RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

GATHERING CLOUDS. THE EAST FRONT THREATENED. RUSSIA PREPARED. Times and /Sydney Sun Services. Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. London, April 17. The Times' correspondent at Petrogrnd says that all symptoms indicate a renewed phase of the struggle on the East front, likely to surpass everything hitherto witnessed. Both belligerents are resolved to force a definite issue. The Russian reorganisation has now reached the point when they are able to give their antagonists as good as they get, if not better. It is difficult to prophesy whether the chief blow will be directed against the Riga, Dvin6k, or Narotch sectors, out meanwhile the enemy's movements on the light are regarded as an auxiliary operation, upon the success of which the spring offensive will depend. | The lake region is glutted with the Germans' :oncentrations, at the expense of their centre, and there are also considerable concentrations in the rear. General Hindenburg's left flank is in the Dvinsk region, and thanks to the railways these can swiftly reach any point on a three-hundred-mile front. We continue successfully to harass the foe ' i Oalicia, and Austrian prisoners state that all Germans have been withdrawn and sent to France, hut experts believe that they have partly been moved northwards. INTENSE FIGHTING. ON THE NORTHERN FRONT. Received April 18, f1.30 p.m. Petrograd, April 18. Fighting on the northern front is growing in intensity. The German forces have been re-grouped to enable General Hindenburg to commence his maximum effort to take Dvinsk. The German attack is developing at Ikskull bridgehead, and the Dvinsk positions south of Garbunovka and Platonovka, which were fiercely contested in the autumn.

IN THE CAUCASUS. AND ASIA MINOR, A BL'SE THAT FAILED. Received April 18, 9.35 p.m. Petrograd, April 18. Recent references in the communiques do not do justice to the recent fighting in the Caucasus. The Turks made a supreme effort to oppose the Russian advance, and in addition made a deter-, mined stand from the Black Sea to Bitlis. They organised an offensive with the object of recapturing Erzerum. Their plan was -a sudden pressure on the Russian right, hoping to cause the Grand Duke Nicholas to transfer his troops towards Trebizond, *he Turks then meaning to break the centre of the main forces west of Erzerum. There were six days of most severe fighting, and the Rustians met all assaults until the Turks fell back, leaving many prisoners. ACTIVITY AT DVTNSK. Amsterdam, April 17. The Russians have developed great activity at the bridge-head near DviHsk. IN ASIA MINOR. TURKS A RABBLE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, April 17. i'he Times' Petrograd Mrrespsndent reports that Turkey's regular army in Asia Minor lias practically ceased to exist. The Dardanelles campaign cost the Turks 300,000 men, at the lowest estimate, and the disastrous fighting at Erzerum wrought further havoc. Though the Turks have still several' hundred thousands of armed men, they arc scattered and disunited, ill-trained and ill-supplied. Tlie presence of Bulgars among the troops defending Trebizond emphasises the Turkish weakness. The obstacles which the Russian army have to meet are now mainly climatic and topographical, in getting supplies and keeping open, communications. There is no resistance Ivy an organised enemy. I