The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 June 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

FRIDAY.

Fort Douaumont Lost—Retaken by Bavarians — Italians on a new Line.

The ruins of Fort Douaumont, north of Verdun, haye again passed into German hands. After repeated attacks, led by two divisions of Bavarians newlyarrived at the front, the enemy re-occupied the fort. The French hold the immediate approaches. An attempt to take Caillette Wood broke down under the French fire. The Germans penetrated the village of Cumieres, east of Mort Homme. Elsewhere t^Afc attacks failed,. in spite of wH|a communique describes as theM expenditure of countless The Italian withdrawal to a new protective line south of Trent has been effected in perfect order. It is stated that 350,000 Austrians, using 2000 guns, participated in the Trentino offensive.

The offeasives at Verdun and in the Trentino are interpreted in Italy as an attempt to exhaust France and Italy and prevent simultaneous allied offensives.

SATURDAY

Trentino Offensive—Possible Climax at Verdun — Turkish Outposts Bombed — New Armies of the King.

There is still heavy fighting in the Trentirio, but the Italians claim that the Austrian offensive has been temporarily checked. The Austrians followed the German method of attack in massed formation.

The battle of Veidun is raging even more furiously than before. With the French attack on Douaumont on Wednesday a general battle began, which may prove decisive. The French withdrawal from Douaumont was due to the exhaustion of ammunition. Previous to this their guns, which had the exact range, had mown down the Germans advancing through the ravines. The French have made progress east of the village of Cumieres.

In reply to the enemy's aeroplane raid on Port Said, British aeroplanes destroyed buildings and water-tanks at a dessert outpost.east of Ismaila. The column recently attacked by British airmen at El Arish, 95 miles east of Port Said, proves to have been German.

The King, in a message to his people, places fche voluntary enlistments at upwards of 5,041,000.

Mr Asquith has appealed for a settlement of the Irish question by agreement. Mr Lloyd George has been authorised by Cabinet to undertake negotiations.

MONDAY,

Battle Still Fiercer—Ground Won at Verdun —French Withstand the Storm — Successful Action in the Soudan.

The battle of Verdun, again general over the whole front, has reached a magnitude and intensity hitherto unknown. The German command is more than ever prodigal of men, and is using new, heavy guns of great mobility. The struggle is described as the most terrific pitched battle in history. In its later development the Germans are said to have lost two or three times as heavily as the French,

A Swiss expert states that prior to the present phase of the battle the Germans had lost 300,000, as compared with a French loss of 120,000.

The French have penetrated the eastern portion of the mined village of Cumieres, and carried trenches to the north-east. These §**>ositions they held against *~<#iblent counter-attacks, and also v repulsed powerful assaults on the outskirts of Douaumont.

The Austrian offensive in the Trentino continues. At several points the Italians stopped the enemy's progress, and inflicted heavy losses.

The forces of the Sultan of Dar Fur, in Eastern Soudan, which had been threatening the Kordofan frontier of Egypt, has been completely defeated, and their capital occupied. The British lost only five men killed and 23 wounded, and the tribesmen in their frantic rushes lost 1000.

TUESDAY

Bulgarians in Greece—Force crosses the Border—lnvasion not Opposed —French Winning back Curnieres.

A force of Bulgarians, estimated at 25,000, has crossed the Greek border and occupied Demirhissar, 50 miles north and east of Salonika, and 10 miles south of the Bulgarian frontier. The Greeks offered only a nominal resistance before withdrawing.

The Bulgarians have also occupied Rupel Pass, north of Demirhissar, and all the forts in the region, have invaded the plain west of the Struma and are marching no Kavala, the Greek seaport midway between Salonika and Dedeagtch.

There is indignation in Greece over the torpedoing of Greek ships. In all fifteen vessels, of a tonnage of 40,000, have been sunk. The seizure of Austrian and German steamers lying in Greek waters is urged unless an indemnity is paid.

The German gains on the Verdun front during the past eight days total only . 300 yds. The French are winning back the village of Cumieres trench by trench.

Wreckage and bodies washed ashore in Denmark suggest that a Zeppelin has been lost at sea.

An Austrian submarine entered the Italian port of Civita Vecchia, 47 miles from Rome, and shelled the steel works and a coal steamer.

WEDNESDAY

The Italians' New Line — French Mastery at Verdun — General Townshend's Protest — Greek Attitude to Bulgarians.

The Italians have consolidated their new positions dominating the Asiago basin, 20 miles southeast of Trent. The Austrian casualties for a fortnight are estimated at 100,000.

The French still have the situation at Verdun well in hand, but further terrific fighting is expected. The Germans have suffered two heavy reverses at Hill 304.

In addition to the Bulgarians who entered the eastern corner of Greece from the North, a division is approaching from the portion of Bulgaria which lies to the JEgean Sea, between Greece and Turkey.

A White Paper dealing with the Mesopotamian campaign shows that General Townshend sent a warning that he would incur grave risk in advancing on Bagdad with one weak division. The protest was-entered in the departmental records, but neither the Imperial Government nor the Indian Government knew of it.