OVERNIGHT CABLES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12070, 27 July 1917, Page 2

OVERNIGHT CABLES

EASTERN THEATRE, RUSSIAN RETREAT. Australian *nd N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON. July 26. A wireless Russian official message says:—North of Krevo our detachments occupying enemy trenches retired owing to powerful artillery fire. Tho Guards Corps, with tho exception of the Petrovsky Brigade, voluntarily retired from Tarnopol- The Petrovsky's are faithfully battling south-east

of tlie town. The enemy have crossed * the Sereth and are driving back the Russians on the Smykovce-Gneizna ■River-Trembowla line. We offered great opposition east of IMyszkovice. The Germans continued the offensive between the Sereth and Strypa. Three divisions north-west of .Romanov retreated rearward. The Germans forced our retirement in the re*gipn Olesha despite the gallantry of one infantry division and two cyclist battalions. Southward of the Dniester as far as the Carpathians our retirement was continued, our troops engaging in rearguard actions. There was stubborn Bayonet fighting in the streets of Stanislnu. The inhabitants from balconies and windows threw hand grenades on our departing troops. ' AMAZONS IN ACTION. i : Australian an/l N.Z. Cable Association. K PETROGRAD, July 25. During the heavy fighting on the front to-day a battalion of women volunteers went into action, setting a fine example to the troops. Cossacks held up tne enemy for many hours beFore Tarnopol, facilitating the removal •>f, .stores and the destruction of bridges ind depots. After the fall of Tarnopol the Germans attacked in a southeasterly direction, with a view to surrounding the Seventh and Eighth armies, which still remained in advanced positions. This necessitated the withdrawal of the right wing on the Brzezany front. The Russian reserve Is now stiffening the Strypa fo- the fcereth defences. j RUMANIAN OFFENSIVE. ' 1 ! Australian and N.Z. Cable Awociation and Reuter. J ASSY, July 26. A Rumanian official message says:— We took the offensive in the southern • Carpathians, and occupied the villages . of Meresci and Velochany. We captured. nineteen guiis, including some of heavy calibre. We broke in along a ,wido front on a strongly organised enemy line-

LOSS OF ARTILLERY.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 26.

The "Morning rost" Petrograd correspondent says that the Eleventh Army lost all of its artillery and it is doubtful whether the artillery of the Seventh and Eighth Armies will be saved. The enemy is astride the. only good road on the Eighth Army's line of retreat. A whole division of the Eleventh Army was blown to pieces by its own artillery in efforts to stop the runaways. " Tha Times " Service. LONDON, July 25. Mr "Wilton, "The Times'' correspondent at General Kor.nilov's headquarters, states that the British armoured car and trench mortar sections gallantly covered the Russian retreat, but their stand was unavailing in face of the infantry debacle. The Britishers later co-operated with the cavalry in the defence of Tarnopol. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. LONDON, July 26. The "Morning Post's - ' Petrograd correspondent says that details of the collapse almost stagger belief. The infantry of tho Eleventh Army shot their own gunners in order to get the artillery horses, or shot the gun horses in revengo for the gunners firing upon the runaways. This panic-stricken act, unless it was an act of purchased treachery, left practically all the artillery of the Eleventh Army in the enemy's hands. There is also no hope of saving the artillery and technical appliances of the Seventh and Eighth Armies. The Germans two days ago were across the best road on the shortest line of retreat. The old Russian gun positions are now behind the German line. The Eighth Army abandoned Stanislau and is making best haste eastward, but it is exceedingly doubtful whether it can escape. " The Times " Service. LONDON. July 25. Referring to tho Eleventh Army's lack of discipline "The Times" correspondent in Petrograd says that it is entirely due to the extremists' propaganda, which, it is daily becoming clearer, is the work of German spies and agents. The, impudence of Russia's moral assassins is almost past belief. Heroic officers falling in masses, insubordination made headway in all parts of the army, but Russia's psychology is capable of extraordinary changes and the situation may yet be saved. M. Kerensky's disinterestedness is unquestioned, and his fervent eloquence and driving force will win if ii is a one-man job, which is doubtful. THE KAISER'S VISIT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, July 25. The Kaiser is visiting the eastern front. Ho addressed troops and distributed decorations. INTERNAL DISORDERS. "The Times" Service. LONDON, July 25. A message from Odessa states a Ukraine regiment at Kiev refused to go to tho front or to recognise the Autonomous Assembly. It disarmed tho militia and arrested the chief of police and military commandant, sacked tho arsenal and stormed tho treasury. A professional thief proclaimed himself commandant of Kiev. After fighting, loyal regiments disarmed and arrested the mutineers. There were many demonstrations in South Russia against the dark forces of the extremists, and there was bloodshed at Nijni Novogctrod, where extremists incited

troops to refuse to go to the front. "Tho Times'' correspondent'at Petrograd says that thousands of soldiers are joining in the hunt for Lenin, -who has written to the newspapers denying that he received a penny of German funds.