The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 March 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

SUMMARY.

FRIDAY

Vain German Attacks—Enemy no Nearer Verdum—Russian Success in Qalicia —Moewe said to have been Sunk

The German Crown Prince is

flinging his army against the French positions north of Verdun

in vain, Except for withdrawals at certain points, no impression has been made on the French line. The German losses in the west in three days have been 20,000, and practically all the Germans have effected is to compel the French to evacuate

village- of Brabant, on the * Meuse, north-west of Verdun, and a portion of a wood. It is reported that the Russians have surrounded a Turkish armycorps near Mush, 80 miles south of Erzeroum, in Armenia. The Turks are hastening the evacuation of Trebizond, on the Black Sea, because the garrison of 100,000 lacks food.

An important Russian success is announced between the Dniester and the Pruth, in the corner of Eastern Galician near Bukovina.

It is suggested that the German raider Moewe was abandoned because of unseaworthiness, and that her crew were on the Westburn, which put into Teneriffe. When the Westburn was ordered to leave she was sunk by the Germans. The victims of the Moewe number 13, with a tonnage of 53,000.

The Portuguese Government has seized 36 Austrian and German ships, which have been lying in Portuguese waters since the war broke out,

SATURDAY

Battle near Verdun—Large Armies Engaged—Britain to call Married Men up—Balkan Developments Suggested

There has been heavy fighting on the western front, particularly on a sector of from four to six miles north of Verdun. The battle is still in progress, and the official communiques contain conflicting claims. The Germans state that they penetrated a mile and three-quarters and captured 3000 prisoners. The French state that most of the attacks were crushed. The French have re-taken some of the trenches they lost near Givenchy.

King Constantine expresses himself as delighted with the result of his conference with General Sarrail, which, he says, is the first step in clearing up the differences between Greece and the allies.

Married men who enlisted in Britain under the Earl of Derby's scheme are to be called up between April and July.

The report of ' the Russian commission which inquired into the treatment of Russian prisoners, convicts the Austrians of almost, incredible barbarity. Prisoners have been robbed, beaten,. starved, tortured, and murdered.

MONDAY

Battle in a Snowstorm — Fierce Attack on Verdun — German Masses Mown Down—Capture of Armenian Town—Russian Success in Persia — Serious Revolt in Berlin

Despite a snowstorm lasting 24 hours, the battle is still raging north of Verdun so fiercely that it is described as the most terrific of modern times. The Germans are attacking regardless of cost, and their losses are already as heavy as those sustained in the attempt to break the Yser front. A whole brigade was annihilated and of a regiment of 2500 only 70 men were left.

/ """The allies have been active at several other points on the front. The French took a salient in Champagne, capturing 300 prisoners. The Russians have stormed Kermanshah, in the west of Persia, almost halfway between Teheran and Bagdad, and have captured two fortified mountain passes.

The Russians have captured the fortified Armenian town of Ispir, between Erzeroum and Trebizond. The Erzeroum operations have yielded them nearly 13,000 prisoners and 323 guns.

An Amsterdam message states that there was a serious revolt in Berlin last Tuesday. Cavalry charged the mob, and over 100 persons were killed. TUESDAY Battle Stiii Raging — French Defence oi Verdun — Enormous ' German Losses-Steamer Maloja Mined - Death-roll Estimated at 147 The battle of Verdon is still most intense round Dauaumont.

The Germans have been attacking heavily east of Douaumont and north of Vaux. Here they were repulsed, and their position east of Douaumont is described by the French as precarious.

Most of the other activity has been on the Woevre plain,, east of Verdun; The German bombardment is described as being more intense than that which preceded the French attack in the Champagne some months ago.

The French warn their allies against believing all the claims of the German communiques. For instance, the Germans allege that they have captured 15,000 prisoners; the French put the number at less than 5000.

The P. and O. liner Maloja was sunk by a mine off Dover. The death-roll is estimated at 147. The latest reports state that 264 were rescued out of 411 on board. The majority of the victims are Lascars. ■ Two other vessels have been sunk by mines in or near the English Channel, one of them when proceeding to the assistance of the Maloja.

The influence of the interventionists in Roumania is growingdaily. M. Filipescu, one of the warmest advocates of the allied cause, has gone to Petrograd on a secret mission. The first line of the army, 250,000 men, is on a war footing.

WEDNESDAY

Successful French Defence — Recapture of Douaumont—German Regiment Surrounded — Enemy Force in Egypt Routed

No fresh German advances near Verdun are reported ; on the contrary,, the French have recaptured ' Douaumont, the dismantled fort which -formed a portion of the old defences of Verdun, by a brilliant counterattack, after frenzied fighting had thinned the German ranks. A German regiment has been surrounded at Douaumont.

In six days the French have retired four miles, but at the end they presented an unbroken front to the enemy.

The facts that the Kaiser recently visited the fleet, and that Prince Henry of Prussia has been appointed to a high naval command, are held to indicate a possible naval offensive.

An action fought in Egypt resulted in a decisive British success. Unable to withstand the attack of the South Africans and .Dorsetshire Yeomanry, the enemy left 200 dead and wounded on the ground. Their commander, a brother of the Turkish Minister for War, was killed.

It is reported .that German submarines were to receive instructions to commence sinking armed merchantmen without warning from midnight yesterday.

THURSDAY Defence of Verdun—French Hold Their Own—Situation Improving

The battle of Verdun is still fiercest round Douaumont, where the Germans are making frontal attacks, supported by efforts to reach Douaumont from the east by way of Vaux. There has also been heavy fighting on the Woevre front, particularly at the village of Manteulles, south-east of Verdun.

The situation of the French is improving daily owing to the arrival of reinforcements.

German shells have been dropping .into the streets of Verdun since Monday of last week, and civilians have been ordered to leave the town.

General Joffre is quoted as. being perfectly confident. -He has been steadily massing troops in the threatened sectors.

A force of Germans is surrounded by the French on three sides in Fort Douaumont. The German losses to February 27 were estimated at 130,000. Bodies are being taken to Belgium for cremation.