The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 June 1916, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY. Russian Thrust at Kovel—Enemy's Counter-attacks Faii — Germans Repulsed at Verdun — Italians Mean Business.

German efforts to apply a counter-movement by' attacks east of Kovel, and near Smorgon, 45 south-east of Vilna, have failed.

A German attempt to recapture the ground recently lost south of Mort Horn me, on the

Verdun front, failed. French -^s curtain-fire broke attacks west &£ and south of Fort Vaux. ' v Italian troops captured a strong position in the Posina Valley, south-east of Trent, during a heavy storm. A month's fighting in the Trentino has cost the Austrians 150,000 casualties. Thirty-four Italian aroplanes bombed the Pergine aerodrome, near Trent, brought down three hostile machines, and returned safely.

British aeroplanes bombarded enemy concentrations on the Dedeagatch railway line, seriously damaging provision and munition depots.

SATURDAY. Retreating Army Divided — One Section Surrounded — New Greek Cabinet — Allied Demands Accepted.

The Russians are pursuing the enemy in Bukovina. Part of the Austrians have retired south along the Roumanian frontier, where 50,000 are in danger of being disarmed by the Roumanians if they cross. The other half of .the Austrian army is rerteating towards the Carpathians, hoping to hold the fortified line on the Mikrohda and Sereth Rivers.

A message from Rome states that a portion of General Pflanger's army is now completely surrounded near the Sereth

River.

In the Verdun region, the French counter-attacks have all been successful.

On the British front, the Welsh Fusiliers, in a counter-attack, gallantty drove out the enemy, who had entered the British trenches on a narrow front.

Russian torpedo-boats have sunk five large sailing ships and some smaller vessels in the Black Sea.

A despatch from Athens states that Greece has accepted the allies' demands for general demobilisation, dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies, followed by a general election, and the replacement of certain high authorities.

MONDAY, Verdun and Volhynla — Desperate German Attacks—Enemy moving Men Eastward. The Bulgarians are reported to have crossed the River Mesta, the dividing line between Bulgaria and Greek Macedonia.

The Germans are endeavouring ts stem the Russian advance in Volhynia. Reinforcements are being drawn by the enemy from Belgium, and from the French and Italian fronts. Desperate fighting has taken place. It is thought that the Germans are trying to prevent the removal of Russian troops to the south.

The Russians have captured Kuty. General Lelchitzky has jammed a portion of General Pflanzer's right wing against the Roumanian, frontier. The troops forming the enemy's centre are still in flight.

The Germans' new offensive at ►S-zjerdun continues with the r^afrnost violence. It is believed that the enemy seeks to capture two interior forts so that they may be able to spare more reinforcements for the eastern front. The pressure of the Austrians on the Asiago Plateau is reported to have diminished owing to the enemy's critical situation, one ot their army corps being hemmed in on three sides. The Italian advance continues.

TUESDAY New Battle of Verdun—Germans' Supreme Effort — Russians Hold Bukovina — Another Invasion of Greece. A French semi-official message ascribes the sudden renewal of the battle of Verdun to the desire of the Germans to foil the allies' plans, the approaching realisation of which threatens them. The French have recaptured some portions of trenches west of •Thiamont, have made progress at Fleury, and have repulsed a German attack south of Mort Homme.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

Trent.

The German attack which gained Thianmont work, directly north of Verdun, represents the enemy's supreme effort. Al~ though the French yielded Thiaumont, they repulsed all attacks on Fleury.

The Russians are in occupation of the whole of Bukovina,' They are advancing along the River Styr, where growing lrsses compelled an enemy retirement.

The Italians have driven the Austrians back southward of Arsiero, 20 miles south-east of

Fresh concentrations of Bulgarians are reported at Fiorina, a Greek town near the Servian frontier, 20 miles south of Monastir. The Bulgarian newspapers, fffearing Roumania, demand the withdrawal of troops from Macedonia.

WEDNESDAY Success in Trentino — Ten British Night Raids—Lull on the Verdun Front.

The Italian counter-offensive in the Trentino has been crowned with success, and a great many positions have been recaptured from the Austrians. One version suggests that the Italians have regained all the ground lost, but the official report makes it more probable that so far only the positions lost on the Italian side of the frontier have been occupied.

The British in France, by raiding parties, penetrated the hostile lines in ten places on Saturday night. The Anzacs and Munster Fusiliers were • partiularly successful. The British losses were very slight, and the enemy's losses considerable.

A quiet day is reported from the Verdun front. Although the Germans may soon commence an attack on Sousville Plateau, the last bulwark of outer Verdun, the French are not despondent, realising that the fate of Verdun will soon be merged in the general strategic situation.

The Russians have repulsed enemy attacks near Baranovitch, north of Pinsk. Cossacks crossed the River Strypa south of Buczac, and overthrew the enemy's advance-guard.

THURSDAY Russian Dash on Kolomea —Austrian Positions Taken — Germans Repulsed near Ypres.

Cossacks have crossed the' River Dniester, south-west of Buczacz, and threaten Kolomea, a railway centre between Czernovitz and Lemberg. They swam across the river with only their rifles, and won the bank by a bayonet charge. The Austrians are stiengthening the defences of Kovel. Between the 4th and 23rd inst. the Russians captured 198,072 prisoners.

A German attack south-east of the Ypres salient was repulsed by the British.

The lull at Verdun continues. The French have won back further ground near Thiaumont work, and repulsed German attacks on Fleury and west of Hill 304.

The Austrian retreat in Trentino has at points become a rout, and the Italians have had to use cavalry to keep in touch with the enemy. They have re-gained ground continuously for 60 hours.