With the Russians seemingly vulnerable to encirclement, Auffenberg urged his IX Corps to “advance boldly” and push in the Russian right flank. The Austrian corps had come late to the battlefield and been far less aggressive than the neighboring VI Corps; while it had therefore suffered fewer casualties, it had also allowed the Russians a pause in which to prepare their positions and sight their artillery. They would now pay for that laxity.

The Austrians ran into well-prepared Russian positions with pre-designated fields of fire for their artillery, and could make no headway. Archduke Peter Ferdinand’s 25th Infantry Division had been expected to arrive on their left flank to join the attack, but showed up hours late and did little to relieve the Russian pressure. They made no gains and even temporarily lost some ground as they evaded the Russian artillery fire, recovering their start line only in the early evening.