THE STRUGGLE FOR DVINSK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14745, 26 October 1915, Page 5

THE STRUGGLE FOR DVINSK.

GERMAN FORCES TOTAL 80,000. LOSSES ALREADY OVER 40,000. Received October 26, 11.5 a.m. PETROGRAD, October 25. The Novoe Vremya states that 80.000 Germans are now on the Dvinsk front, between Illutz and Latsviaty. Already they have lost over 40,000. but have an immense weight of artillery. However, the officers’ letters remaik on the power and accuracy of the Russian gunfire. General Riisky hj .stubborn defence of the line of the Dvina has been at some points transformed into an advance. 1 lie final object of the tremendous attack that is being made along this line may be Petrograd, in which case, even according to the most optimistic German view, it. is still a very long way off in time as well a.s distance. Or it may he to turn the right wing of the Russian armies and drive them southwards and away from Petrograd. But the same thing applies in this ease: the object cannot under even the most favourable circumstances he attainable for a long time yet. It would not give ajuv reason for the frantic hurry of the attackers, and their great sacrifices. The real reason whv Germany wants Riga and Dvinsk as quickly as possible, is, no doubt, that their capture would enable the attackers in the north to take things more easily, and Would set free troops which are wanted in Eastern Galicia and in Servia. If Germany can make the pace hot enough in Courland she may bo able to bring about the weakening of the Russian army in Galicia, .and she may make it exceedingly difficult for Russia to spare troops for Servia. Incidentally the capture of these cities would give the German forces in the north a good w inter line, in case they decided to slacken down their operations for the winter. If Dvinsk could be taken it would be considerable easiei* to isolate Riga, and Riga would, of course, be uaw) as a naval base. Its capture would ho to Russia a really severe blow.