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Show PROGRESS OF THE WAR. The capture of the Turkish stronghold of Krzingau aud of the Austrian stronghold strong-hold of Brody by the Russians are perhaps per-haps tho two most conspicuous events of the recent operations. They overshadow over-shadow tho events on the Somme, not because the fight has been heavier, but because the decisions have been more immediately advantageous to the victor. vic-tor. A third triumph for the Russians has just been recorded in the region southeast of Stanislas, the chief stronghold strong-hold still in Austrian possession to the south of Lemberg. In the Carpathians west of southern Bukowina tho Aus-trians Aus-trians have been compelled under constant con-stant Russian pressure to retire to the main ridges of the mountains. After driving the Teutons behind the Stokhod river the Russians suspended their thrust toward Kovel for several reasons. The Stokhod is peculiarly adapted to defense because it runs deeply deep-ly through hills that form veritable cliffs along the river banks. It is most difficult to cross by military means and the Germans no doubt have taken advantage ad-vantage of all the natural obstacles to the utmost. In view of the necessity for careful preparation before attempting attempt-ing to force their way across the Stokhod Stok-hod the Muscovites turiled their attention atten-tion to the enemy's lines somewhat to the southward and began fierce assaults. General Sakharoff's army was ordered by General Brussiloff to pierce the Austrian Aus-trian salient formed by the Lipa and Styr rivers northwest of Brody. These operations were carried on with great vigor for several weeks and finally General Gen-eral Sakharoff compelled the Austriana to flee across the Lipa and take up positions posi-tions to tho southward. By this victory General Sakharoff placed himself in a position most menacing to the left flank of General Boehm-Ermolli, who was conducting the defense of Brody, fifty-eight fifty-eight miles northeast of Lemberg and a railroad junction of much value. Following Fol-lowing his initial triumph Sakharoff began be-gan to exert pressure against Boehm-Ermolli Boehm-Ermolli 's exposed flank. He bent it back a score of miles north of Brody, then pierced it twelve miles north of that stronghold and finally broke through six miles to the north. Although the reports are lacking iri details, de-tails, it is possible to see that General Boehm-Ermolli had been evacuating Brody for several days before he was finally forced to give it up. Gigantic trains carrying supplies moved off in the direction of Lemberg while his army continued to repel the Russian assaults, which were growing more furious and determined. Finally the collapse of his left flank left Boehm-ErmolU no option but to retire, and he withdrew from Brody and its vicinity while his rear guard continued to withstand the czar's eager legions. How far the Austrian s have retreated toward Lemberg is uncertain, un-certain, but it is likely that they will not try to make an effective stand within with-in ten or a dozen miles of the stronghold. strong-hold. Wbile Sakharoff was conducting the main operations Kuropatkin was pounding pound-ing the lines of General von Hinden-burg Hinden-burg in the north. To the south, in the region of Stanislas, Delatyn and Jab-lonitza Jab-lonitza pass the Russians kept up their blows, and still farther to the south drove the enemy back to the ridges which mark the borders of Hungary. In -all of these operations the Russians have taken more than 20,000 prisoners, 10,000 being taken in the Brody region alone. Many guns and large quantities of supplies have also been captured. The capture of Erzingan by the Russians Rus-sians was achieved in a sudden offensive offen-sive inaugurated several weeks ago. The seizure of Baiburt was the first indication of a drive by the czar's Caucasian Cau-casian army. This was followed quickly quick-ly by the recapture of Mamakhatum, south of Erzingan, and then the capture of Ardasa and Gutnish Khanch, north of Erzingan. These consecutive moves gave the Russians a series of heights near and on the flanks of Erzingan, which the Turks abandoned after serious seri-ous fighting. The Moslems now have retreated toward Sivas, 130 miles to the west, closely pressed by their enemy. The Russian offensive on both fronts has been fruitful of results which now appear to be of a decisive nature. The Caucasian army controls all of Armenia and is in an excellent position to drive the offensive still farther toward Constantinople. Con-stantinople. The possession of Brody and the weakening of General Boehm-Ermolli Boehm-Ermolli s uneonquered army takes the Slavs far on their way toward the capture cap-ture of Lemberg and of the German stronghold at Kovel. Petrograd announces that the offensive offen-sive already has netted 350.000 prisoners. prison-ers. Early in the week the Austrians issued a statement to the effect that only 100.000 Austrian soldiers had been captured. As German soldiers were captured cap-tured by the thousands, the Vienna statement is not conclusive. On the other hand, if all the German prisoners wrv added tho total wonld be frr from i the 350,000 claimed by the Russians. It i must be said in favor of the Russians, i however, that tho magnitude of their j victories indicates a much greater total , of prisoners than is admitted by Vienna. On the Somme most of the fighting has been along the Anglo-German line, although there have been some lively encounters on the Franco-German front. The English had been struggling to possess themselves of Pozieres, Delviile wood and Loiigueval. In some of the fiercest combats of the war, during which the artillery firing reached an unprecedented intensity, the English have succeeded in taking all of the positions. posi-tions. The tide of battle swayed back and forth through the positions day after aft-er day, but the British pressure finally became so heavy that the Germans could no longer hold even a part of Pozieres, Delville wood or Longueval. On other sectors of the western front there have been raids, and at Verdun there have been attacks and counter attacks at-tacks of considerable power. On the whole, however, the big fighting is confined con-fined to the Somme region. The Italians have captured Mont Cimone and have resisted heavy Aus-. trian counter attacks. In other sectors the Italians record only slight gains. The Serbians and Bulgarians appear to be once more shedding each other's blood. The Serbians moved out of the defenses north of Saloniki and attacked the Bulgarian positions in northern Greeco not far south of the Serbian border. bor-der. The allies proclaim a victory for the Serbs, whereas Sofia declares that all the assaults of the Serbs were repulsed re-pulsed and that counter attacks won trenches for the Bulgars. German warships have again appeared ap-peared in the North sea and adjacent waters. Destroyers have sunk British patrol boats and an auxiliary cruiser has captured the armed steamer Eskimo after a battle. Three Zeppelins raided the east coast of England, dropping many bombs. London Lon-don says there was no loss of life. |
