Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-16
With The Re.reatins Russians.

Headquarters of Russian Third Army
in retreat behind Riyen San, (Corre-
spondence by British eye-witness)-
The details of the German advance on
tbs Third Army are now clearer. The
Russian advance over the Carpathians
was not met directly, but by a counter
advance on its flank. Here five army
corps were concentrated, some of the
fresh troops being drawn from re-
serve divisions on the French front.
Meanwhile the long period of COM
parative inaction had been employed
in bringing up the heaviest German
and Austrian artillery and getting the
range not merely of the Russian lines
but of squares which covered a good
part of their rear.
The enemy's advance was at first
directed against what was thought to
be the weakest part of the Third Army,
namely its right flank, which had sent
number of reinforcements to the
Carpathians. But the alertness of the
Russian General on this side produced
an alteration in the plan: and the at
tack was diverted to the next army
corps eastwards. This corps contained
regiments which had had heavy losses
in the previous hill-ighting. A gap
Was forced between the two army
corps; and the right flank of the
threatened corps was crushed by the
pounding fire. The flank retreated in
good spirit but with the heaviest losses,
coming into line with the broken forces
to the right of them. Meanwhile a
tremendous cannonade was directed
on the division still further eastward,
with the result that some regiments
suffered terribly.
The whole advance of the enemy was
counter-stroke to the Russian ad-
vance over the Carpathians further
eastwards. The right wing of that ad-
vance was now out-hanked and had
to come backward. Half OF this corps
succeeded in rectifying its positions
without serious loss; but the other d.
vision had the greatest difficulty in
fighting its way through and lost heav-
lily.
Meanwhile the enemy's attack was
extended also westward. Here the
carnonade was furious and the trench
es were in many parts wiped out, all
approach to them from the rear for re-
Inducements being made almost i'm
possible. Ultimately retreat was
ordered by the Russians on their side
also.
When the retreat reached the San
the Third Army stood on a not extern
sive front partly in front of and partly
behind the river. The apparently end
less file of supply and ambulance
trains had all made its way along the
single line across the river. Where
ever they stopped. the station was in
Tested by the enemy's aeroplanes, at
one time ten of these flying along the
line. In one day three were brought
down. all the airmen being killed
In their positions along the San the
Russians had a very difficult stream
to guard and could easily be put under
hanking fire. The officers were Wig
orous but deeply mortified at the loss
Of ground for which they had sacri-
feed so much.
The enemy's cannonade became
more and more intense, lasting all
night and into the next day Then
the enemy made good a footing on the
Russian side Of the river, was driven
back, but returned and finally estab-
lished himself and forced another
Russian retreat Of some miles,
This brings the operations down to
the date of fling this dispatch.
What a picture these days will leave
behind, with those who have lived
through them. It is only the simple
things that count: but they keep com
ing back in new forms again and again.
The Staff is in no way downhearted;
it is sometimes pre-occupied, some
times cheerful. but always full of vigor.
lied; and there is no sign of panic
or hurry in the thought for the nee
essary remedies. The Commander of
the Army is full OF spirit and energy
and all consider that they are only
half way through this battle.
I return to my inevitable conclusion.
The Russian retreat <has been a big
success of technique: and It has wiped
out a number OF good lives. The battle
the offensive at points which offer
hope of better results. The Russian
Army Is frmer than ever, and more
and more men are being poured in.