RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. IMPORTANT POSITION TAKEN. Petrograd, Feb. li. Fuller reports emphasise the importance of the success at the Uscieciko stronghold, which is a high ridge between the Dneister and the Zurin, jionr their point of confluence. Thence the enemy was able to direct a galling fire on the Russian positions on the east bank. The precipitous slopes of the ridge were covered with dense undergrowth and had been converted Into a miniature Gibraltar. The Russians drove numerous saps from which they assailed the enemy with hand grenades, and the batteries poured in liigh explosives and shrapnel with unerring precision. The first Russian success was at the end of January, but heavy reinforcements enabled the enemy to keep the Russians at bay for a week. Then the Russians won a position which enabled heavy guns to bombard the reserves across the river. Finally, after four days and nights of desperate fighting the Russians rushed the bridgehead on Tuesday and crossed the Dneister, though the opposite bank was equally precipitous and strongly fortified. It is reported that General Bohm Ermolli was wounded.

The heavy fighting at Useieczko was the point of connection between General Bothmor's armies operating north of the river and the armies of General Pflander and the Germans between the Dneister and the Pruth. The Russians thus tlirust a wedge between these two parts of the enemy armies. The Russians are also threatening Czernowitz and the plateau north-east of Czernowitz is th e scene of strenuous fighting which has not yet proved decisive and is not mentioned in official tulletina.

The successes illustrate the importance of the recent reconstruction of the Russian artillery. Formerly the German artillery overwhelmed the Russian; now the German fire is beaten down. The Russians are provided with ample shells and guns of the pattern of the French seventy-fives. These do not require concrete platforms, whereas the Germans are forced to work their guns in two or three positions connected laterally by rails, which the Russian gunners readily pick out,

GERMAN TRENCHES ABANDONED. Petrograd, Feb. 11. Owing to the overflow of the Oghinsk Canal, the result of a sudden tJm'*\ the Germans evacuated the whole cf their seeond line of trenches, saeri3cing great juantitiej of ammunition.