RUSSIA

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 3

RUSSIA

ADVANCE ON THE NIEMEN, GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. PETROGR-AD, May 1. Official.—Me closely pressed the German advance guards on the whole front westwards of Niemen, and repulsed the enemy in the Sosbia region, near Osowiec, with heavy losses. Me repulsed four attacks between Tednovojetz and the river Pisaschkva, with very great Gorman losses. We allowed the Austrians to approach wire entanglements in the Kopolovetz forest, north of tho Uzsok Pass, on Wednesday night, and then suddenly scattered them with a devastating tire. We vigorously advanced on the enemy trenches in tho Golovetz region in the direction of Stry. Wo hayonetted a portion of tho defenders and took -1000 prisoners. The successful advance on the left bank of the Niemen continues. The enemy suffered further severe losses. Wo carried two hills southward of Zozinka and Gnlovetzko, taking a thousand prisoners and several quickfirers. Our offensivocontimies successfully. We repulsed German attacks in the direction of Urakvw. The now Gorman activity north of NTcven is believed fa bo merely a demonstration connected with the probable movements of tho German fleet covering the landing of troops at I’iangen. j Hitherto Germany Ims attached no importance to the Baltic provinces- but is | now seeking a fresh offensive in this direction in vie wof the failure at Warsaw and Niemen, and she also hopes to exert a moral influence on her neutral neighbours. Official circles describe the German offensive at Shaken as a foraging expedition. At present tho only result Is the acquisition of an insignificant i amount of food and fodder.

THE CZAR IN BCKOVINA. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. 3, 8 a.m.) LONDON. May 2. The Czar's visit to the borders of Bukovina is politically significant. It indicates Russia’s tirm intention to extend her dominion into territories which were formerly Russian. THROUGH GERMAN SPECTACLES. BERLIN, Mav I. Official—The battle at Shavli ‘ended in our favour. The Russians lost heavily and retreated-to Milan after sotting fire to Shavli. Wo captured a thousand prisoners and ten machine-guns. The Russians attacked a German advance company at Kalvarin at night, inflicting much damage. Wo readied the Dunnherg-Libnu railway on a large front, the Russians offering no resistance. VIENNA, May 1. A enmnany of Austrian troops with officers do.serted and fled to Asiago. Many mounted troops from Galicia, refusing to return to’ the front, crossed the frontier. RUSSIA HOLDING GERMAN FORCES. (Received May 3, P. 45 a.m.) LONDON. May 2. The Observer’s Tetrograd correspondent states the Germans hoped to utilise the several weeks’ interval when big operations on most of tlio Russian fronts would be impossible for sending overwhelming forces to Flanders. The Russians frustrated this and Germany lias been reduced to a demonstrative display of activity in Flanders. Shoals of Gennaps com-nue to fill -ho reittiorccinrnts tn t!te Carpathians, where they are sulforing daily increasing losses. The Russians’ strategic positions compel them to attack unceasingly, with hourly lessening hopes.

GERMAN! - LOOKING FOP. FORAGE. (Received May 3, 10.5 a.ra.) . LONDON, May 2. Petrogrnd officially states that the German offensive on the JvTomca has no strategical importance. It is only tho result of requisitions for food and forage.