The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 September 1916, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDO. The Capture of Flers—New Zealanders Assist — Auckland and Otago Men Lead—German Attack on French Line. , The New Zealand forces assisted in the capture of Flers. on the Somme front, on Friday last. The attack at dawn was led by the Auckland and Otago Infantry. Their advance was continued by the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Many wounded New Zealanders have arrived in Britain. Tremendous efforts have been made by the Germans to retrive their " ">*~'^ifi9j3es on the French front north of < tP^Somme. From 9 a.m. till night--I\>%±J' troops in mass formation were thrown .against a front of about three miles between Rancourt and Bouchavesnes. Every wave was crushed back by artillery and machine gun fire. . Sir Douglas Haig reports that determined countor-attacks by the Germans have been repulsed. The Roumanians have successfully assumed the offensive from the new line in the Dobrudja. Greece has asKed for the immediate return of the Kavala garrison, with, its arms and ammunition. The King, the Prime Minister, and the Foreign Minister have decided to depart from neutrality, with a view to allaying Entente distrust. ■ SATURDAY. Battle in Dobrudja — Russo-Rou-manlan Victory—Heavy German Losess on Somme —Comparable to Verdun.

A victorious resumption of the offensive by the Russians and the Roumanians in the Dodrudja is reported. The battle began on Friday, and culminate.l on Wednesday in a crushing defeat ot the enemy. The latter's forces are now in retreat.

The great German counter-attacks on Wednesday, east of Combles, were made by an army corps drawn form the Aisne front, and by p, division which was ordered back when half-way to the Kusssian front. It immmediately put into the firing-line, and on . "Wednesday suffered enormous losses.

The losses suffered by the Germans were the heaviest since the terrible fighting at Yaux and Douautnont. Preparations for the attacE were observed, and although the Germans threw, six divisions forward on a front of about three miles, the allies inflicted the most sanguinary defeat since the beginuihg of the offensive.

Strong counter -attacks wore made against the New ZealaDders on Wednesday night. The enemy was beaten off with heavy losses, and the line was carried forward.

A state of chaos is reported in Athens. A correspondent states that the new Government is powerless, and that the fate of the monarchy hangs on Britain's declaration of her attitude. The revolution is spreading; it has been formally proclaimed in Crete.

MONDAY,,, French Attack near Combles— British Attack Resumed—Violent Fighting near Halicz—Two days' Battle in Servia. After a temporary lull, the British attack on the Somme front ,haa been resumed. A strongly fortified system of trenches south of the Ancre has been captured, Attacks have'been successfully made with a view to straightening the line beyond the Courcelette-Martinpmch-Flers front.

A footing has been gained in the outskirts of Combles by the French, who have captured a fortified house by a surprise attack.

While the New Zealanders assisted in the capture of Flers, the Canadians completod the capture of Moucjuet Farm, end then, pressing on, seized the village of Couroelette.

■* The violence of the .fighting in the 3ffili[v& region, in Galicia, is "ss■ S^asised. After 24 hours' bom- ' nent General Br\i^silof£ resumed 'l-b^y'o'ffensive simultaneously at ten points." It is reported that several pf the Halicz forts have fallen. The enemy foipes in tfte Ijqhrudja have retired to «* fprtifjed }me. They are abandoning Silistria.

The Servian offensive tp\yards Monastir has deyelqpe4 i" % battle that has been fought for two <^ys without pessation. 1$ is reported that the Bulgarians are preparing strong defences in the Efabuna Pass., 4Q'.,q)Ues north east of Mqnastir. Another air -raid pn England is reported. One brqught down in flauies in Southern Essex An unebntj.ni4ed . repprt sfates that another tell oh Um> e$ 6^ast-

TUESDAY The Zeppelin Raid— Thrilling scenes in London—Two Airships brought Down — Heroic New Zealand Advance — Bombs dropped in Essen. Repoits of the destruction of a Zeppelin and the capture of another in Essex are confirmed. The raid was made by 14 or 15 ai ships, of

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

which three attacked London. Iv the metropolitan area 28 persons were killed and 89 injured. In the provinces, two were killed and 11 injured. There are many thrilling incidents of the raid. Two French aviators have dropped bombs in .Essen, the great Krupp city. Many other attacks on enemy establishments have been made by British and Fronch aviators, .and some 30 enemy machines have been destroyed or disabled. A narrative by Mr Philip G-ibbs, eulogising the New Zealanders' bayonet lighting and endurance in France, is published. Correspondents state that nine of eleven points which the Germans regarded as vital to their defence of the Somme front are in allied hands, the other two being outside the scope of tho present battle. The Germans have withdrawn many of their guns to the extreme limit of their range, and other signs of nervousness are displayed. The defeat of enemy forces in the Dobrudja by the Servians is announced. The Bulgarians- sustained heavy losses, and eight of their guns were captured. . The British have crossed the Struma River, in the Macedonian theatre, at three places. In spite of the arrival of enemy reinforcements, the Servians are pressing forward on the left wing. Two Dutch steamers have been seized by German submarines. One vessel has been taken to Zeebragge. Thirty four passengers were removed from the other, which was then allowed to resume her voyage. WEDNESDAY Isolation of Combles — All road Communications Cut—lmportant Allied Advance — The Creta n Revolution — Balkan and Italian Successes—Another Aid Raid on England.

Another great advance was made on the Somme front on MJonday. The British advanced on a front of six miles between Marfinpuich. and Combles, and captured the stronglyfortified villages of Lesboeufs and Morval, the latter a particularly' formidable fortress. Simultaneously the French attacked on a front between Eancourt and the Somme. They captured the former village, reached the outskirts of Fregicouit, and gained several positions dominating the Bethune road. All the roads leading into Combles have been out, and the stronghold is practically surrounded.

M. Venizelos has gone to Crete with the object of proclaiming that he has placed himself at the head of the national movement. This course, it is explained, will afford the King and the Government a last opportunity to place themselves in line with the majority of the G-reek people. The whole of Crete is in the possession of the revolutionaries, of whoiii there are 30,000 under arms (

An important success by the Russians in the Dobrudja is res ported.

The capture of a mountain peak 8000 ft high, in the Trentino, reported to-day, marks another stage in the systematiq occupation 'by the Italians of a massive outwork of great strategic importance.

A vigorous offensive was developed by the allies in Western Macedonia on Sunday. Very satisfactory results have already been obtained. -

Another air raid on JJugland was made on Monday evening.

The resignation of Hprr yon Jagow, the German' Secretary fqr Foreign AffairSj is reported from Auisterdam.

THURSDAY

I>o Sotnme Successes?—Thiepval and "Qoinbles Taken — British Three jnjiles, irqn\ Bapaume—Air R;aid qn Bucharest.

The general attack by the British and French an Mondayfallowed a terrific bombardment lasting 84 hours. The advance was-resumed on Tuesday, and all the objectives fixed for the second day's fighting were grained.

T/he village qf Conchies was captured by. t^he jqin_t attack of British arjd trqoEjs. The tjqoty includes enqrn^ous su,pnlies qf rquqitiqns. •

Tfye fy^e taken Th,iepya\ ancj. o v th[ec strong positions in regioe. The carried the YiD.»-£G of Gueudecpurt by storm. Between 4000 and 5000 prisoners were taken, exolusjy^ g$ the Combes t% g^msqq^.

British advanoed pastg we now within t.h^q n\i\es of Bap^urne,

and • a Zeppelin bombarded BuQhar^s^the capital of HQumanja, ,oa Monday".

During1 the last two air raids on England, 75 persons were killed "Bnd 152 injured. The two Zeppelins wrecked on Saturdaynight were both of the latest naval type.