CLIMAX IN THE EAST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 457, 28 July 1915, Page 8

CLIMAX IN THE EAST.

WITHIN A FORTNIGHT. RUSSIANS REPULSE ATTACKS. PETROGRAD, July 27. Experts expect the climax against Warsaw and the Lublin-Cholm line to be reached within a fortnight. PETROGRAD, July 27. An official statement says: "With the assistance of our ships, we repulsed the enemy's offensive which began on Saturday towards Schock, in the region of Tukkum (in the Gulf of Riga). "The enemy continues to unsuccessfully attack our positions on the Pissa, near Sinvatki. There was a very stubborn encounter south of Rozan with Germans who had crossed the Narew. We threw them back to the village. We repulsed attacks south-east of Pultusk. "Attacks on the advanced works at Ivangorod were repulsed. "The battle between the Vieprz and the Bug continues with great intensity. The enemy on Sunday attacked along the whole front, but all attacks were repulsed. Our counter-atacks were successful. The front is unchanged except where a few villages have passed from hand to hand." THE RUSSIAN POLICY. TO HELP THE ALLIES. LONDON, July 27. The "Daily Mail's" Petrograd correspondent states that Warsaw is under military control, and no information is being telegraphed to Russian papers. It has been privately ascertained that the city is calm and fairly confident. There is a feeling in Petrograd that in giving battle and facing a great risk, the Russians arc considering the interests of France and Britain in preference to their own. The "Bourse Gazette" points out that it would be a small matter to Russia with her vast expanse of territory to give up for the time being a piece more of Poland, but it is clearly recognised that a further retirement without fighting would allow the enemy to transfer large forces'to the Western front .in order to break through to Calais, and possibly to Paris. AMSTERDAM, July 27.

An Austrian official statement says: __« South of Kodel we captured a vantage point valuable for our bridgehead. On the eastern bank of the Bug we captured 1100 men and two machine-guns. The Germans north-west of Goubteszow gained further ground." GALLANT WORK. SMASHING THE TURK. ALLIES' RECENT SPLENDID SUCCESS. LONDON, July 27. Continuing his story of recent fighting at Gallipoli, Mr Ashmead Bartlett says:— By sunset the brigade had captured all the works attacked on the left, but were compelled to evacuate two captured trenches on the right. It was a great day for these soldiers, who, despite extreme heat and their difficult task, fought like veterans. The Turk has a partiality for night-fighting, when his inferiority j in artillery is not apparent. Through-1 out the night of the 12th rifle-fire was unceasing, and at dawn the noise was crescendo. The Turks brought up reinforcements, and attacked our weary men through the communication trenches, with bombs and bayonets. The Scots fought gallantly, but could not maintain all the ground they had j won. They were driven out of two 'trenches, but clung stubbornly to 1 the redoubt.

At daybreak the Staff examined the situation closely, and decided to give the enemy no rest, but follow up with another attack. The two exhausted brigades were withdrawn, and a naval division entered the front trenches. The field artillery at 4 in the afternoon opened lire on the battered shambles of trenches, which were now knocked almost out of recognition. There was a high wind, and bursting shrapnel threw up immense clouds of dust, obscuring the horizon. Our right moved forward at 4.30, amidst a terrible riflelire, regaining two of the trenches, but was held up at the third and fourth. It moved towards the right, advancing a long distance, and skirting the enemy's works, but was unable to enter. Fighting on the right continued for three hours. It was hidden from view, and it was impossible to know what was happening. Our attack on the left was completely successful. It was conducted with the utmost skill and dash. The infantry simply swept over everything, bayoneting all the Turks who did not succeed in escaping down the saps. The infantry finished their assigned task in a few minutes, but there was no stopping them. They swept forward in small parties as if they would never stop, despite shells and bullets. It looked as if they intended to assault a fresh position, but fortunately the premature advance was checked in time. The Turks on our left were thoroughly demoralised by the final charge, and fled far to rearwards, to the foot of Achi Baba, our shells pursuing them. At sunset we held the whole of the enemy's left, which was firmly consolidated during the night.

Despite every effort on the right, we failed to take the last two lines. We consolidated the first two. We were opposed by three of the best Turkish regiments. Our infantry captured 500 men.