RUSSIA'S DEFENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 13696, 28 May 1915, Page 3

RUSSIA'S DEFENCE.

ENEMY'S HURRICANE OF ARTILLERY FIRE. GREAT FJFFORT TO BREAK THROUGH. ENEMY'S FLANK THRFiVTEiNEI). LONDON, May 27. The Times' military correspondent states that 34 Atistro-German army corps are on the offensive between Poland and Bukowiria. The wings have hitherto been checked, but there is danger m the centre, where the Germans claim to have penetrated seven miles east of the San, at an. estimated cost of 50 per centum of their strength. - They are now fighting for, space to deploy on the right bank, and perhaps an even more critical attack is developing between Przemyal and the Dneister marshes, where 17 Austro-Oerman army corps are engaged. The Times' correspondent- at Tvangorod, after a 790 miles' motor rid© -n the rear of the Russian line, states that the Russians are optimistic regarding the present position. When the Russians learned of tho German movement, they strengthened their reserve line, hoping to hold Dunajee, bxufc were , prepared to retire if necessary. The German attack on Dunajee was unparalleled. Their .1 batteries ■ were massed m tiers I—first1 — first field guns, then howitzers, then the heaviest mobile guns. They rained a torrent of uninterrupted shellfire and destroyed the Russian centre, through which the Germans poured, hoping to destroy both wings at leisure. The Russians, however, were undomoralised, and closed the gap with their reserve, which reached the San. The retreat .' was" comparable to Mons, and the Russians obeyed tho order ito retire with great reluctance. At ono place a Russian corps attacked with such fury that it practically destroyed the 46th La-ndsturm and mauled two supporting divisions, taking 6000 prisoners. * ■ ' ■ . • >. - Many Russians expect a sudden cessation of the Galician attack and fresh German concentration against Bzura or Warsaw. If the -Germans continue to support the Austrians m Galicia, the Russians are /likely to alter their objective and attack m Silesia. A Petrograd official message .reports tliat the desperate battles on the banks of the San continues. The enemy are still, bringing up important forces, and have developed , a perfect hurricane of artillery x between Pr„emysl and the Dneister marshes. All attacks were repulsed. An unofficial message states that after 4B hours' recuperation the Germans renewed their onslaught m Galicia. with a strong offensive at Opatow, m- an en\ deavor to drive back the Russian right. The Russians repulsed' the attacks, with heavy losses, following .up ...-.their success with a series of counterrattacks^ Meanwhile the Russians hold both banks of the San between Jaroslay And Pizemysl , and are threateni ng flic ., German flanks with a battering ram. - - 1 The German attacks south-east ■ of Przemysl have not yet broken, tho Rus-sian-defence after a* week's fighting, ■■_'_.