The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 April 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

FRIDAY Advance on Tigris — Turkish Position Captured — Russian Success in Armenia — Heavy German Losses at Verdun The expedition under Sir Percy Lake captured, on Wednesday morning, an entrenched position 20 miles from Kut-el-Amara. Further successes have been achieved by the Russian arms in Armenia. Supported by the cruiser Breslau from the Black Sej the Turks attacked the right lw? c of the Russian army, but wJijetf repulsed with heavy loss. Simultaneously the Russians attacked the enemy's centre, and carried part of the Turkish positions.

Progress has been made by the French in the Caillette Wood, which is traversed by the VauxDouaumont line. Scouting aeroplanes brought down three enemy machines, and another squadron dropped bombs on two centres of the German organisation.

An announcement has been made by the Government of the Netherlands, after a secret sitting of the Second Chamber, that the suspension of officers' furlough was a precaution in view of strict maintenance of neutrality, and not a sequel to any political complications.

SATURDAY

Attack on British —Fighting near St. Eloi —Progress toward Kut-el-Amara — Hand-to-hand Fighting at Verdun—British Assurance to Holland

A violent attack was made on the new British trenches in the St. Eloi salient early on Thursday morning.

The capture of the Turkish positions at Um-el-Hanna, on the River Tigris, is described in a despatch from Sir Percy Lake. He states that the Thirteenth Division, veterans of the Gallipoli campaign, captured five lines of trenches in two hours, and in the evening .carried strongly - entrenched positions at Felahieh, an advance of 6000 yds.

The news from Verdun records a French success south-west of Douaumont fort after hand-to-hand fighting. The Germans succeeded in gaining a footing in the village of Haucourt. Thirtyfive German aeroplanes were brought down during March. The French lost 13.

The sinking of a German submarine by an Anglo-French flotilla is officially reported.

Forty-eight lives were lost thro\igh the sinking of a Manchester steamer by a German submarine. Another Norwegian steamer has been sunk by the Germans in the North Sea.

Owing to the danger of attack by submarines, the Dutch Government has advised Sir Edward Grey that it cannot continue the exchange of incapacitated British and German prisoners.

MONDAY

East African Success — Further Attacks on Verdun—Germany still Sarcificing Men — Battle on Yser Predicted — Another P. and O. Liner Sunk

An important success in German East Africa is reported by General Smuts. As a result of four days operations by troops a strong force of the enemy was surrounded. The enemy then capitulated. Over 400 prisoners have already been taken, with machine-guns and much ammunition.

The attempt by the Germans \'%. retrieve the defeat suffered r r irougfc the capture of the St. %s[6\ Calient ■by the British on March 27 has resulted in the recovery by the enemy of a portion of the contested ground. In a despatch dated Saturday, Sir Douglas Haig reports that the I fighting still continues. Extensive preparations are being made by the Germans, according to a report from Rotterdam, for a great battle on the Yser. A strong army has been sent to the Flanders border by the Dutch Government to protect the neutrality of Holland from violation by the German retreat should the allies succeed in turning the enemy's right. The fighting in the Verdun region is now concentrated on a short front, of which the village of Haucourt appears to be the centre Many attacks have been made by the Germans, and at the cost of very heavy losses the enemy has gained a footing in some of the advanced works of the French positions. The French are steadily recovering the lost ground. ■ A steamer of the P. and 0. service, the Simla, and a Danish steamer has been sunk in the Mediterranean.

SUMMARY.

TUESDAY

Defence of Verdun—Violent German Attack Fail — British Gains at St. Eloi — German Barbarities Revealed

A new phase of the struggle round Verdun is reported. Violent attacks were made by the Germans' along the front between Avocourt, west of the Meuse, and the river. Sanguinary fighting lasted throughout a whole day. On Saturday night the French had carried out plans for the straightening of their front between Avocourt and Haucourt, a few miles to the north-east, and the new line proved impregnable to the most furious assaults. At every attack the enemy was thrown back, suffering heavy losses.

The fighting at St. Eloi, south of Ypres, has left the British in possession of a considerable portion of the ground captured on March 27.

In the Caucasus region the Turks made three attacks on Russian positions, but were completely repulsed,

Germany's inhuman treatment of prisoners of war is disclosed in an official report upon conditions in the Wittenberg camp in Saxony. Owing to overcrowding and neglect, typhus broke out in the camp. The Germans fled, and sent six British doctors and volunteer orderlies to combat the disease.

WEDNESDAY

German Attacks Fail — Costly Assaults on Verdun —Fighting in Mesopotamia — Russian Progress in Armenia — Three Fokkers Brought Down

The Germans have made another attack upon the Verdun front west of the Meuse, on the same sector as on Sunday. The French line remained intact. Repeated attacks upon the French in the Caillette Wood, near Douaumont, east of the Meuse, were repulsed.

The Germans have lost three Fokker aeroplanes in the past few days.

An attack was made at dawn on Sunday against the Turkish positions at Sanniaiyat, on the River Tigris, about 16 miles east of Kut-el-Amara. General Lake reports that the operations were much hampered by floods, and the British failed to pierce the enemy's lines. The British casualties were not heavy.

A report from Constantinople states that the Turks have concentrated 100,000 men at Mosul, 220 miles north of Bagdad, and are feverishly preparing to meet the attacks of the British and Russian forces.

The fourth mine crater at St. Eloi, which remained in German hands, has now been captured by the British, whose line has been established in the trenches running southward from the crater.

THURSDAY Battle of Verdun—Heavy Enemy ; Losses — Advance West of Erzeroum Fighting continues in the Verdun region. Two attacks were made upon the VauxDouaumont sector ' and repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. The attack on the AvocourtBethincourt sector, west of the Meuse, on Sunday, was made by the Germans in dense formation. The French artillery caused appalling carnage. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the British hold three out of the five mine orators, which have been in dispute at St. Eloi. An attack by the Germans on the eastern front was checked by the Russians at its outset. Fresh ground has been wrested from the enemy west-of Erzeroum, in Armenia.