ENEMY'S TACTICS AT KOVNO.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13852, 21 August 1915, Page 5

ENEMY'S TACTICS AT KOVNO.

LESSON OF THE CAPTURE.

THE VULNERABILITY OF

FORTIFICATIONS

(Received Aug. 20, 9.5 p.m.)

Petrograd, Aug. §0. The German tactics at Kovno consisted in feigning to advance, at Vilkomir with a view of engaging a portion of the Russian forces, and then throwing their whole weight in violent artillery and infantry attacks on the western, sector of the fortress. This sector is bounded by the 'Jessia, flowing in a deep gully parallel with the Kovno—Vierzboloro railway, and by the left bank of the Niemen'northwestward of the town. s The lesson of Kovno is that of' Antwerp and Maubeuge, namely, that given an attacking force witli a sufficiency of sixteen-inch guns and complete disregard *for immense Sacrifices of life,; a modern fortress proves only a^ temporary obstacle. : | TKe Germans' great and incessant efforts at Kcvno, and ttieir attempts to effect a landing from the Baltic.far. north, possibly showed the importance they attached to the operations in the northern «erfor. Their haste indicates a desire to finish the task beforo being -caught by the' November rains and snow amid the impassable roads and swamps of the Russian north.

The fighting at Pigry, westward of Kovjio, was exceedingly sanguinary. The Germans worn greatly t weakened, and sent more and more reinforce-

[Phess Association —Copyright. J

ments. The bombardment cf the Russian positions was terrific. Many shells were filled with glass. The assaults were repeatedly repulsed, and again and again they were renewed, resulting in the latest success between the Niemen and the Je-ssia.