Shortly after midnight on August 7th-8th the Germau siege guns
began a heavy bombardment of the fortress of Kovno, some cannon of 16-in, calibre being employed. For two hours the hurricane of fire was maintained. About three o'clock in the morning the assaulting columns moved forward in close formation. The Russian batteries, however, concentrated their fire upon the attackers, exploded their land mines, and also made gallant counter-attacks with the bayonet. The result was that the Germans were thrown back along their Whole front. The Germans, however, appear to have behaved
with splendid courage, and, though hurled back into the ravines near the town, they at once prepared for a second assault. This took place at noon on August 8th. The former tactics of heavy bombardment followed by massed attack were repeated. At midnight the Germans again rushed to the assault, and for two hours again and again threw themselves upon the Russian trenches. At first they were successful, but the Russian counter-attack was not to be denied, and in the end the Germans were repulsed in almost all directions and with enormous losses. They only retained the works near the village of Piple. Doubtless the attack will be renewed before these pages are in our readers' hands. The Germans will not easily accept failure in an enterprise so vital to their plan of campaign.
