THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 July 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

•(.EL/CUi lUC j'fijUKUlUl'U—Vui'rßiQHT.J (Australia and Now Zealand Cable Service;. THIS 13 ATI US L\ MIAXUU. London, July 14. Though the British and French communiques studiously refrain from details it is unofficially kuown that a stern battle is proceeding. The Vlies' gains north of the Somme, which have steadily extended in the last three days amount to a Germaii reverse. The Gorman situation at Poziercs is serious, as tlie British successes thereabouts maable.l the French to extendi their lines from Uardecourt in the direction of -Maitrapas. The Or own Prince in the last two days launched 50,000 men in'the direction of Sotiville Fort. The ground was gained at a terrible (sacrifice. Hundreds of machine guns lining the slopes I of the fort wrought frightful havoc. | In eight days of the offensive the British casualties include 1800 officers, whereof 340 were killed. To-day's list includes 1(31 sVcw Zealanders London. July 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—By sharp infyntr.v fighting we appreciably advanced at various points. Artillery on both sides is active. We have not only maintained the pressure on tho enemy, hut have appreciably ladvainced. We eapturedi some howitzers in some sectors which will bi> used against the enemy later. Paris, July 14. A night communique states:—There is no important event on the Somme. THE FI GHT POP KOVEL.

1/oniloi), Juiy 11. The Times's Petrograd correspondent describes the counter-offensive on the Kovel front planned by a special meeting bat ween Generals von Mackenseu and von iHindenburg. Troops were concentrated at various points and marked by unprecedented violent attacks from the sector Zublino-Zaturce. These were preceded bv the most violent artillery fire, which ploughed up the Russians' first J inc. the defenders taking refuge in .shell- pits. The first nssa ilnnts were Austrians who wvre al--I(.wed to approach to within (sixty yards Then the Russians volleyed at point blank range until the, entire space in front of tile trenches were strewn with corpses. , • ». The Austrians fled in disorder but tile German nuns greeted/ them with a tornado of shrapnel mowing down hundreds. The remainder frantically dashed to a'nd fro between two fires with uplifted hands. The Russians saved three hundired. German infantry replaced the Austrians and displayed incredible obstinacy despite awful losses, hurling themselves on the Russian 1 bayonets as though impelled by savage religious ecstacv. even when mortally wounded pressing forward andt madly yelling "To Titizk." These attacks cost the Russians superhuman efforts to repel. The Russians found among the German dead some comrades with their throats cut. Over their mutilated bodies they swore they would not take •a prisoner. There is a fierce struggle on both banks of the Stokhod. The Germans are massing all available reserves from other fronts and are evidently resolved to defend Kovel to tlie last gasp . Petrograd. July 14. A communique states.—Artillery actions continue on the Stokhod and fighting in various places in Galicin. Westward of the lower Strypa the enemy are energetically counter-attack-ing.

RUSSTA AND THE TURK. Petrograd. July 14--A communique, states: Torpedo boats in tlie Black Sea captured a Turkish steamer, also a mail steamer andi two tug boats. The offensive westward of the Erzerou.n meridian is successfully developing. The Turks at several points made futile counter-attacks