Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-15
RETREAT OF TEUTONS
HELD TO BE NECESSARY
Whole Right Wing Of Francis 10.
seph's Army Said to Be
Menaced.
AIDED BY q. S. MUNITIONS
Slavs' Success Said to Be Largely Due
to American SuppIes-strik-
ing Developments in
East.

LONDON, June I5.-In tne1f
offensive on the eastern front the
Russians are apparently making
steady headway, although still
some distance from Lemberg.
their immediate main objective
in Galicia. Reports that Aus
trians continue to evacuate Lem
berg persist. Recent adviees
place the Russians just across the
border, some fifty miles north of
the city.
Kovel, the railway junction
point where the link between the
German and Austrian forces on
this front is formed, has been
more closely approached by Gen.
Brusiloff's armies.
In Bukowina, Czernowitz, the
capital, apparently is cut off from
all directions but the south.
The Russians hold the Dniester
between the frontier and consid-
erably westward of the confluence
of the Stripa and the Dniester.
After the capture of Zale,
Szczyky and Horodenka, their
next objective is Kolomea, three
distant. Unless there is
some unlikely change in the
strategic position only a prompt
retreat will save the cutting off
Of the Austrian right wing.
American Munitions Aid
Information received from the AUS
.ro-Swiss frontier indicates that the
obtained by the Russians In
heir offensive have been due largely
o American supplies of ammunition
Ind guns, large quantities OF which
ldSc pcen 3Hipoi leu bs NOSSld III Zig
ast four months. japanese transports
ire aiding greatly in bringing in these
supplies.
The Military Journal published in Aus
ria, confirms these reports. 1t states
hat without the assistance of supplies
rom America il would be impossible
or Russia. which has comparatively
ew ammunition factories, to undertake
uch a strong offensive over a long
ront.
Russians Press Forward.
PETROGRAD. June IA Russia's
most successful operation of the war
$ being pressed vigorously along the
Whole front in Nolhynia and\in Buko-
vina. Having cut the railway conn
of Czernowitz from the
,orth, the Russians have carried the
ighting for possession of that city
nto its very outskirts. Its fall is mo-
nentarily expected.
AT the same time the extreme right
ank of Gen. Brusilon's forces is swing
ne out toward Kovel, another impor-
ant railway junction controlling COM
,unication to Lemburg from the north
he Russians, approaching Kovel from
he southwest along the Rovno-Kovel
ailway, have reached the S1okho<i
iyer. twenty miles from Kovel. South
ard of Kovel they have pushed a
edge westward to Torchin, in the di-
ection of Vladimir-Nolynski This
iercing of the Austrian line places the
ight flank of Prince Leopold's army In
precarious situation. particularly
tubborn defense is being made by the
nemy in the Kovel district advanced
ositions.
Hasty Retreat Goes On.
At many intermediate points between
ne northern and southern points of
,ntact the Austrians are reported to
retreating so hastily that they are
m of touch with the Russians. 1t is
,mored that the Austrians are evacu-,
ting LemburS,
The ruse practiced by the Russians al
le beginning OF the present operations
described as follows:
The Russians opened with severe
annon fire, which continued for sew
ra; hours and then suddenly ceased.
he Austrians, from past experience.
xpected an attack. which they pee
ared to meet, advancing machine guns
nd bomb throwers. bringing up troops.
nd even preparing cavalry FOR
barge These preparations were
,atched BY Russian Observers
When the stage was properly set. in
cad of the expected advance. the Rus
ans let loose another shower of shells
,uch more violent than any of the
reyious ones causing terrific slaugh-
n and disqualification in the opposing
inks, on the heels of which they be-
an a forward movement.
Tho small number of commanding
ficers captured in proportion 10 tha
umber OF soldiers is attributed by
iHtary experts to the confusion ex-
ting in the Austrian armies due -
,e s,iddenness and energy OF the Rus
an drive. II shows Il is argued. thar
n atHaers lost control Of tae> mon and