Strypa the Russian cavalry forced the passage of the stream with such unexpected rapidity that the Hungarians had no time to destroy the bridge, and hurriedly retreated. The Ru s sians awaited the arrival of their infantry brigade, next morning, and then .attacked in echelon formation, the Dragoons leading and the Hussars and tlrnl following. The regimental colonel, adiutant, captain, and standardbearer headed the charge. After the chaplain had blessed the men. squadron after squadron chnrged until the fields were covered with hundreds of horsemen, linces and unsheathed sabres glistening in the sun. Many fell in this mad career. The Hungarians sent three battalions to tnko the Rnss ; an cavalry in the rear, hut the Russians had posted Drngoons with Maxim guns, which mowed down the 'dense masses of the enemy as they emerged from a copse. The Hungarian infantry

fought bravely, seizing the lances of the troopers, but 'the charge was a complete success, 2COO prisoners being captured. A correspondent at the front agrees that tho artillery is a decisive factor, and was successfully foliosved by the cavalry. The latter played a brilliant part in a hardfought engagement in the Lutsk region and in the battle for crossing' the river at Soknl, which was not decided at midnight. A force of cavalry was sent some distance up the river, where fords and bridges were to be found in Russian hands. Here they crossed, and, riding hard, got behind the enemy at dawn. They waited until the Austro-German infantry moved forward, and immediately charged their rear, cutting down large numbers. Many of the enemy surrendered and stragglers alone escaped. The main Russian body thereupon pushed the enemy to Galvi, within 20 miles of Kovel. Vivid pictures are given of the wretchedness of the inhabitants of the extensive war z-uie, who are living in holes scooped in the ground, hoping to escape the bullets and bursting shells. CAPTURE OF SVIDNIKI. HEAVY . GERMAN LOSSES. LONDON, June 23. The Daily Telegraph's Petrograd correspondent sends details of the capture of Svidniki. The Russians opened the bombardment of the river Stochod line early on the morning of June 16, but the Germans anticipated tho Russian infantry attack by assaulting in den;e columns. The Russians fell back two miles, bringing the enemy under a flanking fire of machine guns, and the rrround was soon strewn with dead. The survivors pressed forward, but 10 minutes' bayonet work proved sufficient to rout the German remnant. The Russians followed up close on their heels, and crossed the Stochod before the Germans had time to destroy the bridges, and armoured motor cars completed the rout. The Russians then prepared to advance on Svidniki. They were faced with extreme difficulties. The marshy ground necessitated their waning chest-deep in mud under a heavy artillery and machinegun fire carrying their own machine guns, r ! fles, and ammunition on their heads and shoulders. Fyvery wounded or unwary Russian was swallowed up by the pitiless bsg. The Russians reached firm ground, and after floundering out of the mire they charged the villape with the bayonet. Two Geimian Landwehr regiments who were holding the village fought bravely, barricading the cottages and mounting machine guns on the roofs and at the windows. Every building had to be stormed. The garrison were practically vr'ped out. The Germans recaptured the village temporarily, but the Russians again stormed it, and took prisoner several hundred Germans. The Germans used a now shell with a double explosion, nicknamed " orphans" by the Russians, because of its wailing sonnd hi the air. The Russians counted 500 German dead on the Stochod bridge, and all the woods near Svidniki were thicklv strewn with dead, while great numbers were swallowed \w in the swamps. A hundred troop trnins passed Aiv-la-Chanolle going eastward, and the Liege garrison have been ordered to follow. .GENERAL MACKENSEN. LONDON, June 25. The Times correspondent at Petrograd states that General Mackensen is reported to have assumed command in the Kovel sector. It is impossible for him to adopt tho famous phalanx formations unless great reinforcements are brought from the French and Italian fronts. The Russian successes arc explained by the remarkable increase in the production of munitions, on which, men and women have worked without a single holiday since the beginning of the war. BUKOWINA IN RUSSIAN HANDS. COMPLETB POSSESSION. PETROGRAD, June 25. After fierce lighting, the Russians on Friday captured Kimpolung, taking over 2000 prisoners. This latest success, together with the occupation of Kuty, places the whole of the Bukowina in Russian hands. June 25. Some big British guns helped in General Bi'ussiloft's advance. A communique .states : The Russians raided enemy trenches west of Radziviloff, capturing 500 prisoners. The Russians west of Sniatyn (on the Pruth, between Czernowitz and Kolomea) arc advancing, fighting all the time, and havo occupied the heights near the Rybritza River (a tributary of tho Pruth from the south). A communique states : We carried redoubts by a coup-de-main three versts south of Zminy, on the Styr, and bayoneted the garrison after a fierce resistance, capturing two heavy guns. Many 'Jerman attacks on this front were repulsed. The enemy are falling bade owing to their growing losses. We captured GOO unwormded prisoners—half of whom were Germans —and 15 machine guns. The enemy trenches were filler! with heaps of corpses and men suffering from bayonet wounds.

ENEMY REPORTS. AMSTERDAM.. Juno 25. A German communique states : Strong Russian counter-attacks proved quite unsuccessful against General von Linsingen's forward attacks, especially on both sides of the Zaturce. Tv'e repeatedly repulsed large enemy attacks southward of Plaszowka. VIENNA, June 26. A communique states : Our troops in Bnkowina have occupied new positions between Kimpohmg and Jacoberry. We evacuated heights south of Berhometh and Visznitz without enemy influence. FUGITIVES. BERNE, June 25. Tens of thousands of fugitives from the Bukowina are entering Hungary. Vienna despatches are endeavouring to minimise the importance of the loss of Bukowina, declaring that General Pflanzer does not intend to offer a serious defence until lie reaches the last ridge of the Carpathians, where formidable preparations aro being made for an Austrian stand. THE GERMAN ATTACKS. LONDON, June 25. The Times correspondent at Petrograd states that obstinate German attacks south of Smorgen the Russian military authorities do net consider them an attempt to pierce the line. It is believed that the German force is inadequate, while time will not permit of the methods employed at Verdun. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS. LONDON, June 25. The High Commissioner reports : The Russians have completed the occupation of the Bukowina, talcing great booty and many prisoners. -