Latest War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 May 1916, Page 3

Latest War News

(Received This Day, y.lO a.m.) CENTRAL POWERS' STRATEGY. . * Rome, May 24. A senni-official statement says that the Austrian offensive in the Trentino, ♦coupled with Germany's fierce onslaught on the Verdun front, is interpreted! as a resolute Attempt to prevent the Allies from simultaneously tak-'ng tlie offensive in all the theatres. fhe Central Powem are -striving to exhaust France and Italy, and a.re relying on the momentary respite from Russia, hoping that when Russia is ready to take revenge France and Italy will be wearied and in need Of rest.

IN TEE VEBiDUN SECTOR,

Paris, May z4. A semi-officiai report Bays tihiat' «he •battle of Verdun is becoming bitter, but the latest phases are favourable to us. Furious oounter-aittacis ->n the whole of our positions at Hill .104 failedi despite infamous use of liquid fire. Assaults on Mortliomme subsequently were equally unsuccessful The enemy's obstinate and desperate counter-offensive in the HaudronontDouaumont sector led to furt'iqr French gains and enormous enemy lobMO. The report concludes by pointing out that German communiques persist in representing the Germans as in oc»"i----pation of Hill 304, whereas the French never lost the summit. Repeated efforts to take the French trenches from positions "on the east skTe of ' lie hill to those art; Mortliomme failed. The truth is that tho German offensive has been stopped dead, and it is considered important to show the German puib'ac —110 matter by what means—that the armies are still progressing. THE CZAR IN SOUTH RUSSIA. Petrograd May 24. The Czar, accompanied by the Czarina andi Czarevitch, reviewed the troops in Bessarabia and proceeded to Odessa. THE PARIS CONFERENCE. London, May 24. Mr. J. Norton Griffiths, M.P., will ask in the House of Commons whefclur. in view of the suggested postponement of the Paris Conference, the Right J3on. H. H. Asquith is asking the Commonwealth Government to extond the Hit. Hon. W. M. Hughes's leave. GERMAN SPECIAL MI&MXN TO AMERICA. An Exchange Telegraph Company's nieflage s'tajtes that Prince 'Von BuVyw is going to Waeffirngton on a special mission ,and will probably Temain as an ambassador.

MtENOH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE Paris, May 24. A cow in unique says that the Germans under cover of a gas curtain attacked westward of Nav»rin. Our cutrain of fire drove them back to ■their trendies. The Germans attempted a powerful night offensive eastward! of Mori Homme: there was a hand-to-hand struggle, and alter heavy sacrifices they gradually penetrated the 'village of- Gumieres, and also the trenches immediately westward. Our ■tft'ree drivisions attacked with equally violent bombardments and attacks took place at Haudromont, where, despite the enemy's desperatlin and carelessness, after amazing sacrifices, they only succeeded in occupying sections eastward of Port Douaumont. Attacks elsewhere were broken. GERMAN SUBMARINE DAMAGED. Amsterdam, May 24. The submarine U22 collided with a mine and was heavily damaged aft. She was towedl to Ostend. BRITISH REPORTS CRITICISED. L/ondon, May 4. The Westminster Gazette compJtains of the scantiness of tlie British official reports from the west ing them with the French official /e----ports, which ere much more ample, and the Gazette says there also is a daily semi-official explanation of the fighting. The newspapers generally say there is a very real grievance needing a strong protest.