Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-07
RUSSIANS TAKE
$4,000 TEUTONS
IN GREAT DRIVE
Vienna Admits Austrians
We're Compelled to With
draw Before Onslaught
VIOLENT BATTLE RACES

LONDON. June 1.-THE Russian war
ONCE last night reported that the now
offensive along the 250-rnile front OF the
Austro-Hungarians has thus far resulted
in the capture of $50 officers and $4,000
men. 81 guns and so machine guns.
Vienna officielly admits that the Aus
trians were compelled TO withdraw their
lines north of Okna TO positions prepared
a little more than three miles to the
south" This means that the first effective
impress of the new Russian drive has been
made at the tactically and politically most
vital point of the front under attack, Just
north of the Bukowina- -Bessarabia border
II the Russian success is followed up
Czernowitz, the Bukowina capitol Is once
more seriously threatened, and an invasion
of the Galiclan crownland would go far
toward achieving the chief political aim
Of the new offensive, the entry of Rumania
on the Allies side.
The Huddenness of the blow struck by
the Russians has swept the Austrans off
their feet, and the advance of the Cars
legions is developing with astonishing swift
ness With the condition of the roads
almost perfect and with the Russian sup
plies of ammunition plentiful, 1t is expected
by military critics that the new offensive
will be extremely hard for the Austrians to
check
OFFENSIVE GROWING.
The interest of the military critics of
Europe is now centred on the armies Of the
Gar The Russian offensive has now been
in operation for week, each day growing
in length of line attack and in frequency
of infantry rushes.
The Gear has more than 100000 men
massed along the line from the Pripet
marshes to the Pruth in the Bessarabian
region, critics believe, while the Austrian
defenders are but half that number.
For several days prior to the Russian
offensive the official Austrian report bristled
with announcements of successes in their
drive in the Asago- -Arsiero region, on the
Italian front. No reports of successes here
have been made in the last few days, in
dicative that the Austrians already may
have withdrawn troops to bolster up the
line against the Car
The movement is under the able leader
ship of General Brusslloff who conducted
the brilliant campaign in the Carpathians
in 1914. and who is generally conceded to
be one of the best strategists of the Russian
staff
The forces opposing the Russian advance
are estimated at 40 Austrian infantry divi-
sions and from 10 to is Austrian cavalry
divisions, assisted by, at the most two
divisions of Germans. This brings the total
Teutonic forces operating on this front up
TO 100000 men.
No details of the Russian attack are yet
at hand, but 1t was preceded, usual by
vigorous artillery bombardment. after
which the Russians moved forward along
tio WHOio capturing lIbl-IlHe AUS
trian positions The initiative belongs en-
tirely to the Russians. The Austrians, evil
IDENTIFY taken by surprise, fell back without
being able to start counter-offensive.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
The Russian official statement follows:
We captured 4sO officers, $4,000 men,
~ guns and 90 machine guns.
The Austrian War Office report follows:
The battle on the northeast front
continued on the whole front of 21S
miles with undiminished stubbornness
North of Okna. after stiff and fuctuat-
ing battles. we withdrew our shattered
first positions to the line prepared five
! kilometers to the south.
Near Jarlowiec, on the lower Strypa,
the enemy today attacked after artil-
lery preparation. He was everywhere
repulsed, at some places by hand fight
ing.
At the same time a strong Russian
! attack west of Trembowla (south of
! TarnopoD broke down under our gun.
Z fire. Westnorthwest of Tarnopol there
was bitter fighting. Wherever the
enemy gained advantages he was
! driven out.
On one front occupied by one bat
talon there were $50 Russian corpses
! Near Sopanow (southeast of Dubno)
there were numerous attacks by the
enemy, with unimportant results.
Between Mlynow, on the Ikwa. and the
regions northwest of Olyka, where the
Russians are continually becoming
stronger. there is bitter lighting.