Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-13
DETAILS OF GERMAN ADVANCE
ON THE RUSSIAN THIRD ARMY
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Headquarters of Russian Third
Army. in Retreat Behind River San.
June 15.-The details of the German
advance on the Th.rd Army are now
clearer. The Russian advance over
the Carpathians was not met directly.
but BY counter advance on its
flank Here Ave army corps were
concentrated, some of the fresh troops
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 good
part of their rear.
The enemy's advance was at first di-
rected against what was thought to be
the weakest part of the Third Army.
namely its right flank, which had sent
a number of reinforcements to the
Carpathians. But the alertness Of
the Russian General on this side pro-
duced an alteration in the plan: ana
the attack was diverted to the next
army corps eastwards. This corps con-
tanned regiments which had had heavy
losses in the previous hill-Hghtlng. "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 retrated in
"a loss.
es. coming into line with the broken
forces to the right of them. Mean
while 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 a commensurate to the Russian
advance over the Carpathians further
eastwards. The right wing of that adj
vance was now out-flanked 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
heavily.
extended also westwards. Here the
cannonade 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 a retreat was
ordered by the Russians on their side
also.
When the retreat reached the San
the Third Army stood on not ex-
tensive front partly in front OF ana
partly behind the river. The appar-
entity endless file of supply and ambu-
lance trains had all made its way
along the single line across the river.
Wherever they stopped. the station
was infested by the enemys areo-
planes, at one time ten Of these flying
along the line. In one day three we're
brought down. all the airmen being
killed.
In their positions along the San the
Russians had a very difficult stream to
guard ard could easily be put under a
flanking fire The officers were vigor-
Gus but deeply mortified at the loss OF
ground for which they had sacrificed
SO much.
The enemy's cannonade became
more and more intense. lasting all
night and into the next day. Then
the enemy made good footing on the
Russian side Of the river, was driven
back, but returned and finally estab-
lished himself and forced another Rus
sian retreat Of some miles.
This brings the operations down to
the date Of filing this dispatch.
What a picture these days will leave
behind, with those who have lived
through them. 1t is only the simple
things that count: but they keep COM
ing back in new forms again and
again.
The Staf is in no way downhearted;