Latest War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 February 1916, Page 3

Latest War News

(Received This Day 8.5 a.m.; TILE UEItiAJA.N ATTACK lis FRANCIS. Pans, Feb. 2d. Tile point of attack at Verdun and on the 'wooded hills at Brabant was well chosen, because there is an equality ol elevations. l'ho Germane further east would have hadi to scale the edge ol" the heights from the plain of W oevre. The French were obliged to evacuate tho hamlet of Hwumont on Tuesday, but General Humbert nolds the high hills to tho south. The magnitude of tho operations was revealed on Tuesday, but the enemy's effectives were only fully deployed 011 "Wednesday, when dense masses of the Fifth German Army were flung, rank after rank, "in the old phalanx formation against the French term-lies between Brabant and Ornes. The result of tho fighting was that t wo dangerous Frenoh salients wore disclosed, and it was duo to this that the evacuation of Humbert took place. Throughout Wednesday night the fighting was incessant, and attae'< after attack was launched on file village i>f Beaumont without result. In order to avoidi useless wflste of life General Humbert ordered the French front to be straightened out and Brabant was evacuated at midnight so qnietly that the German infantry were not drawn from their

trenches. Since then succcssive Gorman attacks have been delivered on tho villages of Sainogncux and ilesuimont without result. Prisoners admit that some German units were wipedi out and that Genoral von Deimling, 011 liio eve of the battle, wrote the following order to the Fifteenth Army Corps: "The linal offensive against France is commencing. I hope tho corps will distinguish iteell as hitherto." The French hisses were surprisingly small, despite the fact-that gas shells were used .in great quantities. The French generals' are not exposing their men. The element ot surprise was entirely wanting, and the French have been bringing up reserves. They have ample artillery and enormous reserves of shells. The only tiling to be feared is some fresh deviltry like tne first gas attacks at Ypres. Paris, February ''5. The newspapers state thfll the Crown Prince and the Government were organizing the attack for three mouths. The points of attack l'orm no part of the real defences of Verdun. After profiting by the favourable terra in the Germans tire now facing elevated open country from the Aleu.se to Ueaumont. The newspapers marvel at the prodigality with which the officers are sacrificing Germany's best troops. The French put forward only one-seventh 01 those who might have been thrown into action. I

A 1 Alt U.I 10 f> AIEX TO 810 ( ALLEIJ UP. London, Fob. 25. The newspapers state that the banks and other large institutions have been ofFuciaHy warnod that «-ll married groups will be called up before the olid of July. There is ample accommodation for training many more recruits than are flowing in. AMERICA AND GER.MANY. New York, Feb. 25. A sensadiion has been caused by ('resident Wilson's attitude. As <i result of the German piessure on Democratic members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the party ill the House of Representatives .have ordered its chairman, Representative Flood, to notify President Wilson that they will no longer support him in upholding Americans' rights to travel aboard vessels armed, contrary to 'the German definition. It is believed that the democrats in the Senate favour President Wilson warning Americans against taking passages on .sueh vessels. Wflsh- I ingtoii is seething with excitement at the news , showing that German and American lobbying has worked up the situation to n climax, wherein President Wilson is threatened with a revolt of his own party in both houses, and there is a danger of the democratic ma.jnrilii's yieWMUo- to the Teutonic in- , fluenees directed Ivv Count Bonistorff.

President Wilson is displaying unexpected coinage and has notified Senator Stone, chairman of the Senate Co in in it tec of Foreign Relations, *m<l Repreisentative Flood, chairman' of a similar committee in the.House of Representative:-, that liis patience in the submarine negotiations with Germanyis exhausted, and that he will no longer endure in silence* the charges otimidity against his adiniuistraton. Senator Stone, says the party is lor a break with President Wilson. THE CONQUEST' OK AIONTENEGIft>. Rome, Feb. 25. Of one hundred and twenty thousand Ausfrians invading Alontenegro, fifteen thousand are dead from fatigue, disease and drowning in tho swamps; Iweiiiy thousand, have ueeu killed tuu wounded, whereof many are crowdig the hospitals at f.'attaro, R.agusa and .\L;sL.,i . i iie Austrian advance tow !:a siiivpeil owing to the [opacity oi the friendly Aloaniaiin. d f ctive cemniiss.uial, bad roads and the need oit reinforce men is against the Italian and Albanian defence. GREEK TROOPS GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. Athens, Feb. 25.»

Further movements ol Greek regiments in Macedonia towards Athens ;uid other towns arc taking place, professedly owing to a defective commissariat, but apparently opening the way tor the Allies. QUESTIONS AX!) ANSWERS IN THE COMMONS. in the House ol Commons the Rt." Hon. H. H. Asquith said he was considering the issue ot a new military modal for bravery on the field. He proposed shortly to issue a series or descriptive accounts compiled >roiu official records covering the events connected with the war. Sir A. B. Markhmn asked had the Germans a mucn larger supply than us oi handi grenades. 'The lit. Hon. Dr. Addison said the importance of the matter wiis appreciated, but it was not in the public interest. to enter into details. iSir Edward Grey, in reply to a question, said the Government's attention was drawn to the enemy's use in Roumania of tlie Labour leaders article regarding military service. Steps had been taken to inform the Roumanian journals of the article's unrepresentative character H—————»