The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-01
AUSTRIAN ARMY
CAUGHT IN TRAP
Gen. BaItin's Force Reported
Surrounded by Russians
in BukOWina.
PLANNERS TROOPS IN ROUT'
Cars Soldiers Occupy Radautz, South
OF CzernoVyitz-Both Sides Claim
Gains in VoIhynia.

London, June 23.-The official an
nouncement by the Russian war office
of the capture of Radautz, a city of
thirteen thousand inhabitants sitdat-
ed thirty miles south of Czernowitz
and ten miles from the Rumanian
frontier, shows how actively General
Letchitzky is pursuing the broken
Austrian forces. According to a spe-
cial dispatch from Petrograd nothing
but a miracle can avert the destruc-
ton of General Planners army, as
General Letchitsky now holds a
stretch of twenty miles on the Sereth
river
According to a report from Rome,
an Austrian army under General Bal
tin is shut up in the angle of the
frontier near the town of Sereth, COM
pletely surrounded by Russians. The
Austrian official communication re
ceived here tonight claims that the
Austrians have repulsed Russian at
tacks near Gura Humora. This town
is in the extreme south of Bukowina,
on theMOldava river, f1fty-four miles
south of CZernoWitZ. Thus the Rus
sian pursuit seemingly has extended
much farther than the Russians
claim.
The Germans and Austrians in VII
hynia are vigorously on the offensive
against the Russians and seemingly
have stopped, for the time being at
least, the Russian drive westward.
Along the Stowhod river sanguirary
engagements are in progress. In
these encounters the Russian war Of
fee says the Germans and Austrians
have been repulsed, while Berlin de-
clares that the Russians have been
driven farther back
Fierce Fighting in East.
London, June 22.-Fierce fighting,
with the Germans generally the ag-
gressors, is in prograss between the
Russians and Germans in VOlhynia,
along the Stokhod and Styr rivers and
in the region lying between Lutsk and
Vladimir-Volynski. The Russians, who
had crossed the Styr and reached the
village of Cruiatyn, west of Kolki, en-
tered the town and captured eleven
officers, 400 men and six machine
guns In the fighting the town
changed hands several times, but I'M
der a concentrated German artillery
fire the Russians finally were driven
back with the loss of 1000 men made
prisoner, Berlin reports.
Along the Stokhod near the village
of Rajmimesto the Germans delivered
a heavy attack which resolved itself
later into hand to hand fighting in
which the Russians, according to Pet
rograd, forced the Germans to flee.
Near Kiselin another heavy onslaught
was stopped by the Russians and the
Germans put to flight. Near Lokatchi,
southeast of Vladimir-VoIynski, Wen
ma reports the capture of 1900 Rus
slams.
Germans Claim Success.
North. west and northwest of Lutsk
vicious encounters are ensuing. Across
the frontier in GalIcia the stalemate
in the region of Buczacz persists. In
Bukowina the Russians continue to
drive the Austrians west and south
west Petrograd announces that the
prisoners taken by the Russians in
Valhynia and GaIicia up to June Is az,
gregated 172,4S4 The Germans claim
success for their arms on the northern
part of the Russian front in the
Dvinsk, Smorgon and Dubatowka sec
ton with the infliction- of heavy losses
on the Russians in the latter region.
Attacks Near Verdun.
On both sides of the Meuse river in
the region of Verdun the Germans
again launched strong attacks against
the French positions, but were every
where repulsed by the French artil
lery. Except for intermittent lombard
ments, there was comparatively quiet
on the other parts of the French front
Wednesday.
Rome reports the capture of an Aus
trian position in the Posina valley
southwest of Asiero, further progress
by the Italians north of Frenzola val
ley and the stopping of Austrian sur
prise attacks southwest of Asiago.
Russians Take More Towns.
London, June 21.-The Russians
continuing their advance against the
Austrians through Bukowina, have
crossed the Sereth river southwest Of
Czernowitz and occupied the towns o.
Zadova, Stroginetz and G1liboka The
Austrians in this region, their arm!
cut in two, are declared by PetrograC
to be in disorderly retreat, with the
Russians energetically pursuing then
toward the Carpathian mountains.