ch 20, 1916, the final
withdrawal from this position:

"Yesterday evening, after six months of brave defense, the destroyed
bridge and fortifications to the northwest of Uscieszko (on the
Dniester) were evacuated. Although the Russians succeeded in the
morning in exploding a breach 330 yards in width, the garrison, which
was attacked by an eightfold superior force, despite all losses held
out for seven hours in a most violent gun and infantry fire.

"Only at 5 o'clock in the afternoon the commandant, Colonel Planckh,
determined to evacuate the destroyed fortifications. Smaller
detachments and the wounded reached the south bank of the Dniester by
means of boats. Soon, however, this means of transport had to be given
up, owing to the concentrated fire of the enemy.

"There remained for our brave troops, composed of the Kaiser Dragoons
and sappers, only one outlet if they were to evade capture. They had
to cut their way through Uscieszko, which was strongly occupied by the
enemy, to our troops ensconced on the heights north of Zaleszczyki.
The march through the enemy position succeeded. Under cover of night
Colonel Planckh led his heroic men toward our advanced posts northwest
of Zaleszczyki, where he arrived early this morning."

During the next few days the fire from the Russian batteries increased
still more in violence. It did not, however, at any time or place
assume the same strength which it had reached by that time at many
points along the Russo-German front, north of the Pripet Marshes. Nor,
indeed, did the Russians duplicate in the south their attempt at a
determined offensive which they were making then in the north.

Considering the relative importance of Russian activities during the
month of March, 1916, most of the engagements which took place in
Galicia and Volhynia must be classed as unimportant. On March 21,
1916, it is true, almost the entire Austrian front was subjected to
extensive artillery fire. But only at a few points was this followed
by infantry attacks, and these were executed with small detachments
only. Along the Strypa River Russian forces attempted to advance at
various points, without gaining any ground.

Throughout the following days many engagements between individual
outposts were again reported. On March 27, 1916, a Russian attempt to
capture Austrian positions near Bojan, after destroying some of the
fortifications by mines, failed. A similar fate met the attempt made
during tha