The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-30

a point south of Dlsinsk to the northern
edge of the Lutsk salient)
In July terrible struggle was raging
on the eastern front, while in the west
England and France were gaining their
first successes on the Somme. We man
aged to hold out against the attacks,
and beat them off in battles lasting many
days.
The line of Woyrsch's group Ito the
north of the Pripet marshes) was sue
cessfully forced at the point where 1t
was held by Austro- Hungarian troops.
To fill the gap we threw in all our care
fully boarded reserves. They held their
ground, and from July 8 EDWARDS the
battle here died down.
AUSTRIANS AGAIN BEATEN
The Russian offensive at the bend of
the Styr, north of Lutsk, was completed
successful. The Austro- Hungarian
troops let their lines be broken through
in several places. The German units
that had been sent to help were once
more in a critical position, and on July Z
General Won Linsingen was compelled to
withdraw his left wing of Field Mar
shall Prince Leopold Of Bavaria's army
group and part of Gronau's group, south
of the Pripet, had to retire also.
(When Brussiloff broke through at
Lutsk the Germans and Austrians held
to the bank of the Styr river which
bends abruptly east to the north of
Lutsk Here for about 30 miles they held
"A menace over the northern flank of
Brussioff. but he now Strengthened out
his front for more than 100 miles north
ward)
This was one of the greatest crises on
the eastern front. We had little hope
that tn Aeustro-Hungarian troops would
be able to hold the line of the Stochod
which was unfortified.
yUa riS Of danfdfror npec
still further, and Field Marshal Prince
Leopold of Bavaria followed our ex-
ample bringing more reserves from the
north. Although the Russian attack
| might begin asai nat any moment. we
extended our line and released single
regiments in order to support the left
wing of Linsingens army group, north
| east and east of kovel.
! If this wing were to retreat still fur
ther it was impossible to imagine when it
would end phose were terribly anxious
days We gave up everything we had
kr owing fun we'll that if the enemy were
to attack us no one could help us.
| And that is just what happened.
ATTACK FROM RIGA STOPPED
On July Is the Russians, in rmous
force, poured out from the Riga bridge
head west of the Dvina and gained
| ground at once.
| We went through a terrible time until
the crisis here was overcome. thanks to
the valor of the troops and the careful
handling of affairs by the headquarters
fstaff of the Eighth army. who were COM
PEELED to use single battalions and bat
i teries as reserves
these battles were not vet over at the
end OF July. when there were sur indi-
cations that tn attacks at Baranovici Ian
/ important railroad junction north of the
Pripet marshes) and along the whole
purse of the Stockhod would be re
/ suned
We waited these with sinking heart
for cur troops were exhausted by con
slant fighting and had long fronts to de-
fend. TIL. Austro Hungarian troops had
lost all confidence in themselves and
needed German support everywhere.
We could see everything that was go
ing ON as far as the Stochod, but fur.
ther south we were less in the picture
We cnlv knew that General Boen -Ermoll
WIS also now expecting an attack al
Brody Con the northern frontier of Ga
licia south of Lutsk). that the Rus
slams were continuing their offensive be
tween the Dniester and the Carpathianl
in full strength and that they were gain
ing ground towards the CREST Of TIL
ridge.
General Count Bothmer dhe German