The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-26
FURIOUS FIGHTING
ON ISLE IN DWINA
Reports From Petrograd Indi-
cate Germans Are Withdraw
ing in Northern Sector.
ICE SHIELDED, MANY LOST
Special Cable Despdfch to tbs sur.

Special Cable Despafch TO THs Sur.
LONDON. Nov. 2e.-German and Rus
sian war reports received yesterday indi-
cate activity along the whole Russo-Gali-
clan front, the most violently contested
point being at the village Of Bersemu-
endc. on the southern end Of the Dahlen
Island in the Dwtna River. about ave
miles southeast Of Riga It has been
taken twice in the last two days by the
Germans. and from yesterdays report II
10 not certain who is in possession
The Russians claim to be making
Roadway OF the entire front from Riga
to Lake Swenton, west of Dwinsk. Their
further assertion that they have driven
the Germans back at Kemmern indicates
that the Russian front still reaches west
of Riga beyond schlok to a point TWEEN
ty.nvc miles along tho Riga-Windau
railway.
A despatch IA the Morning Post from
Petrograd intimates that German mill
tary leaders, discouraged by the insuper-
able obstacles encountered in attempts
Ing TO make any appreciable advance or
sven to hold their positions along the
Riga.Dwinsk front. have decided to drop
back beyond Mitau. The evacuation of
Mitau, It is reported. has already been
begun.
The Germans are constructing a strong
line Of trenches in their rear. Miles Of
wire entangiements are being set up, 1t
Is said. to the rear OF their present po-
siti0ns. They are also busy building
military railways from their battle line
here to the interior Of Germany.
a report from Copenhagen declares
that the Russian troops defending the
Styr River In voihynia drowned n whole
battalion Of Austrians by the device Of
b~ombarding the Ice on which their enc
mics were attempting to cross the river.
1t Is possible that the Russian version
Of this same incident is contained in the
Petrograd report. which says that 100
into the river and shot at while attempt
| ing TO cross.
The Russian ofncial statement given
out yesterday In Petrograd follows:
The Germans yesterday attempted
to advance toward kemmern. but
were repulsed. Near the farm at
Bersemuende our troops took 100
German prisoners. six machine guns.
and captured a hill. From the dis
trict southwest to Lake Swenton our
troops made Roadway.
In the Smorgon district east of
wilma the enemy artillery developed
violent firing In some places.
South OF wilma in the Pinsk region
on the right bank Of the Strumen
River the enemy attacked konora.
but were repulsed.
ovo-Podcherevitchi, on the left
bank Of the Styr. after a series OF
engagements remained In u hands.
Near S~ienikOwice. on the Strypa-
part Of our troops attacked the enemy
and drove him to the river. With
his back 10 the river the enemy was
partly annihilated by our fire. rsm.
nants being drowned. In the!- at
tempts to escape across the river
more than 100 were killed.
On the rest OF the front in Cali
cia- there have been lively artillery
duels at various points. The enemy
has been making constant use of tear
proJectiles.
The official German statement yester
day Is as follows:
Army group of Field Marshal Won
Hi%ndenburg. B~ersemuende is firmly
In our hands. The number OF pris-
oners has been increased to nine OFF,
GERS and $50 men. n booty taken to
three machine guns.
Army group OF Prince Leopold and
Gen. Won Linsingen: The situation is
unchanged.
Two German aviators. essaying to H.
over the Russian lines near Dwinsk I
make observations. ave frozen 10 deaf
In q marsh back of the Russian front
After the machine. which was of tn
albatross type. was allowed to pass tn
Russian batteries IL was cut on by
nock OF Russian air craft.
The German machine few about owe
a marsh frantically for some time an
then descended. COssacks who had bee
watching 1t followed II on bicycles. BE
fore they could find the aviators. how
ever. they had frozen to death. TIL
%aeroplane was not damaged.