THE RUSSIAN DRIVE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14139, 15 July 1916, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN DRIVE.

SITUATION ON'THE STOKHOD. EXPLANATION' BY THE RUSSIAN STAFF. ADVANCE RETARDED BY STUBBORN RESISTANCE. AUSTRIAN COMMANDERS IN DISGRACE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) London, July 13. The "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent- summarises an, explanatory statement by the Russian Staff of •the situation on the Stokhod. The battle froijt stretches 100 miles, mostly coinciding with the valley of the Stokhod on both banks of the river between the two railways converging on Kove], which are in Russian hands. Further north the Germans at some places retain the eastern bank. The indications are that five additional German corps have been deployed on the Stokhod, of which three are from France, and the remainder from other parts of the Russian front. The light for Baranovitchi covers a front of from 30 to 40 miles. The Russians are firmly established in the newly-won ground. Progress is | retarded by the strength of the enemy's * lines and the obstinacy of the defence. | The Russians hold a position within [ six miles of a railway junction strateI gically almost equal to Kovel. Upwards of 30,000 Germans have been taken prisoner since the beginning of tlie offensive. The "Matin reports that when the offensive began, the Archdukes Frederick and Ferdinand were in the midst of a half-drunken revel at Luzk, celebrating the former's birthday. Neither was in a fit condition to conduct operations. ' The Emperor Francis Joseph, refuses to give audience to the Archduke Frederick, holding that he was mainly responsible for the reverses at Lnzk.