The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 July 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

TUESDAY Lull in Somme Battle — French Gains at Advance west of Riga—Portugal Offers troopsRussian Raid on West Front. ' A quiet day is reported from the British front, north of the Fomme, only the artillery having been active. The British bombardment preceding the recent attacks was the greatest that has yet taken place. ' Belville Wood, east of Longueval, the capture of which was imported yesterday, was taken by =^kith. Africans. '*' The French have gained ground west of Fleury, the point north of Verdun at which the German line is most advanced. The Russians have advanced in the region of Kemmern, 30 miles west of Riga, and three miles from the sea coast. The Russians troops now serving in France have been in action in the Champagne region, where they conducted a successful raid. The Premier of Portugal ex.: presses his willingness "to send troops to France or elsewhere whenever the allies desire it.

The Italian destroyer Impetuoso, of 676 tons, has been torpedoed by an Austrian submarine. WEDNESDAY Further British Gains — German Trenches Captured — Russians Making Progress. The British have gained further important successes at two points in_the Somme region, widening the gap in the German second line by the capture of 1500 yds of trenches near Bazentin-le-Petit and a strongly-defended farm east of Longueval. The German strongholds at Ovillers and La Boiselle have been completely reduced, and the remnants of the garrisons have surrendered. An unofficial account of the British advance states that* the whole German positions have been broken on a front of six and a-quarter miles, and a dent made in the third line.

It is anticipated that one consequence of the British successes will be a speedy resumption of the French advance on Peronne, which, however, has to surmount considerable difficulties.

The Russians are continuing their advance on the Lower Lipo and are approaching the frontier of Transylvania.

A Swiss military writer estimates that the Central Powers lost 1,000,000 men during the spring.

Eight Turkish divisions under German officers are to be sent to the European front.

THURSDAY Eastern Battle Line — Reported Enemy Retreat—Road to Lemberg Opened—Heavy Fighting on the Somme. It is unofficially reported that the Germans and Austrians on the eastern front have commenced a general retreat, and are laying waste'the country. General Hindenburg's old sector in the Riga district is now organised solely for defensive warfare. The Russians have scored a great tactical success 20 miles south-west of Lutsk. They smashed the enemy's front over the width of a mile and to a depth of'severe 1 miles. A French critic claims that the last serious obstacles to the _Ruß^.n advance on Lemberg ~~' UJp^een removed. proximity of Russian cavalry to the Transylvanian frontier is causing anxiety in Hungary. The Germans are attacking the new British positions near Longueval and Belville Wood to the, east. North of Ovillers the British captured several strongly defended points.

The New Zealanders have made several more raids on the enemy's trenches in the vicinity of Armentieres.

SUMMARY.

FRIDAY.

New Attack on Ye rdun—Violent German Assaults—Ground Lost and Recaptured—Russian Progress in Armenia.

The Germans have renewed their Verdun offensive, launching a powerful attack in the direction of Souville Fort, north of the citadel, and the last defence of Verdun but one on the right bank of the Meuse. The enemy succeeded in gaining only a small amount of ground at enormous cost.

The British lost ground during German attacks at Mametz Wood and Trones Wood, in the Somme region, but subsequently regained the ground. Two heavy German attacks at Contalmaison completely failed. The allies have captured 23 villages during the Somme offensive.

Prisoners state the Germans have made every street in Peronne a fortress, and intend to defend the town to the last; also that they have destroyed the railway to St. Quentin, 18 miles south-east of Peronne.

... Fierce fighting continues in the Stochod region, on the eastern fronts The Russians have repulsed the enemy's attempts to recross the river.

SATURDAY

Fight for Kovel—Terrific BattleRaging—Stern Fighting on the Somrae-Allied Gains Extended.

A terrific struggle is proceeding on the Kovel front. After a violent bombardment of the Russian trenches, Austrian infantry were sent forward. They broke, but in their retreat were mown down by German guns. Then German infantry came on with incredible obstinacy, in spite of awful losses.

On the Stochod River both banks between the two railways converging on Kovel are in Russian hands.

Though the British and French communiques studiously refrain from giving details, it is unofficially known in London that in the stern battle which is proceeding in France, the allies' gains north of the Somme have been steadily"extended in the last three days, and amount to, a German reverse.

The Crown Prince, in the last two days, has launched 500,000 troops in the direction of Souville fort, north of Verdun. Ground was gained at a terrible sacrifice. Hundreds of machine-guns lining the slopes wrought frightful havoc.

Despite unfavourable weather the British aeroplanes are constantly working, and hostile machines over the German lines have been driven off. One British machine is missing.

MONDAY,

British Advance—Strong Defences Broken — Rapid Movement of Guns—Successes on Eastern front —Germans Hard Pressed.

The new advance on the British front in France is progressing favourably. The British have captured the two villages of Bazentin-le-Petit and Longueval, on the enemy's second line, and also Trone's Wood. They are fighting eastward of Longueval. and have penetrated the third system of German trenches. Over 2000 prisoners were taken in 24 hours, making the total taken by the British since the Somme offensive began 10,000. A feature of the attack was the rapid trans* ferenoA of the British guns, thus preventing the Grermans from fortifying the rear positions. A Times corresponding writing from Petrograd after visiting General Evert, says that ,the Germans are snatching remnants from everywhere to stave off a rupture of their front. The Germans fear the turning of their position on ' the Dvina, thus threatening pastern Prussia. Masses have therefore been concentrated at the threatened point, but the correspondent says that the numbers of the Russians must tell in the end.South of Pripet the Russians hemmed in an Austro-Grerman force on- three sides, and took heavy toll of them as they rushed to escape through a narrow opening. The Grand Duke Nicholas organised a vigorous thrust in Armenia, along the valley of the Euphrates, where the Russians, in a few days, advanced 25 miles. The Turks already have lost practically all the ground they gained in their recent offensive.