The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 July 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

SUMMARY.

FRIDAY,

Gains on the Somme — Total of Prisoners 15,000—Russians Reach Carpathians — Battle Raging on Great Front. The French have resumed the attack north of the Somme, and have captured a village and a j farm east cf Curlu. On the south of the river they have completed the taking of the villages of Estrees and Belloy, and hold all second-line German positions on a front of over six miles. The British now hold 6000 prisoners, and the French 6000. The Russians are advancing from Kolomea, and driving the enemy to the Carpathians, on the slopes of which Russian artillery is already engaged. They are advancing at several points along the front, capturing prisoners and much ■ booty. A battle is raging along 560 miles of the Russian front from Lake Narotch to the Carpathians. The Turks claim to have recaptured Kermanshan, in Western Persia, which the Russians have held since February. SATURDAY. . New Russian Attack — Forging Ahead —Peace Riots in Berlin— Down with the Kaiser. The Russians have assumed the offensive in the centre of their line. General Ervert's armies are attacking from Baranovitch, 70 miles north of Pinsk, to east of Vilna, a front of ' 100 mlies, and have penetrated the enemy's first line, taking j many thousands of prisoners. The Austrians in Southern Galicia are cut off from railway communication with Hungary- ! The Austrian losses for a month are estimated at 500,000. j The British have made slight progress in the Somme region. The feature of the fighting there, however, has been the repulse of German counter-attacks against the French positions. Successful raids have been made by British troops near Hulluch and La Bassee Canal. Peace riots have broken out in Berlin, barricades being erected in the streets, and persons killed and wounded. The railways were damaged, and troop trains were delayed. A mob at Potsdam denounced the Kaiser. MONDAY, Further British Gains — German Positions Stormed — Marked Russian Progress — Carpathian Railway Seized — Austrians Weakening. The British have resumed the offensive north of the Somme, and captured strong German positions south of the Thiepval and north of Fricourt, including portion of very formidable redoubt. East of Laßoiselle the British captured a maze of German trenches over a front of nearly 2000 yds to a depth of 500 yds. Successive German attacks at Thiaumont, north of Verdun, were repulsed with heavy enemy losses. The Russians are conducting a great offensive over their whole front. The Austrian retreats have turned into a debacle, and the Germans are unable to save the situation. A German retreat is considered to be probably imminent. The position of the Austrians in Galicia is daily growing more grave. All the easternmost routes of retreat across the Carpathians are held by the Russians, and the line connecting the Galician railway system with Hungary has been cut.

The Russians have occupied the front line of German trenches south-west of Lake Narotch, in the Dvinsk sector. . There is great bitterness in Hungary against defeated Austrian generals. In the Chamber members demand the protection of Transylvania, .which the Russians are threatening. TUESDAY Advance on Peronne—French within a mile and a-half — Russians Capture Delatyn — Progress on Koyei Railways — New Zealanders Repel an Attack. The French have carried German trenches east of Flaucourt on a front of 2^2 miles to a depth of up to a mile and a-, quarter. The French line has thus been earned to the outskirts of the village of Barleux, and to the village of Biaches, one mile and a-half from Perpnr.e. The British have made further progress in the ruins-of the village of Ovillers, and repulsed two violent counter-attacks. A portion of the sector held by the New Zealanders was subject-

9d to a heavy bombardment. The Germans entered the trenches at one point, but were ejected after half-an-hour's fighting.

The Russians are thrusting at Kovel along two sides of a triangle based on Sarni and Rovno. They have occupied villages south of the Sarni-Kovel railway, an important strategic line, and north of the RovnoKovel railway.

In the extreme south the Russians have occupied the important railway junction of Delatyn, thereby cutting off the Galician system of railways from Hungary.

A German submarine, carrying dye-stuffs, has crossed the Atlantic. The Government of the United States will decide whether she is to be treated as a warship or a merchantman. WEDNESDAY French Successes- — Advance on Peronne — Kovel under Russian Fire—Breack at Lutsk Widening —Sharp action in the Baltic. The French have made further progress towards Peronne. They are now within three-quarters of a mile of Peronne, and only two miles from the Chaulnes railway, and their advance threatens a large German salient south of Peronne. Trone's Wood, south-east of Hardecourt, near the junction of the British and French lines, has be^en the scene of most violent fighting. After six desperate attacks, five of which failed with the heaviest losses, the Germans succeeded in re-entering the 1 wood.

Kovel is under the fire of the heavy Russian guns, and the road to Kovel is now stated to be open. The breach at Lutsk is widening. General Brussiloff's flanking movement is developing splendidly. The Germans were caught in a right angle and;Sdefeated, and sacrificed a regim^at of Hungarian cavalry to protect their retreat. There was a sharp action in Baltic on Sunday night between German and Russian patrolling squadrons. THURSDAY More Allied Gains —British attack chain of Forts—Germany growing Uneasy. The French have made further progress in the Peronne district, captur-. ing 1300 prisoners in the last two days' fighting. The Germans are feverishly strengthening the defences of the Rhine. A despatch from the Berlin correspondent of the New York World admits that there is great suspense in Germany.