FIGHT FOR OVILLERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 6379, 22 July 1916, Page 4

FIGHT FOR OVILLERS.

A Frightful) Barricade, British Compliment'to Valour. London, July 19 ; The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent describes the grand fight for OviUers. In the course of his article he says : " After a furious bombardment the brigade advanced on three sides. The defenders, with conspicuous valour, engaged in a desperate hand-to-nancf struggle among the broken walls and cellars. Many of them had, not tasted food for two days. Everywhere corpses were lying unburied. The bombardment had wrecked two strong fieldworks barring the entry to the village by Bapaume road, and our troops found here a frightful barricade, of 800 German corpses. " Out of the entire brigade of the Imperial Guard only 126 survived, and many were suffering agonies from hunger and thirst. Some died of poisoning after drinking from a filthy pond ; others went mad, and were fighting each other. Our men formed up and presented arms to the sorry remnant of Prussia's proudest troops, who were marching in the rear.''

RUSSIAN OPERATIONS RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN OALICIA. German Confirmation. London, July 17. A Berlin communique, dated the 17th hist, confirms the Russian advance on the Lower Lipa.

Successes on the Lipa. Petrograd, July 17 A wireless communique, summing up the fighting on Sunday, states that General Sakaroff Jias broken down the resistance ofthe enemy east and south-east of Svinuhi, Volhynia. Our advance continues on the Lower Lipa, where the enemy are making a stubborn resistance. We took as prisoners 277 officers ( 8037 men, and 24 guns on the Lower Lipa.

ANXIETY IN HUNGARY. Ministerial Bluff. Amsterdam, July 18 The proximity of Russian cavalry to the frontier of Hungary at Kirlibaba Pass is causing anxiety,■ which promiuient Hungarian officials are seeking to allay. Count Bethlen, president of the frontier county, declares that it is impossible for a single Russian to appear on Hungarian soil except as a prisoner.

THE MARCH ON LEMBERG. Most Serious Obstacles Overcome. London, July 18.. M. Marcel Rutin claims that the most serious obstacles in the way of General Sakaroff's march on Lemberg have been overcome. Sunday's victory resulted in a gain of 31 miles against the German troops.

GENERAL RETREAT BEGUN. Enemy Burning as They Retreat. London, July 18. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent' a Rome writes : "A highly significant Petrograd telegram has been received, announcing that a general i'etreat of the enemy on the East front has commenced. The Austro-Germans, in retiring, are layng wast* the country, and burning villages. " The telegram is one of many indications. General Haig's offensive aroused the first fears of the German General Staff, and suggested the possibility that they must revert to purely defensive tactics in order to secure tolerable terms of peace. Marshal von Hindenburg has already been summoned to the we6t front to discuss the situation with the Kaiser and Marshall von Falkenhayn (Chief of the Staff). It ie understood that Marshal von Hindenburg has been given complete control on the east front, including the Austrion forces. Marshal von Hindenburg's appointment is essential to the carrying out of the shortening of the east front, which is already in progress. Russian experts point out that Marshal von Hindenburg's sector—the Riga districtis now organised solely for defensive warfare. It consists of concrete trenches and from 10 to 12 lines of wire defences, near which mines are laid. " The Germans are still connected with the Mitau-Windau and other railways, and are building a .scries of field railways. The organisation of Marshal von Hinidenburg's rear represents the last jword in military science as re!gards the rapid transference of troops and the supply of munitions and food."

GENERAL SAKAROFF'S CAPTURES. Lower lipa Cleared of the Enemy Petrograd, July 18. . A communique states : General' Sakaroff captured 30 guns in Vol--1 hynia, in a battle on the 16th inst. The whole of the lower Lipa. has been cleared of the enemy, who .have been repulsed beyond Zwiniacke, Krassow, and the river.