r of the Mitau-Jacobstadt railway, that was still in
Russian hands, failed in the face of a devastating Russian cannonade.
A German trench was captured by Russian infantry ably supported by
artillery west of Dvinsk, but neither southwest nor south of this
fortress were the Russians able to register any success. Northwest of
Postavy and between Lake Narotch and Lake Vishnieff heavy fighting
still continued and in some places developed into hand-to-hand
fighting between smaller detachments. From Lake Narotch down to the
Pripet Marshes German and Russian guns again raked the trenches facing
them.

On March 26, 1916, the following day, the Russians attacked at many
points. Northwest of Jacobstadt, near the village of Augustinhof, a
most violent attack brought no results. Northwest of Postavy the
Russians stormed two trenches. Southwest of Lake Narotch repeated
heavy attacks were repulsed and some West Prussian regiments recovered
an important observation point which they had lost a week before. Over
2,100 officers and men were captured that day by the Germans.
Aeroplanes of the latter also resumed activity and dropped bombs on
the stations at Dvinsk, and Vileika, as well as along the
Baranovitchy-Minsk railroad.

Russian artillery carried death and destruction into the German
trenches on March 27, 1916, before Oley, south of Riga, and before the
Uxkull bridgehead. In the Jacobstadt sector, as well as near Postavy,
violent engagements, launched now by the Germans and then again by the
Russians, occurred all day long without yielding any results to either
side. Southwest of Lake Narotch the Russians made a determined attack
with two divisions against the positions captured by German regiments
on the previous day, but were not able to dislodge the latter.
Fighting also developed now in the Pripet Marshes and the territory
immediately adjoining. Weather conditions were rapidly changing for
the worse all along the eastern front. Thaw set in, and all marsh and
lake ground was flooded. Everywhere, not only in the southern region,
but also in the northern, the ice on the rivers and lakes became
covered with water and was getting soft near the banks. Throughout the
northern region the melting of the thickly lying snow in the roads was
making the movements of troops and artillery extraordinarily
difficult.

As a result of these conditions, which were growing more difficult
every day, a decided decrease in activity became immediat