Latest War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 February 1916, Page 3

Latest War News

(Received Tim Day S.o a.m.) THE FIGHTING ROUND VERDUN. Paris, Feb. 27. A communique reports that northwards ol Verdun the bombardment continues -without relaxation. Eastward and westward of the Mense the enemy's

attacks at different points of tlie trout met with vigorous counter-attacKs. All the enemy's fresh attempts in Hie region of Champ Nounlie ami against l'eivro 11:11, where we are .solidly established. were i-epulsed. A desperI«t struggles rages round Doiiau moilt iront. an advanced element of Verdun's old defensive organization. The position was captured this morning by the enemy after several fruitless assaults costing him very great losses. It again was reached and possessed by our troops, and all attempts to force us out failed. In the region of Verdun. Adjutant Navarre, in a monoplane, brought down with his machine gun two German aeroplanes, within our lines. IVo of the aviators were killed and two ethers taken prisoners. iNine bombarding aeroplanes dropped 144 bombs on Motz ami Ablon .stations. Another squadron Ixfomnvnl-.-ed an enemy establishment at CTiambiey, north-east of Pont a Mousson. THE WAR TRADE COMMITTEE. London, Feb. 27. Sir F. ,J. Hop-wood succeeds Lord Crewe in the chairmanship of the War Trade Committee. THE RUSSIAN CAPTI'RES AT ERZEROUM.

Petrograd, February 27. A communiques says:—Our losses at Erzeroum were comparative! v insignificant. We captured 235 Turkish officers, 12,753 men, 323 guns. and large stores of munitions, arms and provisions. We threw back all the enemy's rearguards fifty miles westward of Erzeroum. and occupied A.schkala. I ROUMANIA STILL UNDECIDED. Bucharest, February 27. A quarter of a million fully-trained men have been placed on a war footing. The influence of the interventionists is growing daily anrl many iprominent Socialist and Democrates have joined the ivar party. M. Filipescu has gone to Petrograd oil a secret mission. GERMANS SUFFER HIiAVY LOSSES. Amsterdam, Feb. 2). The Germans newspapers admit appalling losses northward) of Verdun. I he Frankfurter Zeitung describes the German regiments as fighting in a sea of fire.

THE BATTLE OP VERDUN. Paris, Feb. 27. The Temps says that the French troops took prisoners an entire battalion of pioneers. 11 is reported that the German Impenal Guards are supplied with two kinds of flame throwers, the .smallest hurling flames a distance of twelve yards and ihe biggest fifty-nine yards. Ihe Parisians were never more optimistic than they are to-day. The Bourse has shown a gradual rise since the beginning of the battle. ' The military circles are quietly confident anu grimly gla« that ftie long threatened attack has come. They describe the German advance at different- piaccs as purely strategic, in fact, advantageous to the French .since both sides are playing for stronger positions.

According to a prominent Freeh ,uijitar.v critic, the French evacuated oil their left wing a height, extending trorn tlie south of Chamgneuville to Beauraont, whereon it would have been dangerous to prolong their stay because the Mouse would have hampered their falling back. The soldiers a crow the latter would have been uneasy, knowing that the river was but a sTfort distance in their rear. Accordingly all the first line retired to the height* between Poivre hillside and Vauche wood. The Germans are now assailing this'position. The 'whole operation is not a siege, but a bat-tie against, one of the French armies. it must be remembered that the garrison of Verdun and its forts only figure in these combats as an element of resistance. The enemy s big guns might demolish Fort Douaumont without destroying anything hut inteit blocks or concrete. Operations on such a magnitude as described must be carried on to an end despite the snow as the Germans cannot remain long inactive awaiting better weather, while a. thaw would much likely make the situation worse.

| (Received This Day 10.30 a.m.j | AUSTRIA CONQUERS ALBANIA. 1/ondon, ITeib. 27. An Austrian communique, says :—We defeated the Italians at Durazzo and a ro pursuing them seawards. We bombarded the harbour and works at Durazzo and arc hindering the embarkation. The Italian warships tried to interfere but failed. MALOJA SUNK. London, Feb. 2T. Lloyds report, fh-st received, stated that the s..s. Maloja was mined oft Dover and sank, her people being picked up. She was bound for India with ■ passengers and mails. Later advices state that it is believed that all the passengers and crew were rescued. The Maloja had one hundred and forty passengers on board. When she struck a terrific explosion occur-

red. Scores of vessels raced to the scene, but it is 1 eared there will be a loss of lile. A steamer going to her assistance struck a mine and sank, i Iweiity-fivo uodies from the Maloja 1 Have been landed at Dover. I Jhe steamers I'.'mpress and Fort William were mined and sunk while lemptuig to rescue the survivors or the Maloja. The crews were savedITALIAN'S ADCMiIi WITHDRAWAL. Rome, Feb. 27. ft is semi-ofiicially announced that the withdrawal of tile Serbian, Montenegrin and Albanian troops from Albania has been completed. The .Italian brigade at Durazzo also embarked. PORTUGAL AND GERMANY. [ Lisbon, February 27. Ihe Premier, in the Chamber or Deputies, justified the using or German ■.stoainers on the ground of economic necessity. He added that an infernal machine was found in the Nortddeutsclier liner Billow's boilers which would have blown up the ship the moment she letfc her moorings. An explosion was averted, but the machinery was ruined. Senator Costa- urged the denunciation of the German Portuguese treaty, adding "We are ready for all eventualities!"