THE ADVANCE ON LEMBERG

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14143, 21 July 1916, Page 5

THE ADVANCE ON LEMBERG

GRAVEST OBSTACLES OVERCOME

GENERA L ENEMY -RETREAT

REPORTED.

HINDENBURG IN SOLE CONTROL

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

London, July 19

M. Marcel Hutin claims that the most serious obstacles in General Sakharoft's march on Lemberg have been overcome. Sunday's -victory resulted' in a gain o£ 31 miles against the German troops.

The * 'Daily Telegraph's" Rome correspondent has received a highly significant Petrograd telegram announcing that a general retreat on the East front has commenced. The Austro-Gerrnans are retiring, laying waste the country and' burning the villages. The telegram says that this is one of the many indications that Sir Douglas Haig's offensive has aroused the fears of the German General Staff. It is suggested as a possibility* that they must revert to the defensive in order to secure tolerable, terms of peace.

Yon Hindenburg has already been summoned to the "Western front to discuss the situation with the Kaiser and

Van Falkenhayn. It is understood that Hindenburg has been given complete control of the East front, including the Austrians. Hindenburg's appointment is essential to • carry out the shortening 'of the Eas.t front, which is already in progress.

Russian experts point out that Hindenbcrg's sector in the Riga district is now organised solely for defensive warfare. • It consists of concrete trenches and ten to twelve lines of wire defences, near which mines are! laid. The Germans are still bviilding a series of field railways connected: with the Mitua, Windau, and other railways. The organisation of Hindenburg'sTear represents the last word in military science as regards the rapid transference of troops and the' supply of mu.nitions and foocj.