The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 March 1916, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY Fight for Douaumont — Q erman Force Surrounded —Germany and Portugal —Rumour of an Ulimatum —Seaplane Raids English Coast Fort Douaumont, north-east of Verdun, has been taken and retaken four times. It is now surrounded by the French, and 2000 Germans are trapped inside. There is a lull in the Verdun fighting. It is reported that in cause's quence of the seizure of German £ shipping in Portuguese ports, Germany has presented an ultimatum, demanding its return within 48 hours. A German seaplane dropped ■ bombs on the south-east coast of England. A baby is reported to have been killed. Russia is spending £3,000,000 daily on the war. The Budget shows a deficiency of £37,000,000. Since the war broke out £350,000,000 had been paid into the savings banks. The Italians left no serviceable guns behind them when thdy withdrew from Durazzo, the capital of Albania. They will hold Valona, the Albanian port ■ at the entrance to 'the Adriatic, and the defences are being . strengthened. A writer ,on naval subjects describes the new German submarines, as being really submersible destroyers, of over 1000 tons displacement, with light armour, a radius of 4000 miles, and a surface speed of 20 knots. SATURDAY Renewal of Activity — Fighting North of Verdun —German Attacks Repulsed — British Win Back Trenches —More Men Landed at Salonika German infantry attacks at Douaumont and Poivre Hill have been repulsed, while ground lost in the Woevre was immediately retaken by the French.' The French line north of the fortress has now been solidly reorganised and the French are waiting for the unfolding of the enemy's plans. The Brandenburgers who are in the ruins of Fort Douaumont are securely trapped. The French, to avoid loss, are waiting for famine to do its work. The German losses at Verdun are estimated at 150,000. The Italian Chamber of Deputies has decided to send a telegram to the French army at Verdun affirming that the allies are fighting one common enemy on common fronts. British attacks won back the trenches near the Ypres-Comines Canal, lost on February 14, also some fresh ground. One hundred and eighty prisoners were taken.

Reinforcements are landing at Salonika in larger numbers than ever. The Servians are expected shortly. Very large British forces are now in Egypt.

,The Russians have made fnrther progress in Armenia. Civilians are leaving Trebizond, on the Black Sea,' owing to their approach.

MONDAY Further Attacks on Douaumont — Ground Lost and Regained— Russians Capture Bitlis After a lull of three days the battle for Verdun is being waged with renewed vigour. The fighting centres round village of Douaumont, near the fort of that name, north-east of the citadel. Simultaneous attacks were made here, and on the village of Vaux, tcthe'east. That on Vaux was completely repulsed, but the Germans, after several efforts in which they lost very heavily, succeeded in reaching the village of Douaumont.

According to the enemy's reports, they established a salient south-west of the fort, though without relieving the Brandenburgers, who are imprisoned in the ruins of the fort. There has been desperate street fighting in the village of Douaumbnt, which lies 90ft below the fort.

The Russians have stormed Bitlis, in Armenia, 62 miles west of Van, capturing six guns and many,prisoners. This represents a second great wedge driven into the Turkish front.

Seven French aeroplanes flew from Salonika to Smyrna, in Asia Minor, and bombed the batteries, The double journey occupied 24 hours.

The German airmen who raided the Kentish coast a few days ago, and killed a baby, lost their machine in the North Sea, off the Belgian coast. The observer was drowned and the pilot taken prisoner.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

TUESDAY Fighting for Douaumont — French Hold the Outskirts — Turkish Peace Aspirations The fierce struggle for the village of Douaumont, north-east of Verdun, has somewhat abated. "The French still hold the outskirts of the village. The fighting for Douaumont raged fiercely on Saturday, and at the close of the day neither side was able to occupy the village definitely. The new French.line is stated to be impregnable. French newspapers ascribe the continued German attacks to fear of disappointing the people by terminating the offensive. The German losses are unofficially estimated at 200,000. It is reported from Athens that the occupation of Bagdad, ,_in Mesopotamia, is imminent. An official German message claims that the raided Moewe has returned safely with prisoners and booty. It is unofficially stated that Turkey has twice taken the initiative with a view to peace negotiations. The German general, Yon der Goltz, has resigned his Asiatic command. WEDNESDAY New Attack on Verdun—FightingWest of the Meuse — Russian Landing in Armenia—Battle in Mesopotamia — Zeppelins claim more Victims The latest development of the Verdun battle is a German attack on the western side of the River Meuse. The enemy captured the village of Forges after violent fighting, but were repulsed in attempts to extend their success along the line. French critics think the Verdun offensive may continue for several days, until the 3000,000 Germans massed on a narrow sector are exhausted. The wounded are suffering severely through the cold at nights. Germans have been found frozen to death. The Russians are landing from the Black Sea on the coast of Armenia. They have captured two small towns east of Trebizond. The demoralisation of the Turkish army is said to be complete. The-situation at Constantinople is described as most critical, while there is a powerful peact movement at Smyrna. Thousands are starving throughout Turkey. Turkish reports indicate that heavy fighting is proceeding in Southern Mesopotamia between the British, who have been largely reinforced, The Zeppelins, apparently uncertain of their whereabouts, flew erratically, and dropped 40 bombs between Yorkshire and Kent. Twelve persons were killed and 33 injured.

THURSDAY Defence of Verdun—Germans make Slight Progress—Russian Pursuit of Turks—More Yankee Doodle Messages from the western front indicate that fighting is still intense on both banks of the Meuse, . near Verdun. The Germans have obtained a footing in a wood north-east of Verdun, near the village of Forges, which they recently captured. The Russians continue the pursuit of the Turks in Armenia. The Mussulman population is said to be fleeing from Trebizond, the Turkish Black Sea port north of Erzeroum. : The Zeppelins which visited the eastern counties of England dropped 90 bombs, which caused a number of casualties among civilians, but no militarydamage. The American Congress, by substantial majorities, has decided to support the President in his claim that, despite German threats, Americans have a right to travel unharmed on armed merchantmen.