The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 January 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

FRIDAY Compulsion First Readn Commons — Reported y Move on Greece—Russians Winning Ground British House of Commons votes to 105, passed the reading of the Military Bill. The Trades W/ion Congress, by a large ■f/ijority, ■ protested against it, W( iree Labour members who held Offices have resigned. The Russians continue their progress along the '• southern front. They have occupied ■fc^Aons near Czernowitz, which, has been evacuated.' ■ r./ ie eneiuy. Russia is said \J> a trtsineiidbii^ effort, J^hich is causing embarrassment Wp the Central Powers. \ Sir lan Hamilton's despatches explain the failure of the British attack on Gallipoli in August.' The New Zealanders reached the tdp of the coveted position, but the Suvla Bay commanders did not advance quickly enough to give support, and the crest of Chnnuk Bair was abandoned.

SATURDAY

f Roumania's Attitude — Reported Agreement with Allies — Enemy Ejected from Montenegro—French Success id Alsace A Berne newspaper states that Roumania has concluded an r-fes agreement to side with the allies "or allow Russian troops to cross Roumania. The allies' position in Greece is described as being admirablysuited • for scientific defence. Aviators report that the Germans and. Bulgarians on the Greek frontier are entrenching themselves, apparently fearing an attack. Seventy-five thousand Servians have already been re-organised, and are concentrated in Albania. It is proposed to transfer them to the Salonika front. The Montenegrins, reinforced by a Servian army corps, have resumed the offensive, and _ ejecteld the enemy from Montenegro. Bulgarian officers and privates have been shot for refusing to fight against the Slavs. ' The violent struggle for an important summit near Mulhausen, in Alsace, continues. The French have secured further series of >trenches, and another 300 prisoners. The principle of compulsion, l adopted by the British Cabinet **Hn connection with recruiting, has been quietly received. It is Si* not now expected to cause a '^Kilitical crisis. ] MONDAY Strength of Salonika — Enemy Attack Threatened — Russian Advance Continued — Intense Bombardments in West It is stated that an attack orv Salonika by Germans, Austrians and Bulgarians is imminent, and that the Greek troops will attack either Bulgarians or Turks crossing the frontier. The Servian Minister for Financesays the fortifications are strong, and the Anglo-French force more than adequate. The Russians have captured Czartorysk, on the River Styr, nearly 200 miles north of Czer~ nowitz. Their attack on the enemy at Czernowitz was preL ceded by a tremendous bombardment. /. .- r^"^>c^ -_ Important operations are out daily on the western > front by the allies' artillery, | appears to be gaining ! ascendency over the ! Many enemy works c been bombarded during the MM^Kfc/iev'days. W from different sources j I indicate that Germany has tried I to make a separate peace with Italy, Russia, and Japan. The overtures in every case were rejected. TUESDAY Evacuation of Helles — Russian Strength in Bukovina — British Battleship Sunk The allies have abandoned their positions at the southwestern extremity of'G-allipoli Peninsula. The operation was conspicuously successful, Only oue soldier was wounded, and 17 worn guns were left behind in a useless condition. Austrian reinforcements are being hurried to the Bukovina front, where the Russians, 800,000 strong, are pouring in sucK an avalanche of shells as they have never been able to do before. The battle for Salonika is expected t:> bsgui within a, f^rt" night. It is feared in A the us

that Bulgarian outrages will inflame the array and draw Greece into the war. The British pre-Dreadnought battlship King Edward VII, of 16,350 tons, struck a mine, and, owing to a heavy sea, she had to be abandoned. There was no loss of life. The Goeben was engaged by Russian torpedo-boats in the Black Sea, and also by a battleship at long range, but used he-* superior speed to escape into the Bospho.^Js. WEDNESDAY "Furks put to Flight—Success in Mesopotamia —. The Qallipoli Commanders— Services to be Recognised — Enemy Attacks in France Fail As a result of fighting on both banks of the Tigris, near Kut-el-Amara, in Mesopotamia, the [British have routed the Turks, capturing 700 prisoners. The victory is described as most important. Mr Asquith describes the Gallipoli withdrawals as being without parallel in military or naval history. He intends to advise the King specially, to mark the services of the commanders responsible. French airmen have dropped bombs on the capital of Bulgaria, causing considerable damage and an indescribable panic. German attacks in the Champagne faiied, the enemy being ' decimated by the French fire. The opposition to compulsory' service in Britain is decreasing. It is thought that the resigns- j tions of the Labour Ministers have not yet been accepted by Mr Asquith.

THURSDAY

Enemy Losses in Failure of Champagne Attack— Final Fight on Qallipoli — Russia's Steady Advance — Allied Strength at Salonika

The recent German failure in the Champagne was of an important character, three enemy divisions being engaged. The Germans lost heavily under the French fire.

The final Turkish attack before the British withdrawal from Cape Helles was beaten off with heavy enemy losses. The Turkish officers in many parts of the line were unable to ' get their men to attack.

The line drawn by the allies round Salonika is described as " blue with barbed-wire entanglements." Guns command every approach.

The enemy Consuls arrested at Salonika have been on a cruiser at Toulon. It is reported that serious charges are pending against them.

The Russian progress in Bukovina has been at the rate of two miles daily over a front of over 200 miles. All the enemy counter-attacks have been repulsed.

The second reading debate on the Military Compulsion Bill has begun in the House of Commons. A Labour Member moved the rejection of the measure. The Nationalists will not further oppose the Bill, while the Labour Party has accepted Mr Asquith's invitation to discuss certain aspects of it.