grasp. They were a constant threat to the all-important
Vilna-Petrograd Railway.

In hostile and neutral countries the Courland invasion provoked
comment indicating astonishment at the resources of the Teutonic
powers in being able to extend their lines while already fully engaged
on an enormous front.

The Russians, awakening from their first astonishment, made vigorous
attempts to obtain permanent possession of the Dubissa line. Along
this line the German troops were for a time forced to yield ground and
to go into the defensive and to resist heavy Russian attacks. Shavli
was given up under Russian pressure. By May 14, all the territory east
of the Dubissa and Windau (Vindowa) was reported free of Germans.

Especially noteworthy among the struggles for the Dubissa was the
fight at Rossiennie, a town which was of special importance because of
its command of the roads centering in it. On the 22d of May, 1915, an
attack was delivered against this place by the First Caucasian Rifle
Brigade with artillery and assisted by the Fifteenth Cavalry Division.
On the 23d the German cavalry which had resisted their crossing the
river drew back, and the Russians here crossed the Dubissa,
approaching Rossiennie from the north. The Germans during the night
moved the greater part of their troops around the western wing of
their opponents and placed them in position for attack.

At daybreak heavy artillery fire was poured upon the Russians from the
German position to the north of Rossiennie, while at the same time the
German infantry fell upon the Russian flank and rolled it up, with the
result that the Russians were compelled to recross the Dubissa. In the
crossing numerous wounded were drowned in the river. The Germans took
2,500 prisoners and fifteen machine guns. Similar counterattacks were
delivered by the Germans on the River Wenta. Then, on the 5th of June,
1915, a general offensive was entered upon by the whole German line on
orders from the General Staff, which carried it beyond the Dubissa,
and after heavy fighting finally secured for the Germans the Windawski
Canal, which they had had to relinquish before. Their troops now
slowly pushed their way back toward Shavli until the city came within
reach of their heavy guns, and took Kuze, twelve kilometers to the
northwest of Shavli on the railway. On the 14th of June, 1915, this
series of operations came to a temporary halt. German official reports
pointed to the fact that am