The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 August 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

FRIDAY,

Advance on Somme—British take strong Position—War Meeting in Athens — Italian and Russian Successes.

The British have made a further advance of 300 yds sourti of Thiepval, which is in the northern section of the region covered by the Somme offensive, A correspondent, describing the British success here, says a strong German position was taken with losses under one hundred. The German losses were tenfold.

The Italians are achieving further successes, and are now reported to be within fourteen miles of Trieste.

jj|j|reat excitement has been aroused ISreece by tho fighting .between the Gifeeks and Bulgarians at Seres. A large meeting at Athens has demanded war.

It is stated by a Bucharest correspondent that Roumania has come to a definite agreement with Russia as to the conditions of intervention on the side of the allies. It is also reported that Russian troop* are massing on the Roumanian border, with the twofold object of entering Bulgaria and Hungary by crossing Roumanian territory.

The Russians are continuing to advance in Eastern Armenia, where they entered Mush.

SATURDAY.

German Fear of Roumania— British enter Martinpuich — Progress north of Verdun—Portuguese for the Front.

Reports of the heroism shown by Greek garrisons in resisting the Bulgarian invaders in Eastern Macedonia, have stirred the country's imagination. The garrison at Pheapetra fought till the last man fell, and only two wounded men were left of the Starcistra force.

An Austrian communique reports activity on the part of the Italian force which is in occupation of the Albanian port of Valona. An Albanian detachment has arrived at Salonika to join the allied army.

Germany and Hungary are showing alarm at the attitude of Roumania Increased war feeling is noticeable in Bucharest.

The British have captured further trenches south of Thiepval, straightening their line and improving their positions. Violent counter-attacks were repulsed. The allies are slowly gaining ground.

A brilliant French attack between Fleury and : Thiaumont,, . north of Verdun, yielded substantial progress.

Portuguese workmen over the age of 32 are taking up work in French munition factories. Men below that age are being mobilised to go to the front.

The. Turkish initiative on the Caucasus front and in Persia is on the verge of collapse.

MONDAY,

Fighting on Somme — German Effort to Recover Ground.

News from the western front shows that the successful advance of the Brstish forces is being steadily continued. Several counter-attacks by the enemy< in which the Prussian Guards took part, have been repulsed with heavy losses. The British right has. been joined up with the French at Guillemont.

There has been considerable activity on the part of the British aircraft during the past two or three days. Sir Douglas Haig reports that 12 enemy machines, including fovr FoKkers, have been bronght down. Two British aeroplanes have made a successful raid on German railway works, and British aeroplanes have bombarded German airship sheds at Namur.

A report from Rome < states that Germany has ordered the Bulgarians to withdraw from Greek territory.

Six Zeppelins participated in the lastj^ir raid on England. About 40 bomlfe>f,;weTe dropped in the outskirts of~'ls£Mon. Eight persons were killed, and 36 injured, but no damage of military importance was done.

TUESDAY Routnania Moving—ltaly Declares vVar on Germany—Bulgarians at Kavala—British Bombardment. The King of Koumania has summoned a conference of representative statesmen to discuss the situation. Among those invited to attend are tw .o ot the leading interventionist advocates. Italy has declared war on Germany. The official announcement was greeted with enthusiasm in Rome. The Bulgarians have occupied p em ir Hissar, the Greek town 45 miles north east of Salonika, which was for some time defended by its .garrison, afidK'tvala, on the iEgean iSea.

The Servians have been reinforced, and have la Ken the offensive against the Bulgarians.

1 The British have drawn an iron ring round the ruins of Thiepval, and the fall of the fortified village is believed to be near at hand.

SUMMARY.

WEDNESDAY

Roumania at War — Fighting for National Ideal — Rejoicings in Allied Countries.

ihe entry of Roumania into the war on the side of the allies is the outstanding feature of today's war news. Roumauia declared war against Austria, and Germany thereupou declared war on Ruumania. The Roumania Minister at Vienna presented to the Austrian Government a document sotting forth three reasons for his Government's decision. The third states that " Roumania takes her place alongside the Powers able most effectively to assist her fco realise her national ideal."

A great feeling of satisfaction, even of jubilation, was displayed in the capitals of the allied countries upon the news of Roumania's declaration.