Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-22
RUSSIANS CROSS STYR
IN 15-MILE SWEEP; FORCE
ROAD TOWARD LEMBERG
LONDON, July 20,

Tho left wing of the Russian army along
the lower Lipa River has swung forward
for the second great gain of the month.
Fighting with almost reckless fury the
troops of General Brussiloff have swept
through the enemy's defenses and won an
advance of nearly 10 miles.
Tho Teutonic forces under Won LinSlngen
were thrust away from the Lipa and the
Styr, their most powerful means OF defense
between Lutsk and the northern Gallclan
frontier. yesterday. and the Russians cap
tured the town of Verben, seized all i'm
portant crossings of the Styr and bagged
in the days desperate engagements more
than 1900 prisoners.
TEUToNs DIsoRGANIzED.
BewiIdered and disorganized by this
latest sudden stroke against their lines, the
Teutons are today fighting losing battle
on the heights near the town of Berestechk'
hardly five miles northeast of the border.
THE enemy is beginning par
TALLY to surrender to battalion already
engaged in the region of Berestechk," is the
highly significant statement issued by the
Russian War Office late last night
From their positions at the confluence OF
the Styr and the Lipa the Russian troops
launched their first attacks yesterday. Ever
since last Monday, when the Austro-Ger-
man forces were driven behind the lipa by
Brussiloff's rapid thrust, the heavy Russian
guns had been battering away at the en-
emyS lines IN tnls region
When these defenses had been weakened
sufficiently to permit of infantry and cav
airy action the Cars men were sent for
ward in wide, massed columns at rapid
pace AS the first lines of soldiers reached
the northern bank of the river and plunged
into the stream waist high they were met
with whitening fire from the few Teuton
batteries left undamaged. But the attackers
swept on from all sides. across hastily built
RATS and pontoon bridges, swimming beside
their horses or wading where shallow places
could be found.
RUSSIANS OVERwHELM FOE.
The Austrians and Germans were over
whelmed. Before tho call for retreat could
be sounded hundreds of them had fallen
or surrendered. The main army retreated
in confusion along the east bank OF the
Styr abandoning scores OF guns and NUM-
tons At Werben temporary organization
was effected, and the Teutons faced about
TO make a stand against the oncoming Rus
slams. They were successful in blocking
the path of the attacking forces at this
point, but on both sides Of them the Rus
slams swept on unhindered, with strong
forces on the west bank OF the river and TO
the east of the town.
Thus the troops OF ven Linslngen speed
lily faced development. Their position at
werben was turned into a narrow, pre-
carious salient, with tho Russians ready TO
strike at It's SldeB from TWO directions,
Won Linsingen realized his danger in the
nick OF time and withdrew his forces SOUTH
ward just as the Russians began their flank
attacks. At the junction Of the Plaseyka
and the Styr three miles from Werben, the
German commander again attempted TO
check the Russian advance, but his troops
were TO bewidered to offer anything but a
resistance, The Russians
quickly forced the two streams at this point
and compelled the Teutons 10 continue their
retreat to Berestechk
EXPECT ADVANCE INTO GALICIA.
AT this point and below 1t the Russians
apparently are advancing as swiftly as the
enemy is falling back, All the crossings
on the Styr are falling into the hands of
troops because the Teutons have
not time to destroy them as they retire
For this reason military critics here are
OF the opinion that nothing
can check the Russians advance along the
stream into Galieia.
Once Stanislayczyk is taken by the Rus
slams Brody. msnaeed on two sides and
from the rear. will be isolated and the way
will be cleared for the renewal OF the
Russian advance along the Dubno-Lem-
berg railway. For weeks the Russians have
been trying TO open up this road notheast
of Brody, but they have been checked al
most on the frontier lines, Now they have
the way from an unexpected quar-
ter and vastly increased the menace con-
fronting the Galician capital
LINsINGEN FACES REAR ATTACK,
At the same time this blow has exposed
he entire Teuton lines along the Lipa To |
! rear-guard attack. which may soon re-
suit In the Russians capture of Stoianoff, |
he northern terminus OF another railway |
into Lemberg.
on the Riga front Kuropatkins army Is |
still assailing Won Hindenburs's lines. but |
aas not yet accomplished anything OF i'm /
,ortanee. Along the Carpathian front /
here has been little change in the sltua- /
ion since Thursday.
The Hoods along the Dnisster continue 70 i
.enedt the Austro-Ciermans allowing them /
> 1berate tFoops With Hhich 20 reinforce
s least tenpofariiy ths Kovsl-y Vladimir