Brilliant Cossacks charge over three lines of trenches

Massive Russian advance continues

YESTERDAY morning some of the military critics were inclined to be sceptical over the reported success of the Russians in the Strypa region, regarding such an extensive advance as highly improbable and pointing out that the message proclaiming the victory was not from Headquarters.

Had they gone to press a few hours later, however, they would have had before them the Petrograd communique which fully bore out all that had been claimed by, and justified up to to the hilt the headings given to, the obviously inspired message published in the Argus on Tuesday evening.

The incredulity of which an example is given was followed, in the case of some newspapers, by a failure after the communique was given out to discern the importance of the advance over the Strypa, as was indicated by the conflict of the headlines to the comparatively minor successes on the Styr, South of the Pripet.

There is, of course, nothing wilful in these perversions, but such ineptitude is disconcerting to readers who follow the operations as closely as their opportunities permit, but depend upon the newspapers to make clearer the doubtful points.

By this time, however, no one is likely to estimate below its true value the news of the triumphs in Galicia, particularly as fresh tidings of the same character continue to reach out.

From last night’s official Petrograd report, to hand this morning, it transpires that the Russian troops, following up their successes west of Tremboylia, are still engaged in hard fighting.

Another position has been captured and yet another fine feat by the Cossacks is placed on record.

“A detachment of our Calvary,” says the communique, “left the village of Haivorenka without being perceived and deploying rapidly along the front, charged the enemy’s lines with a courage full of self-sacrifice.

“The cavalry crossed three lines of the entrenched enemy, putting him to the sabre.

“The enemy, after some irregular firing, took to flight.”

Even cold type does not obscure the amazing valour of these rough-riding Sotnias; nor, on the other hand, is it possible to hide the wholesome fear which pervades the enemy ranks when the Cossacks are on to them.

This demoralisation is, moreover, manifest all along the enemy line and the news that the Dvinsk front is rapidly being cleared can come as no surprise to those familiar with the recent trends or events.

A telegram yesterday mentioned that German reinforcements were proceeding to the Dvina region and, if that is so, we may expect another big effort to achieve something in this northward area, but for the present the Dvinsk certainly seems safe.

There is also a bigger success in the Styr region than was reported yesterday and indeed, at practically every point, the Russian has the full measure of his opponent.