DESPERATE FIGHTING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13572, 28 December 1914, Page 3

DESPERATE FIGHTING.

WHOLE BATTERIES BLOTTED OUT GERMAN ATTACKS ON BZURA CEASE. FIGHTING FAVORS RUSSJA^S. LONDON, December 25. The Daily Chronicle's Warsaw correspondent says a battle at Bzura is raging unceasingly, "and recalls the Yser in the, matter of the terrible slaughter. The Russians and Germans are strongly entrenciied in opposite sides of the river. The Germans have made incessant attacks in .close formation, seeking to crush the Russians by sheer weight of numbers. So far •the German charges ' have always been driven back with heavy loss. The Russians continue dashing counter-attacks. The outstanding example was one by Siberians at Sochaczew on Sunday, when the Germans abandoned five machine guns and two aeroplanes. Ihe scene of the fighting is a fiat expanse of damp fields, not snow, but bleak winds and much water in the trenches. The authorities at Petrograd attach much importance to the Russians making 4 -serious breach in the German line on tlie Pilitza. PETROGRAD,- Decem^r 26. Official : . In the Caucasus we .'assumed the offensive ; in the Sarakamysh region we defeated the Turkish advance guards all along the line. The enemy in the I Van region, after a determined Tesist- | ance, have fallen: back with serious losses towards the Sarai-Assouriie line. j AMSTERDAM, Dec. 27. |. Official Vienna reports state that the Austrians captured Uszok pass and the l Kussians, with a superior force, recaptured Krosoo Yaslo. LONDON, December 26. The Daily Chronicle's Warsaw correspondent gives further details of the fighting on the Bzura. The Germans on the 19th made 'five desperate night attempts to establish a footing on the eastern bank. Though searchlights were playing, and there was the fire from 1 the Russian trenches which mowed the lines of the enemy's ranks, the Germans dashed into the icy, bullet- whipped Water, which reached to their armpits. Only one reached the eastern bank; the j rest of the attackers suffered immense J losses. Sometimes a whole battalion was blotted out in a quarter of an hour. General Mad ri toff, who made his repu- j tation in the Japanese war, commanded the Russians in this region.. The fighting oaifie to a climax on the 20th, when the second German attack was made. They succeeded in dragging several mitrailleuses to tbe scene, enfilading the trenches of the First Siberians, and captured some trenches. Two hours later the Siberians, reinforced, retook the trenches and drove the Germans into the river, and fought hand-to-hand in the water. Each side then received reinforcements. The river was only fifty yards* wide, and was literally dammed with corpses, and struggling wounded were drowned through being entangled among the dead. LONDON, December 26. Reuter's correspondent at Petrograd .says the Siberians on the 19th almost wiped out seven battalions of the Wurtemburgers attempting to cross where' the.Rawka enters the Bzura. The Germans left 1200 dead on the field after the Siberians made a bayonet attack. On the 21st the Siberians captured spoils at Mlawa, including many waggons of Christmas presents for the Germans. PETROGRAD, December 27. Official: The; situation on the Vistula is unchanged. All day and night attacks in the districts of Sochachewa and Bolimow were repulsed. Fighting continues on the banks of the Pilitza. Two infantry regiments showed the greatest bravery among the spurs on the Carpathians. They crossed' the Jasioltta iip. ', to their waists in water under a murderous fire and dislodged the Austrians with a bayonet ' charge. They made prisoners of 1*54. The total German prisoners in Russia on Decemher 23 was 1140 officers and 131,737 men, and of Austrians 3186 officers and 2U,447 men. LONDON, December 27. German official wireless admits that German attacks at Bzura have ceased. PETROGRAD, Deoember 27. ' Five German aeroplanes bombed Sochoczew and killed eight and wounded a hundred, besides igniting many houses and destroying the market. Official ; There has been desperate fighting on the Ibwer Nida. A further 4000 Austrians have been captured. Tlie fighting along the whole front of Galioia is favorable to the Russians,