HOW GOES THE FIGHT?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11764, 31 July 1916, Page 4

HOW GOES THE FIGHT?

NOTES ON THE WAR. THE POSITION ANALYSED. ______ i CHRISTCHFRCH, July 31. Tho capture of Brody by the Russians follows on a week or so of stiff fighting along the front from Brody to Svidniki, on tho Eoshitshy-Kovel railway, a Btrefcch of not less than sixty miles. Of course, the main thrust was developed only on the southern half of this front and particularly on Sakhnroff's sector, which links up with KaJedin's, apparently, near Sviniuchy. The initial movement, as far as ono can gather from the communiques, camo on the front south of Sviniuchy, thirty or forty miles north of Brody, where the Russians developed a threat

that immediately influenced the Lipa front, to the south. The Austrians. claimed that they were merely rectifying their front, but it was obvious that tho Russians had attacked the enemy near the confluence of the Lipa and tho Styr and were fighting for the crossings. In view of the menace to the north, tha Austrians abandoned tho Styr under the pressure and allowed the Russians to cross, enabling them to deploy in strength west of the Styr and both north and south of the Lipa. Having thus started the movement the Russians continued it by pushing west from the Galician border between Lesniow and RadzivilofE. They forced the crossing of the small marshy streams north of Brody, reached the LesniowBrody road and were then in a position to attack Brody from north and east.

But it seems probable that the Austrians were manoeuvred rather than beaten out of Brody itself, though they were bound to fight a rearguard action before abandoning the town. Brody in itself is important mainly because it marks a stage in the Russian advance along the Lemberg railway. The town is considerable, having some 20,000 inhabitants before the war, and it enjoyed prosperity because of its position on the border. South of it lies the range of wooded hills that proved so serious an obstacle to the Russian ad-? vance in June. The reports showed that progress north of Tarnopol, west of Novo Alexinets, and further north, between the Ikwa and the Styr, was achieved only at heavy cost, and the line has been virtually stationary for some little time past. But with the fall of Brody an advance on the BrodyStrypa front looks certain. «

Lemberg is still fifty miles away from tha Russian fronji, and one would regard Zloczow, tho rail and road junction on the way to Lemberg, as being the next objective of the Russians on this sector. Beyond Zloczow is the railway junction of Krasne. Progress is impeded m this region by the fact that most of the streamer—and they are numerous—flow in marshy valleys, with strings of small lakes. Military movements, therefore, are likely to be confined to rather narrow channels, such as those already utilised for roads or railways. Apart from the river valleys, however, the terrain is a plateau, affording ground for fairly extensive but still local battles. Good roads from Brody and Tarnopol converge on Zloczow, and it is on these routes that the Austrians will necessarily concentrate for the defence.

But it is worth recalling that the veterans of the Russian armies have already fought over this country both advancing and retreating. Brussiloff, especially, has reason to remember it, because he was in command on Kussky's lefb when the first Russian advance was made back in August of 1914. Biussiloff came from the south-east and east to the Sereth, capturing Tarnopol after stiff fighting. Eussky advanced from Dubno to Brody, which he captured with little difficulty. The nest step was the junction of the two Rus 1 - sian armies, Brussiloff extending his right northwards while Russky deployed on the Galician border. Thus it came about that as the Austrians retired, Russky struck straight for the railway junction at Krasne, simultaneously advancing from Stojanow, while Brussiloff marched west to the Gnila Lipa. The main thrust thus came from what is now the Brody-Svin-iuchy sector of the Russian front, and it is not at all improbable that Brussiloff will develop his principal attack now on this front. Tho Austrian evacuation of Brody is obviously only an incident in a considerable movement, and as the centre of the offensive is presumably in the region of the Lipa it is reasonable to suppose that the Russians are endeavo'aring to reach the railhead at Stojanow, which is perhaps fifteen miles east of their present front.

The offensive that brought about the capture of Brody, however, was launched on a very wide front, and until some details of the movement axe available it will be difficult to estimate the precise significance of Brussiloff's plan. The fall of Brody naturally attracts attention to a particular region, but the main Russian force is on the Stokhod west of Lutsk, and the enemy admits that he had to withdraw his advanced lines on this sector, whore von Linsingen had succeeded in checking the Russian advan.ee> after bitter and prolonged fighting. Brussiloff holds the line of the Stokhod, nsfar as is known, throughout tho length of the river, and it is evident that ho has renewed his offensive r.t Sviduiki, whore the. Rovno-Kove.l railway makes the crossing. At one time lie held this bridgehead, and in tho absence of news to tho contrary it is to be assu'ied that he is still in possession. Tn thnt a combined offensive at Pvidniki ami Gulevite.hi, on the northern railway io Korel. would bo highly probable.

T!ie Russian acliviiy extei.ds to the southern wing, ais.o. There is no newfconcerning the position west of the Strypa, but south of the Dniester Leshitsky has been attacking strongly, and within the past few days definite successes have been recorded west and north of Kolomea. Soms time ago his cavalry was operating close to TJumacz, the railhead of a branch line of the Stanislau-Buez&cz railway. It was explained at tho time that this was a thrust towards the bridgehead at Nizniow, where the railway crosses tho Dniester, Vat it was obvious that the movement was carried out bv cav-

airy only and had no great weight h&> hind it. As a matter of fact, the Euasian advanced parties were withdrawn as soon- as tho Anstrians covered the railway, and Leshibky paused until his main body could be brought into operation with tho gans. It is true that the capture of Jezierzany, a few miles east of Tlumacz, is credited now to n division of cavalry, but obviously this was part of a much bigger movement. Further discussion of these operation? may very well wait until tho particulars aro telegraphed. So far the Russians simply announce Leshitsky ? s success.