The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 February 1916, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY

Albanians Fighting — The Recent Operations in Egypt — Enforcement of the Blockade — Sir E. Grey's Defence

Essah Pasha, the, virtual ruler of the Albanians, has taken the field on behalf of the allies, and defeated the Bulgarian vanguard at El Bassau, 36 miles east and south of Durrazo. Troops from the United JQrigdom, the Dominions, and were . engaged in the sjflpj'essful action at Mersa Miitruh, on the Mediterranean of Egypt on Sunday last. _^She enemy numbered 4500 and lost 150 killed and 5.00 wounded. The British loss was 10 British and Dominion soldiers and 18 Indians killed, and 274 men' wounded. The Germans are alaimed lest the Russians should invest Erzeroum, in Armenia,' and cu.t the Turkish communications with Mesopotamia. Re-inforce-ments are being hastily despatched. Recent Turkish losses in this region are estimated at 80,000.

By 1,502,000 votes to 602,000----the National Labour Conference, sitting at Bristol, pledged itself to assist the Government as far as possible in the successful prosecution of the war.

SATURDAY , Activity in the West—Bombardment by British—Defence Against Zeppelins—Lon^n Better Pro- , tected A German communique conveys the information that the British and French are subjecting their line in the west to a .heavy bombardment. Monitors ..have been engaged against Westende, on the Belgian coast. The French have captured more of the craters they recently lost near Neuville St. Vaast. It is officially announced that there has been great developments in the defences of London against air raids. The improvements affect both anti-aircraft artillery and aeroplane defence. It is reported that the aged Emperor of Austria has had two paralytic strokes, aiid that his condition is critical.

In., proroguing Parliament the King voiced the determination of Britain to carry on the war till the day of final and decisive victory, and to vindicate the cause which carries with it the future of civilisation.

The Military Service Compulsion Bill has been read a third time in the House of Lords. The Labour Conference passed a resolution protesting against conscription in any form.

MONDAY Greek Port Occupied — Air Raid on German Town —' German Attacks in France —Indians from Flanders —America on Submarine War The Allies have occupied the Greek port of Kara Burnu, which lies a few miles south of Salonika on the peninsula of Chalcidine, and facing the Gulf of Salonika. A French air squadron dropped projectiles on enemy canton" ments north of Lake Doiran, near the . boundary of Greece and Servia, doing very considerable' damage. The Germans in France attempted several simultaneous attacks in Artois and suffered heavy losses for one slight local gain. They also attacked along .ya front of several miles south of ,^the Riyev Somme, and here again -j^r-fere"unsuccessful, except at one *^oint, where they gained some -ground, portion of which they soon lost. Indian contingents are arriving in Mesopotamia from Flanders. The Mesoptamian situation is unchanged, mud making the movement of troops difficult. The Russians have defeated large Turkish forces near Lake Urmia, 65 miles west and south of Tabriz, in Persia. America has suggested certain principles for the conduct of submarine warfare, and has notified belligerents that unless they accept them their armed merchantmen may be denied entry to American ports except on the conditions applying to warships.

TUESDAY German- Attacks Fail — Russians Surround Krzeroum — Zeppelin Raids OxT Paris The German attacks in. the west, are held to have represented the enemy's maximum ,effort. The Germans made ten. attacks in a week, and gained only a slight sr.ccesi:. There was hand-to band lighting for 72 hours

TOE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

and entire companies of the enemy were annihilated. The French have already recovered much of the ground lost. The Russians are reported to have surrounded Erzeroum, in Armenia, from which the Turkish officials have fled.

There was a second Zeppelin raid on Paris on Sunday night. ( It is rumoured in Paris that, in consequence of Russian successes, Persia will join the allies. The Italians who landed in Albania have effected a junction with the Albanian forces. They are now fortifying Valona and other strategic points. WEDNESDAY Zeppelin Raid on Midlands — Turkish Garrisons Isolated — Russian Command of Black Sea Six or seven Zeppelins raided the Eastern Midlands of Englarid on Monday. The .damage done was inconsiderable. No damage was done by the Zeppelin raid over Paris on Sunday. The Russian successes in the Caucasus have cut off the Turkish forces in Erzeroum and Malazghert from the rtst of the army.

Russia has obtained complete mastery of the Black Sea. A Petrograd message states that Russian warships have sunk 1500 enemy ships, worth £16,000,000.

A party of French mariners landed at the town of Rethynon, on the north coast of: Crete, and removed the German Consul.

Balkan reports state Roumania is increasingly friendly to the allies, and the German press is threatening her.

THURSDAY Raider in Atlantic—Seven Steamers Sunk —Zeppelins Drop 220 Bombs —54 Deaths Reported The British liner Appam, recently posted as missing, has'arrived at an American port in charge of a German prize crew, and carrying the crews of twelve merchantmen, six of them British which -are .reported to have been sunk. ''It; is said that a German submarine captured a vessel in the Atlantic, armed and manned her asa commerce destroyer, and used her to sink other ships. One of them was the Clan McTavish, carrying Australian and New produce.

An official British statement says that the Zeppelins which flew over the Midlands on Monday dropped 220 bombs, and 54 persons were killed and 67 injured.

The allies have occupied another Greek position near Salonika. A raid by an enemy airship on Salonika did no damage of military significance,