Latest War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 February 1916, Page 3

Latest War News

■ (Received This Day 8.5 a.m.) AIRCRAFT BATTLES. fans. Feb. 23. The French celebrated the result ot the big air battle by a genuino -victory. It included combined aerial operations. Aeroplane's skirmished 011 the wings, while the Zeppelins Jield die centre. The results everywhere wery favourable to the French, the new chaser-plane proving fully equal to her tasks. Latest accounts state that J;wo Zeppelins started from the Crown l'lince's filled at Ardennes and it is believed the. Kaiser, who is visiting headquarters at Meziers, witnessed their departure. The craft were detected (through the' noise of their engines) in Argonne forest, and the news ivas telephoned to headquarters. Batteries .and searchlights were got ready, audi they .soon located the Zeppelins. Motor cars equipped with searchlights and quicklireris were manned by ials naval gunners, who h<id an exciting chase rushilig o*t>r rough roads in tile darkness. The Zeppelin tried to break through the merciless ring 01 :;earchlights, tut the gunners "never lost sight of her. t There were several misses belorp a shout ol triumph nnliounced that the mark had been hit. (Received This Day, 8.50 a.m.) A SELF-SACRIFICE. London, February 23. After the Aretliusa struck, Captain Tyrwhitt saw a stoker on deck with, his leg broken, audi unable to procure a. lifebuoy. Trywhitt- said,"You may need this more than I," and then took oft' his belt and buck-led it on the stoker. Both were saved. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. In the House of Commons the Hon. Mr Addison said that reductions in the cost of many classes of shells had been effected, saving £400,000 weekly ; thero were many instaiiccti of reduction on pre-war prices. In a debate 011 tho passing ot a War Credit, Mr George Lambert said Lord Kitchener's powers had been so whittled that he appeared to be reduced to a civilian position. Mr Lambert regretted that {tie Government had not seen fit to make use ot Lord Fisher, tho greatest naval strategist of the day. The Rt. Hon, H. J. Tennant refuted Mr Lambert's statements; saying that Lord Kitchener s responsibility was unaltered. GERMAN EXAGGERATION. Amsterdam, Feb. 23. The Germans are exaggerating their achievements at Ypres with the idea of producing an impression in "Germany. Great numbers of wounded men are coming in and the frontier is rigorously closed.

THE DIiSTRUCTiON OF THE ZEPPELIN.

Paris, Feb. '23. It is believed that the last Zeppelin lost makes the twentysixth destroyed during the war. An eyewitness states that the scarchligTits suddenly caught the Zeppelin in pitchy darkness, when a shell pierced it an immense sheet of flame shot up. It overturned two or three times and then tell like a gigantic torch. The spectators were dumb with horror far a tew moments and then there "was a shout ol exultation. The teri ilic explosion tore a vast nole in the ground. Received This Day. y.40 a.m. IHE OPENLNG OL ; THE RUSSIAN DUMA. Potrograd, Feb. 23. The Czar was present at the thanksgiving service tor the victors at Erzeroum. He also unexpectedly attended and addressed a gathering of members of the .Duma in the Catherine llall, an event which At. Dodziauks, the president of the .Duma, subsequently described as historic. The tzar said he was rejoiced to join in the thanksgiving for the acinenients of his valiant Caucasian army, ue wished the Duma a period of fruitful labour and complete success. M. Rodzianko expressed the Duma's joy at seeing the Czar amongst them, reaffirming the union wTili his loyal people, which showed: the path to victory. The Duma was opened amid scones of unparalleled enthusiasm. The Allied Ambassadors and ministers attended. M. Rodzianlvo's speech was cheered. He also said that the fall of Erzeroum was the first., ray of the dawn of victory rising in the east. His greeting to the gallant Allies was dirowned in an outburst of cheering and the Ambassadors oil rising were given an ovation. The President bade Serbia be of good courage and hope. She would have a triumphant resurrection.

I >.U. tSazanoff. Minister -of Foreign Affaire, ridiculed Germany's arguments thivt tho Allies desired the annihilation of the German people. All they demanded was to crush Priissianisin The Allies had secured complete union without sacrifice ■of independence, whereas Germany's allies were van-s-ills. He warned Bulgaria of a foming disillusionment and acknowledged Japan's valued co-operation. (Receivedi This Day '11.10 «.m.) A FRENCH. COMMUNIQUE. Paris, 'February tf3. A communique runs:—We captured some parte of the trenches at Bois de Givenchy. There were infantry 011ga'gemonfcs northward of Verdun at night time. We developed a front oi fifteen kilotnetres and violent fighting is progressing from the right bank of the river Menso to the south-east of flerberois. We evacuated the village of Hauniont. whereof we retain the outskirts, after desperate fighting wherein we inflicted very heavy losses. A counter-attack eastward of that point enabled us to retake the greater part of Bois d<? Coures. An a salieuL occupied by the enemy on Tuesday, a curtain of fire stopped n strong German attack directed against llerberois. According to prisoners certain units were annihilated. - »