Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1915-07-15
RUSSIAN RETREAT
DETAILS GIVEN
SOME FEATURES OF REMARK.
ABLE DRIVE BY THE GER
MANS COMING OUT


July 12.-Correspondence by the.
British eyewitness.) The details Of
the German advance on the Third
Army are now clearer. The Russian
advance over the Carpathians was not
met directly, but by counter advance
on it's flank. Here five army corps
were concentrated, some of the fresh
troops being drawn from reserve d.
visions 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 it's right flank, which
had sent a number of reinforcements
to the Carpathians. But the alertness
of the Russian general on this side,
produced an alienation in the plan;
and the attack was diverted to the
next Army corps eastwards. This
corps contained regiments which had
had heavy losses in the previous hill
fighting. 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 can
nonade was directed on the division
still further eastward, with the result
that some regiments suffered terribly.
The whole advance of the enemy
| was a counter-stroke to the Russian
advance 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 it's positions
without serious loss; but the other d.
vision had the greatest difficulty in
fiehting its way through and lost
heavily.
Meanwhile the enemy's attack was
extended also westwards. Here the
cannonade was furious and the
trenches were in many parts wiped
out, all approach to them from the
rear for reinforcements being made
almost impossible. Ultimately q re-
treat was ordered by the Russians on
their aide ALSO.
When the retreat reached the San
the Third Army stood on a not extern
sive front partly in front of and part
ly behind the river. The apparently
endless 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 very difficult stream
to guard and could easily be put under
fanking 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 a good 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 filing this dispatch.
What 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 downheart-
ed; it is sometimes pre- occupied.
sometimes cheerful, but always full Of
vigor. The cause of the losses has
been localized; and there is no sign of
panic or hurry in the thought for the
necessary remedies. The commander
of the army is full of spirit and energy
and all consider that they are only
half way through this battle.
return to my inevitable conclu-
sion. The Russian retreat has been
big success of technique; and it has
wiped out number of good lives..
The battle is not over. and the Rus
SLAMS are on the offensive at points
which offer hope of better results. The
Russian army is firmer than ever, and
more and more men are being poured
in.