THE WAR.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 June 1916, Page 3

THE WAR.

FRIDAY

Gain at Mort Homme— Reported Loss of a Zeppelin — Austrian Columns Annihilated The French have taken a German work on the slopes of Mort Homme, capturing with it 200 prisoners and seven machineguns. Although the Germans depleted their reserves in quiet sectors to prosecute the offensive at Verduu, the French have had the better of recent fighting. They heavily defeated the enemy at Mort Homme and Hill 304, although the Germans succeeded, by throwing a whole division

t upon a two-mile front, in taking jl.some portion of the first-line P§£ trenches. ! The Austrian offensive against the Italians is still proceeding. There has been fierce fighting, in which the Italians have annihilated attacking columns, although obliged at some points to give ground. A Zeppelin is reported to have been lost at Koprulu, in Servia.

SATURDAY.

Attacks on Verdun—German Efforts Redoubled—Bulgarians Massacre Greeks—Austria's Costly Offensive

The German attacks on Verdun are being continued on both sides of the Meuse. Near Douaumont they penetrated some first-line trenches. In spite of a huge expenditure of shells, no progress has been made west of the Meuse. Fresh troops are being brought up, and reports state that the Germans are redoubling their efforts to secure a decision* in the Verdun battle. It is computed that altogether, since February 21, nearly a million Germans have been brought to the Verdun front.

The Salonika correspondent of the Times reports that the Greek inhabitants of Macedonia are fleeing from the Bulgarians, and spreading panic tales of rape, murder and pillage.

A Milan newspaper estimates the Austrians 1 losses in the present offensive at 60,000, including two generals. An Austrian communique claims to have now captured 30,388 Italian prisoners and 399 guns.

MONDAY,

Battle Culminating—Fierce struggle at Verdun—Result Favours the French — British Success in Africa.

-The German offensive at Verdun is being continued. This is considered to indicate that the battle has reached its culminating point. The result of the fighting reported to-day appears to be in favour of the French.

In spite of their heavy losses, the Germans repeated their furious attacks upon Fort Vaux. Parties entered the Fosse North Fort, but all attacks east and west failed.

There has been sharp fighting in the Ypres salient on a British front of 3000 yards. The enemy penetrated the front at several points, but were repulsed everywhere else.

The defeat is announced of the enemy, force in German East Africa, which General Smuts recently located at Nicheni. The enemy were strongly entrenched on a narrow neck between the Pare Mountains and the Pangani River. The position was assaulted by the British column on May 29, and the principal trenches carried.

TUESDAY

Russia Moves Again—Verdun Fight

Raging—Fort Vaux Unconquered

—Italians Repulse Austrians.

~/^L fresh Russian offensive has .^hP?n commenced in Galicia. An "■^Austrian communique reports thatthe Russians are bombarding their entire north-eastern front, and that there are indications everywhere that infantry attacks are imminent.

In the Verdun region fighting still rages. The Germans have made repeated attempts to turn the Fort Vaux front from the south-east. A heavy attack on Saturday night in a ravine between the fort and Damloup resulted in the enemy gaining a footing in the French trenches, but they were immediately repulsed in a counter-attack.

The Italians repulsed the Austrians in an attempt to break through the former's lines southwest of Arsiero. The enemy hurled huge masses on the Italian positions near Col Posina but were thrown back with serious losses.

German aeroplanes bombed Toul, 14 miles west of Nancy, on the left bank of Moselle, killing six and injuring ten persons. A French pursuing air squadron brought down three of the raiders.

WEDNESDAY Russian Successes — Big Battle Developing — Fierce Fighting at Verdun — French Break German Attacks. The Russians have achieved great successes in attacks on their southern front from the Pripet marshes to Roumanian frontier. German attacks at various points on the Verdun front have been broken.

Further readjustments of the Italian line in the Trentino are reported, but the Austrian attacks have been repulsed.

THURSDAY Russians Gain Ground—Over 25,000 Prisoners Taken.

The Russian offensive between the Pripet marshes and the Roumanian frontier is developing successfully. The Russians have captured 480 officers, 25,000 men, 27 guns, and over 50 machine-guns.

At Verdun two German night attacks between Vaux and Daraloup completely failed.