The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 6 April 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

FRIDAY

Fight for Verdun—Counter-Attack by French — French Assault Repulsed — Activity on Salonika Front

An excellent narrative is given in to-day's cables of recent

operations in the Verdun region. After deluging the whole front for six days with shells, as a means of concealing their designs the Germans launched a whole division upon a front of 1000 yds between Avocourt and Malancourt. The French troops met the enemy with a terriffic fire and completely repulsed them.

A counter-attack was then successfully thrown against the Germans, with the result that a portion of the Avoconrt wood, captured on March 19, was recovered.

A remarkable situation has developed in Crete. According to reports from Athens the Greek" authorities apparently arrested an official of the British Consular service, and as they refused to release him, a squadron of warships is blockading the capital of the island.

Twenty-two engineers who participated in the strike at the Clyde munition works were fined £5 each. The six ring-leaders have been ordered to reside in Edinburgh.

SATURDAY

Assaults on Verdun —Costly German Failure—Let it be Soon —Capture of German Salient —Excitement in Greece

The conflict at Verdun is being strenuously continued, but the Germans have entirely failed to weaken the French defence. Attempts to force the French from the recaptured positions at Avocourt have been made in vain, while attacks upon the outskirts of Douaumont have been repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy.

Seven German aeroplanes have been brought down on the western front, including five in the Verdun district. The Germans claim to have destroyed a British biplane.

Details of the capture of the German salient at St. Eloi, three miles south of Ypres, a few days ago, show it to have been a brilliant episode. The German position was as strong as any in their lines, but the British wrecked it by the explosion of mines. Almost before the earth fell after the explosion the British poured over the barbed wire left standing and established themselves with little loss.

The activity of the allies in searching for submarine bases and enemy spies n Greek territory has aroused great excitement in Greece. A French report states that a vast espionage and submarine supply organisation has been discovered in the island of Corfu.

MONDAY Zeppelin Shot Down—After Raid on English I Coast — Desperate Assaults on Verdun—New Phase Affects Holland

Another Zeppelin raid on the English coast is reported. Crippled by shell-fire, a Zeppelin descended in an estuary of the Thames. After the crew of two officers and 25 men had been taken off by patrol boats the machine broke up and sank. The raid was made by five Zeppelins, of which four visited the eastern counties and the fifth the north-east coast. Casualties already reported number 28 *»? killed and 44 injured. ti^fc^&JJU'.--. desperate fighting tl^ughout the night, in which trie' enemy made considerable sacrifices, the French battalion holding the village of Malancourt was overwhelmed by a brigade of Germans. The French maintained the egress of . the ruined village, and are still established on the two flanking hills which command the position.

The war situation is creating excitement in Holland. Scandinavian shipping circles are disturbed by rumours that the Entente proposes to complete the blockade of Germany.

A hospital ship has been sunk by a German submarine in the Black Sea.

TUESDAY

More Zeppelin Raids — A New Zealander's Exploit—Attacks on Verdun Continued — British Cruiser Sunk

Two more Zeppelin raids are reported. One airship dropped bombs on the north-east coast of England on Saturday night. A second Zeppelin withdrew before reaching the land. The coast of

Scotland and the northern and north-eastern counties of England were raided on Sunday night.

A thrilling incident of Fiiday's raid was the attack made by SubLieut. Alfred de Bathe Brandon, a resident of Wellington, on one of the Zeppelins. He ascended in an aeroplane to a height of 9000 ft, and single-handed dropped bombs on the raider, apparently with material effect.

Danish fishermen report having seen a wrecked Zeppelin lying half submerged in the Nprth Sea.

The scene of the German attack in the Verdun theatre has apparently been moved to the north-eastern portion of the line.

The British armoured cruiser Achilles was sunk on Friday. Four members of the crew are missing.

A demand has been made by the Premier of Greece that the allies should evacuate Salonika.

Intense indignation has been aroused in Russia by the deliberate sinking of the hospital ship Portugal in the Black Sea. The vessel was apparently at anchor when a submarine, after a careful inspection, fired two torpedoes of which the second struck the vessel amidships, The list of victims approaches 300.

WEDNESDAY

Defence of Verdun—German Failure at Fort Vaux — French Retake Portion of Village—Fresh Attack West of Meuse—Allied Assurance to Holland

The French have succeeded in recovering a portion of the village of Vaux, and have gained further ground in the wood of Caillette.

A fresh attack has been made by the Germans west of the Meuse, 5 but it was directed at positions recently evacuated by the French, and the enemy was surprised and subjected to heavy losses.

The attack by the Germans at Vaux on Sunday again took the form of an advance by troops in three directions, after several hours' bombardment. The situation became critical, but reinforcements were brought up, and the Germans were compelled to retreat.

Four enemy aeroplanes have been brought down in the Verdun region.

The British have captured a crater at St. Eloi, which the Germans had held since Thursday.

An official statement has been that nothing adverse to the Netherlands was discussed by the allies in Paris.

The raid on Sunday was made by six Zeppelins. Three of them visited the south-east of Scotland killing 10 persons. The others dropped 135 bombs, and official report states, "the only casualties occurred in a fowlyard."

THURSDAY

French Success—Enemy Attack on Vaux Front — Failure West of Meuse —Increased Taxes in Britain

A new attack has been made by the Germans on the VauxDouaumont line, with disastrous results to the attackers. The enemy was mown down by the French fire, and finally retreated in disorder, suffering heavy losses from the French artillery.

A new attack west of the Meuse, directed at Haucourt, is reported to have completely miscarried.

Another raid by one Zeppelin on the east coast of England is reported to have been made early Tuesday morning. Neither damage nor casualties have been reported.

The Russians have repulsed an offensive west of Tarnopol, They are continuing their advance in Asia Minor.