The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 August 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

SUMMARY.

FRIDAY

Progress at Verdun — French take 800 Prisoners — Battle Raging near Kovel — Another Zeppelin Raid.

The French have made successful attacks on the Verdun front in the Fleury and Thiaumont regions, capturing several trenches, 800 prisoners, and 12 machine-guns.

There is furious fighting on the P] Stochod front east of Kovel. The r i Germans are launching incessant "attacks in an attempt to drive back the Russians, who are taking heavy toll of the enemy. Hostile airships crossed the Eastern Counties of England on Wednesday night. Bombs were , dropped, but no military damage has been reported. At least one airship was hit by the British gunners and badly damaged. The Turkish army is described as being in a very bad condition and inclined to be mutinous. The Bulgarians have requested Germany and Austria not to withdraw further troops from Balkans.

SATURDAY

French Successes—Advance North of Verdun — British Gains on Somme — Another Submarine Outrage—Passengers Shelled in Boats.

Important successes on the Verdun front by the French, who have captured the village of Fluery, on the right bank of the Meuse, and all the German trenches between south-east of Thiaumont and Hill 320. The total' prisoners taken by the French at Fleury since Tuesday last number 1750.

North of the Somme the French repulsed counter - attacks on Monacu Farm, and organised their new positions between there and Hem Wood.

The British have gained further ground on the Somme front north °f Bazentin-le-Petit, and repulsed a German attack on Delville Wood with heavy losses.

British warships bombarded the Asia Minor coast opposite Samos, an island 50 miles south of Smyrna. The British landed a force, which repulsed the Turks, of whom there are reported to be 350,000 on the coast. The Smyrna division revolted, and 2000 deserted.

Italian airmen bombed Durrazo the capital of Albania, now in Austrian occupation. Twenty thousand Albanians in various centres revolted and attacked the Austro-Bulgarians, burning a barracks.

Another submarine outrage is reported. An Italian mail steamer, the Letirhbro, carrying 113 passengers, including women and children, and a crew of 57, was chased by a submarine. When the steamer's boats were lowered they, too, were shelled, five being smashed. It is believed the occupants were drowned, while many were killed by the shells.

MONDAY, British past Pozieres — French Advance at Verdun — Turks Repulsed near Canal — King's Anniversary Message. Australasians and new British Army troops were engaged last Friday night, north of Pozieres, in an attack which was completely successful. The German second line system was captured over a front of 2000 yds. . Several hundred prisoners were taken, g^,-^Fighting of the fiercest and Ippcst bitter character has taken Pfplace on the Verdun front. The French carried the Thiaumont work for the second time in 12 hours, and still retain possession of it, despite furious counterattacks.

Fourteen thousand Turks, since midnight on Thursday, have been attacking British possessions near Romani, east of Port Said, on a front of seven or eight miles bat without making any impression. The British captured from 400 to 500 prisoners.

His Majesty King George has sent a message to Sovereigns and heads of allied States, also to leaders in South-East Africa^ stating that he desires, on the second anniversary of the great conflict, to convoy his steadfast resolution to prosecute the war until its objects W3re obtained,

The AustrO'Grerrcians, assisted by a Polish legion, are strenuously opposing the Russian advance on Kovel.

Reports from Salonika state that the allies are bombarding several forts on the Servinn frontier, principally Ghevgheji and Doiran, and have had several encounters with .the Germans; and Bulgarians,

TUESDAY

British Gain Ground — Defence of Suez Canal — New Zealanders Engaged—German Torpedo-Boats Sunk.

The British have made further progress east of Pozieres in the direction of Martin-Puich. A German counter-attack on the ground gained the previous day was repulsed. Another, in which liquid fire was used, had a measure of temporary success, but the British regained all but 40yds of the ground lost.

The advance of the British from Pozieres, which was recorded yesterday, puts them in. command of the crest of a ridge j overlooking the towns of Cource- j lette and Martin-Puich. They now hold the summit of a plateau which had to be taken in its entirety before a new offensive was undertaken.

The Russians have captured six villages and a height northwest of Tarnopol, after fighting which lasted all day. Cossacks captured over 3000 prisoners.

The defeat of the Turkish force at El Romani, about 33 miles east of the Suez Canal, proves to have been severe, The enemy force consisted of 14,000 men with heavy howitzers. Over 2500 unwounded prisoners have been and the enemy's losses were heavy. The New Zealand and Australian mounted troops are praised by the commander-in chief for their steadiness in holding a strong flank attack:

Two new German torpedoboats have been sunk in the Baltic by Russian .cruisers.

WEDNESDAY

Russians Pressing On — Nearing Lemberg Railway—Fresh Glory Won by Anzacs.

Five German attacks against the new British position" on Pozieres Plateau have been repulsed. The French have captured a line of trenches north of the'Somme.

The advance on the Pozieres Plateau was made by Anzac and Kent troops, who carried two lines of trenches and advanced 200 yds. In the fighting north" of Pozieres the Anzacs gained fresh glory, holding their trenches against the attacks of three Saxon and Bavarian regiments.

Russian successes between Brody and Tarnopol have brought them near the Lemberg-Tarnopol railway, the distance being variously given as 14 and 11

miles

The Turkish force which was routed east of the Suez Canal suffered losses in prisoners of over 3000. The defeat of the invaders was on this occasion more severe than before. The brunt of the fighting was borne by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and the Australian Light Horse, who for more than a week were in touch with the enemy. THURSDAY Two Successes—ltalian and Russian —Commanding Positions Won— Civilians Ordered to Leave Lemberg.

A carefully-planned Italian offensive has commenced on a front of 60 miles on the Isonzo. The Austrian line has been pierced over 19 miles, and Mount Sabotina and Mount San Michel, two positions vital to the defence of Gorz, have been captured, also the bridgehead. The Italians are now driving, the Austrians out of the town, and on Sunday and Monday captured 8000 prisoners. Destroyers assisted the land attack by shelling the coast.

The Russians have broken the enemy's front over 16 miles south of the Dniester in the direction of Stanislau. As a result they have got astride the railway between Kolomea and Staasilau and have captured Tlumatis, 15 miles south-east of Stanislau, and other small towns.

An exceptionally severe bombardment is in progress on the Somrae, and is interpreted to presage another forward sweep by the allies. The German lines from Thiepval to Roye are being deluged with metal.

There has been heavy fighting on the Verdun front, but French tenacity prevailed.

The Belgians have occupied Kip.-oma and also Ujiji, in German Sast Africa, The latter is the most important German port on Lake Tanganyika.