Austrians left ‘reeling’ by Russian offensive

The Russian offensive in the east dominated reporting of the war,

“The Russians continue their victorious thrust into Austrian territory.

“Czernowitz, the capital of the Bukowina, has been captured by the Russians under General Letchisky, who conducted the desparate fighting for the town with consumate skill, dealing the Austrians a quick series of staggering blows from which they have reeled and fled.

“On other sectors of their southern front the Russians continue to make victorious progress in spite of furious counter-attacks by the enemy.”

A further report added:“The Russians have lost no time in following up their victory at Czernowitz.

“According to a Petrograd telegram of Tuesday night, they have succeeded in cutting the Austrian Bukowina Army in two parts - one near the Roumanian frontier, and another in the direction of the Carpathians.

“A Russian official despatch says that on the extreme left the enemy is in disorderly retreat.

“From the German version of the fighting it appears that severe fighting is in progress at the Lutsk salient, where the enemy is endevouring to bar the Russian advance on Kovel, a vital link in the Austro-German chain of communications.

“The total capture of men and guns by General Brusilloff’s armies from 4th to 17th inst. are 3350 officers, 162,134 men, 198 guns, 550 machine guns, 189 bomb throwers, 119 ammunition wagons, 31 searchlights and much war materials.”