RUSSIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15503, 13 November 1914, Page 7

RUSSIA.

OFFICIAL REPORT. OF RECENT FIGHTING. A TALE OF RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. '(High Commissioner's Cable.) LONDON, Nov. 11. Official.—A correspondent at the Russian headquarters states:— I have just mad© a journey over the country between Warsaw and Cracow, where the Russian advance is proceeding. Events are rapidly converting tlic new advance west from Warsaw from a counterstroke into a general transference of the sphere of operations and a most valuable rectification of the whole Russian line. In East Prussia tli© Germans are being slowly driven back by a double turning movement. Further westward the northern frontier of Poland is well secured. The, Russians have occupied and hold firmly Plock, Lodz, Petrikaukiece, Sandomir, Jaroslav and all other passages of the river San. On the repulse of the German attack on Warsaw the enemy was pressed back south-westward. After three weeks of continuous fighting near Ivangorod the famous Caucasian regiment forced a passage of the Vistula under the fire of German artillery. The advance guard crossed the broad stream in skiffs and ferry boats, and held their footing under a devastating cross fire till the construction of a pontoon bridge allowed the passage of reinforcements. Supports coming along the river bank from Ivangorod had to advance through a flooded swamp almost breast high. A footing was made good at Kosenice, where desperate fighting occurred. Later they made a scries of brilliant attacks in the forests, after which the Germans wer© thrown back to Radom. A general advance then drove back the enemy beyond Radom and Ila.

At the small town, Szidlewice, the German commander threatened, as the Russians approached, to blow up their remarkable town hall, in Florentine style, which is conspicuous for thirty miles around, and a beautiful Gothic church, 600 years old. The inhabitants offered to ransom them by a contribution of 5000 crowns and this was accepted. Twenty minutes later the town hall was blown up and the church followed in another quarter of an hour.

In front of Kielce the Austrians were abandoned by the Germans, who retired and made a, stand near Lesezina on a high sandy position, with a large fir copse in the centre, extending over a wide front. The attack delivered by the Russians corps, including a division mainly composed of Poles, fell chiefly on an Austrian-Polish regiment from Cracow. The assailants kept up the firing all day, and finally rushed the enemy's rifle pits. The Austrians left Kielce in the night. Some were captured by the Russians, who, close upon their heels, pursued thein for miles. They were brought to action later in the same day. Next day Russian artillery was also heard south-east of Cracow, and the Germans retreated in the direction of Czenstochow. For three weeks fighting had been going on in the characteristic Russian ■style of bayonet attacks, kept up for two. hours at a time. Small units eagerly attacked larger hostile ones. In genera] the Russians -out-flanked the

enemy, and in on© case broke tlirougli the centre., and often the Russian artillery caused him to decamp in the night.

i Officers describe the enthusiasm of the rahk and file as growing, ft is clearly visible in the rear of the army, ( as is shown by the energy with which the transport is being pushed up. The enemy thoroughly destroyed all bridges, but these are quickly repaired. Meanwhile the ardour of the troops with the , transport trains minimises the delay.

j German rifle fire is superior to the ! AUsrians' whose regiments are officered' jby Germans. Austrian Slavonic regi- ' ments resist well for two or thee days and then break up and surrender in large bodies. They have, sometimes : asked the guides to take them to the | Russian lines.

The inhabitant*? speak well of the Austrians, but with indignation of the Germans. Prisoners confirm the rumours of bad relations between the Allied armies, and Aufitrians and Germans when captured are kept apart. There is ample evidence of enthusiasm among the Poles for the Russian cause. They show the greatest courtesy and kindness, especially in the villages. All the evidence of prisoners shows that the Russians are treating them as well as their own comrades.

The theatre of present operations is of crucial importance. Austria and Germany ioin hands and serious reverses will compel them either to retreat on diverging lines or expose their capitals. Either event will have political consequences of the highest military significance.

NEARING CRACOW. SWIFT PROGRESS LATELY. Recived 12.20 a.m., Nov. 13th. LONDON, Nov. 11. The Russian Embassy announces that a Russian ariny has arrived within sight of Cracow, the siege of which is imminent. An Austrian army is surrounded and will be foiled, to accept a decisive battle or-capitulate, retreat across the Carpathians being impossible. Another Russian army, marching towards Silesia, lias already arrived at Mekliov, enveloping the German right wing.