The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-21
RUSSIANS LOSE
ON WIDEFRONT
AS MEN MUTINY
Troops Throw Down Arms
Under Influence of Radi-
cal Agitators.
GERMANS POUR INTO GAP
Berlin in Announcing Victory
Says ga Few Thousand, Pris-
oners Were Taken.
GERMANS POUR INTO GAP

LONDON, July 20.-The German offen-
bive against the Russians has won initial
kuccess because several Russian regi-
ments. Influenced by agitators Of the
tadical and pro-German factions. either
gave way before the attacking enemy
or refused to obey orders and ight.
This attitude Of the troops made the
Sighting east Of Lenberg yesterday
probably one OF the most remarkable
battles In history. At first the Rus
SLAMS held their own under the German
onslaught and repulsed every attack.
The German counter offensive seemed
In fair way to fail. Then the men of
the eofth Mlynow Regiment threw down
their arms and left the trenches letting
the Germans in.
AS they poured into the gap opened
,ifor them by the misguided Russians the
Germans took in the flank other regi-
ments TO right and left The whole
Russian .hrst line on a wide front was
opened and the troops to the rear were
thrown into confusion. Troops ordered
20 advance and I'LL the gap decided their
new found liberty meant they had
right to hold meetings and decide
whether to tight and save the day.
Treachery Apparent.
At the meetings orators of the stamp
Of Nikoial Lenine. who has Just been
unfnasled as a German spyy taouee
posing as a radical leader, harangueo
the men, urging them not to nsn1
Their officers and sometimes their own
elected committees appealed In vain 70
H.. a. frA0
The day was lost The Germans
rushed into the breach in the Russian
dimes In ever increasing numbers, ana
tha troons still holding out we're either
deeinleted, or finding themselves un-
supported, fell back Berlin announces
to-day that "a few thousand prisoners
were taken"
uoison worked havoc In the Russian
ranlts Troops holding the village OF
Rludnili. west OF Halicz, won az grea.
cost In the Russian offensive, decideo
10 give II UP. The Germans occupied
the village.
The official statement OF the German
War ONCE to-day bears out the penei
that the Petrograd riohne ana tne y
man counter offensive were arranged 70
rnderniine the unity of free Russia AT
home and destroy her armies In tne
heId
"sacrihced in Vain"
According to Berlin. Russian soldiers
were .,sacrifced in vain for the sake
of the Entente" in the offensive OF July
I and were driven TO the attack by the
Russian Government. TIE German state
ment announces that 'the princeiy COM
n,anaer IN chief" of the German army,
Prince Leopold of Bavaria, personally
v,,i,led the German offensive.
According to the German statement
three lines of Russian trenches were
taken between the Zlota Lipa ana the
Sereth,'' which gives the impression
that the offensive Is on front OF from
thirty-five to forty miles. whereas the
Russian statement conveys the idea that
the front was far, smaller. II is agreed
kere, however that further advices from
Petroxrad must be awaited before the
real extent of the German success can
be known.
OmcIaI Statements.
The official statements follow
Russlan--In the direction OF Wilma
there was animated artillery nghting
throughout yesterday. After strong
artillery preparation the enemy per-
sistently attacked our detachments on
the Pieniaki- Harbuzov front, twenty
miles south OF Brody. At first all
these attacks were repulsed. At 10
o'clock the 607th Mlynov Regiment,
stationed between Bathov and Mana
jov, In the same region, left US
trenches voluntarily and retired. with
the result that neighboring units also
had to retire. This gave the enemy
opportunity for developing his success.
Our failure IL explained to con-
siderable degree by the fact that un-
der the influence Of the Bolsheviki
extremists several detachments. hav-
ing received a command to support the
attacked detachments, held meetings
and discussed the advisability OF obey
ing the order; whereupon some regi-
ments refused to obey the military
command Efforts OF commanders and
committees to arouse the men to ful-
fment OF the commands were fruit
less.
East of BrzeZany, to the south of
Szybalin, Austro-German troops made
repeated attacks and occupied por-
ton OF our first line trenches The
enemy's effort to attack south OF
Bwezany was repelled by our fire.
West of Halicz detachments occupy
ing the village of Bludnikl retired.
whereupon the enemy pronting py
this movement. occupied the place.
An effort TO win back this village was
unsuccessful
According to supplementary reports
now received on July II at about
= NJ. when the enemy took the Of
Ccns!ve and seized the height south Of
Novica. to the south OF Kalusz, one or
our regiments began to leave. Major
Gen. Prince Gagarin, commander
oG the military district, perceiving that
he situation was critical, at once
mo' cd forward a battalion OF the UlSh-
Hnv Regiment, commanded by SecoId
----------
~A-asI,,ued on Fourth Paoe