New-York tribune., 1916-07-15
Fail in Attempt to Relieve
the Pressure in
Volhynia.
RUSSIANS BAG
5000 PRISONERS
pierce Won Bothmer'S First
Lines, but Are Rolled Back
in Counter Attack.

London. July 1.-THE marsh-fsnked
Stokhod River continues to bar the
Russian path TO Kovel. Hardly fifty
feet across at its widest point and
fordable at several places along the
eurvinc line which the troops of Cen
srsl BrussilofT have held for week,
II hss. -evertheless. proved so far TO be
the Teuton's most powerful defence
against the Russian drive on the vital
railroad centre of Volhynia.
The Russian artillery. lodged in the
svsmpy ground on its right bank. has
poureo deluee of iron and steel over
IFS swiftly flowing current into the
rudely constructed breastworks of the
Austrisns and Germans. The Russian
cavalry has swept forward in great
waves and forced crossings at the point
81 the sabre. And on the heels of the
Cossscks the Cars infantrymen have
surced forward time and time again
in furious charges over RATS hastily
transformed into crude but serviceablc
bridges.
Teutons Hold Stokhod Lines.
But the Teutons continue to hold the
left bank of the Stokhod. except at
certain places where isolation nullifes
any possible Russian advantage. At
Svidnik a desperate battle is going on
for the possession Of the important
bridgehead. the capture of which by
the Russians would enable them to take
the whole Teuton system of defences
on the left bank of the river under an
enflading fire and probably would re-
suit in the speedy retirement of the
defending forces to Kovel itself.
In the fighting along the rest of the
Stokhod line the Germans, heavily re-
inforced, recrossed the river several
times to-day and fought losing battle
with the firmly entrenched Russians.
At the same time the Germans launched
an offensive near Stobychwa, northeast
OF Kovel. in the hope of diverting the
attention of the Russians from the
lighting along the Stokhod line. The
attempt was unsuccessful, the Germans
being driven back TO their ternches by
the heavy fire of the Russian guns.
Germans Attack Near Stripa.
West of the Stripa yesterday Aus
trian and German forces undertook a
similar operation, with the purpose OF
easing the pressure on their lines In
Nolhynia. Their counter attacks were
repulsed with great losses, the Rus
slams sweeping in 5000 prisoners as
the enemy's forces were rolled back.
General Won Bothmer, with his army
substantially bolstered up with troops
transferred from other sectors, is hold
ing his lines in Galicia. The Russians
again entered his first line positions
to-day, but they were hurled back.
To the south the Austrians recapt-
ured their old positions on the heights
west of the upper Moldava. With
Delstyn in the hands of the Russians ii
rs expected that the coming week will
see the Inauguration of a new drive on
Kolomea and emberg from that direc-
tion.
Germans Put TO Flight.
To-night's Russian official statement
sayss
Southeast of Lake Narocz, near the
S,akhovtzy farm, we attacked and put
% fight German advance guards. On
ne left bank Of the Stokhod, near the
village of Zaretchie, south Of Stoby-
cnWa, the enemy, under cover OF ar
,llery fire, took the offensive, but was
driven back 10 his trenches.
Enemy aeroplanes dropped bombs
on Lutsk and on the station of Xiv
erstk, northeast of Lutsk.
an the region TO the southeast Of the
town of Svinionkhi, near the village OF
Pustomyty, the enemy fred salvos from
big and small guns. In the region to
the west Of the Stripa the intensity OF
the fighting lessened apprecisbly."
An earlier Russian communication
read;
North of Lake Drisviaty we con.
ducted successful reconnoissances.
Enemy aviators threw nearly sew
cnty bombs on the town Of Polonetchki
rortheast Of Baranovichi.
"The enemy attacked our forces or
inc left bank of the Stokhod. In th'
region of the lower Liper the enem!
opened a violent artillery fire.
West of the Stripa the Austro- Ger
man forces launched furious countel
attacks. We captured in this regior