THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 15

THE RUSSO-RUMANIAN FRONT.

A wireless Russian official messago states: We threw baok the enemy who had temporarily occupied our trenches in the regions southward of Illukst and southward of Krovo. Tho enemy heavily bombarded with chemical sheila our positions at tho river passage of tho Stochod in tho region of St. Chervitcho and the Gilenin station. They discharged 13 gas waves, pressing back our troops. Tho Germans then crossed tho Stochod. In retiring across tho Stochod somo of our detachment'} lost heavily. Wo occupied three rows of Austrian trenches six miles westward of Rafailova, and frustrated a Bulgarian attempt to cross tho Goorgiovo branch of the Danube. In tho fighting on tho loft bank of tho Stochod on tho 3rd and 4th, which ended in our crossing lo tho right bank, the troops defending tho bridgehead lost severely. Only a feAv scoro men from two regiments reached tho right bank._ Both commanders were killed, and a third regiment lost half its Some wounded men and two other regiments survived. After heavy artillery firo, including chemical shells, the Germans occupied portion of

our trenches eastward of Plaktanen and south of Riga, but were driven out. A wireless German message states: During tho capture of the bridgehead at Toboly and tho lighting on tho Btochod wo cai)turcd 130 officers, 9500 men, 15 guns, and 150 machine guns and mine-throwers. Our airmen blew up exfcensivo "munition depots in tho Vardor- Valley.