GREAT RUSSIAN VICTORY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14463, 30 November 1914, Page 5

GREAT RUSSIAN VICTORY.

THE BATTLE OF / KOLUSZKI. THREE GERMAN ARMY CORPS IN A FIX. .. . RUSSIANS CLOSING ON CRACOW. PETROGRAD, November 28. The battle of Koluszki is in the last stage. ; The Germans are desperately struggling to fight through to Strykon, exposed to incessant Russian cavalry charges. The Russians, knowing the difficulty of • surrounding three army corps in open country, are seeking to cut off every supply of ammunition. Prior to the advance, the Kaiser gave; audience. to General von' Hindenberg at Thorn. He said: ' The eyes ,of the’ world are upon you. General Hindenherg then launched his Napoleonic attack, aiming at breaking the Russian centre and surrounding the Russians between Czenstochowa and Cracow. An army under General Francois attacked Lowicz, while General Mackensen marched on Lodz. General Mackensen duly broke the Russian centre at Brezink, but found- his three army corps cut off. General Francois, who was decisively defeated at Lowicz on Tuesday, - retreated in a'north-westerly direction, making General Mackensen’s position increasingly difficult. Meanwhile the Russians on Monday defeated Wielet’s force of Germans. Czenstochowa has been entrenched in a line of low hills running to the Vistula. The Russians have driven a wedge into the line of Wlodwie, 25 miles south of Czenstochowa, and are now attacking the Germans’ northern , section in the flank. The Russians are converging on Cracow from three sides,, continually capturing guns. The General Staff complains that the Germans are placing anti-aircraft guns and machine-guns and wireless apparatus in church towers, with the evident purpose of forcing the Russians to bombard ancient - buildings. SITUATION RESEMBLES PAARDEBURG. GERMANS SUFFERING APPALLING LOSSES. - PETROGRAD, November 28. The latest unofficial reports suggest that the Russian victory on the VistulaWarta is likely to exceed previous estimates. - Three army corps are seeking to escape to Strykow and are now subjected to a terrible artillery fire. They are short of food and big gun ammunition, and suffering appalling losses. The situation resembles Paardeburg. GERMAN GENERALSHIP BROKEN DOWN. LONDON, November 28. ■ The Times, in a leader, says the Russians do not hesitate to say that German generalship has broken down. German strategy has been so bookish everywhere that it has failed to survive practical tests. 1 ‘ Prussian arrogance has been revealed in all German movements, gradually producing the worst disaster that has ever overtaken the Gentian empire.—(Times and Sydney Sun Services.)

THE RUSSIAN SUCCESS.

HOW IT WAS ACHIEVED. LONDON, November 29. Apparently the main Russian success is against Mackensen, north-east of • Lodz. Mackensen at one time got between the Russian right and Warsaw. Hindenberg sought to relieve Cracow by threatening Warsaw. Mackensen was unable to retain his position, and Hidenberg rapidly concentrated at Wielun. He tried to turn t'ne Russian left and simultaneously turn the Russian right operating against the Austrians. The German advance near Lodz failed, and the Russians, holding the Austrians firmly at Czenstochowa, began to hem the Germans from the south, at the same time enveloping them from the north. Mackensen was forced to retreat along the Vistula, but many regiments were broken and are wandering eastward of Lodz.

A GERMAN VERSION.

HUGE CAPTURES REPORTED. LONDON, November 29. An Amsterdam telegram from Thorn states that General Hindenberg, in , an army order, announces that" he lias brought Russia’s offensive to a standstill. The order reproduces the Kaiser’s telegram congratulating Hindenberg pn his success and promoting him to the rank of Field-Marshal. Hindenberg claims to have captured 60,000 prisoners, 150 guns, and 200 machine guns. He adds that the enemy is not yet annihilated. The enemy continues an obstinate resistance, And it is impossible to consider the operations concluded.

GERMAN “CULTURE.”

JAPAN’S SPIRITED REPLY. PETRGGRAD, November 28. - Tlie newspaper Recht explains Japan’s dramatic answer (mentioned in- Mr Balfour’s speech on the 9 th) on the eve of Tsingtao’s fall. _• The Kaiser offered the Mikado peace at any price on condition that Japan attacked Russia. The Mikado replied that the day when the last base of German “culture” in the Far East fell would be one of the most glorious in Japanese history. He reminded 1 the Kaiser that Japan was incapable of treachery like Germany’s in respect of Belgium. He handedto the British Ambassador the Kaiser’s message.

THE RIOTS AT DOUGLAS.

A PRE-ARRANGED AFFAIR.LONDON, November . 28. Several of the Germans interned at Douglas gave evidence that the outbreak was pre-arranged. The ring-leader told his comrades to take off the numbers, as sometfling was going to happen. The military gave evidence that they were, subjected to a fusillade: of knives, forks and crockery for ten minutes before thyy, fired. The.,missiles injured/ several soldiers. The complaints in regard ..to the food were not justified. The outbreak was the work of agitators.