erefore, pointed to the Dniester line as the key to
the situation for the Austrian side, and Von Pflanzer-Baltin decided
to stake all on the attempt.

[Illustration: Galician Campaign from Przemysl to Bessarabia.]

On May, 6, 1915, the machine was set in motion by a violent
bombardment. By the 8th the Austrians captured the bridgehead of
Zaleszczyki; on the 9th the Russians drove them out again, capturing
500 men, 3 big guns, 1 field gun, and a number of machine guns. On May
10 the Russians took the initiative and attacked a front of about
forty miles, along the entire Dniester line from west of Niczviska to
Uscie Biskupic, crossed into the Bukowina and advanced to within five
miles of Czernowitz from the east. A little stream and a village both
named Onut are situated southwest of Uscie Biskupic. Here a detachment
of Don Cossacks distinguished themselves on May 10, 1915. Advancing
toward the Austrian wire entanglements in face of a terrific
fusillade, they cut a passage through in front of the Austrian's
fortified positions. Before the latter realized what was happening the
Cossacks were on top of them, and in a few minutes a ferocious bayonet
struggle had cleared out three lines of trenches. Russian cavalry
poured in after them, hacking the Austrian's rear, and compelling them
to evacuate the entire district. The Cossacks charged into the
hurriedly retreating masses--on horse and on foot, with saber, lance,
and bayonet, capturing 4,000 prisoners, a battery of machine guns,
several caissons and searchlight apparati.

The entire northern bank of the Dniester was in Russian possession by
the night of May 10, 1915; several desperate counterattacks attempted
by the Austrians on the 11th completely failed to recover the lost
ground. Two days later a Russian official reported: "In this operation
the Austrian units which led the offensive were repulsed near
Chocimierz with heavy losses. Our artillery annihilated two entire
battalions and a third surrendered. Near Horodenka the enemy gave way
about seven o'clock in the evening of the same day and began a
disorderly retreat. We again captured several thousand prisoners,
guns, and some fifty ammunition caissons." Being a junction of six
roads and a railway station on the curved line from Kolomea to
Zaleszczyki, Horodenka is considered to be the most important
strategic point along the Dniester-Czernowitz front. It was
undoubtedly a severe blow to the Austrians.

During the