The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 October 1916, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY. Progress from Flers — Enemy trenches Captured—New Zealanders Again Engaged—Compulsory Training in Australia. Excellent progress has been made on the British Iront. Northward of Flers the enemy's trenches were carried on a front of 2000 yds. A redoubt has been captured north-east of Thiepval. Between 3000 and 4000 prisoners were taken on Monday. making a total of 10,000 for the past fortnight. A New Zealand brigade participated ia the British advance on ..Monday, It captured a strong lss point north of Piers, and carried the *" %/Jirijß forward 800 yds. fotrong counter-attacKs have been repulsed by the French, who in-,-j. flicted heavy losses on the enemy. Progress has been made in the vicinity of Rancourt, British airships raided, apparently effectively, airship sheds in Belgium. It is now reported that as a result of the recent raid by two French aeroplanes work has been suspended in six Krupp factories in Essen. All single men in Australia, between the ages of 21 years and 35 years, will be called up for training on Monday. This call. is to be made under the existing law, which renders all men between the ages of 18 and 60 liable for training and for service within the Commonwealth, SATURDAY. - #f:- More British Gains—How Thiepval was Won — Stern Underground Fighting — King's Message to Anzacs.

The British have captured a redoubt 500 yds north of Thiepval, on the highest ground on the s^ur. From it they have a full view of the northern valley of the Ancre.

Progress has been made, north and north-east of Courcelette,' and advanced posts have been established within 800 yds of Eaucourt L'Abbaye.

The defeat of the Thiepval garrison was accomplished principally by underground fighting. The pre~ liminary bombardment destroyed the surface defences, but the garrison maintained a 9tabborn resistance in vaults and tunnels,below.

The French communique reports a violent bombardment on the Somme front.

A special order was issued by His Majesty the King to the Australian and New Zealand troops reviewed by him on Wednesday at Bulford. His Majesty remarxed on their soldierly appearance and physique, and said he was sure they wouLd piov© worthy successors of those who mada the name of Anzac famou3.

Messages from Athens indicate that prominent Greeks are still hopeful that the King will decide to fight with the allies.

MONDAY. rhe Greek Crisis —Army Favours War—King said to have Yielded— Heavy Fighting 'at Thiepval— Retirement from Hermannstadt A Rome newspaper asserts that Qretece has declared war against Bulgaria, and that Constantine is in agreement with this action. Twelve hundred officers of the Greek Army have joinei the revolutionaries, In a message of congratulation on the British success of September 15 Brid 16, General Joffre says : " I am sure it is a guarantee of final victory over the enemy, whose physical and moTal forces have already been severely shaken." Progress haa been made by the British in the Thiepval ' area, where there has been heavy fighting. Trenches have been taken east of Lesboaufs, and a strongly>»defended farm south-east of La Bars has been occupied. The French have made some progress north of Bancourt, and between Fregicourt aud Morval. Correspondents state that, in the Dobrudja the Rassso Roumanian army >h.as adopted a passive, entrenched' 'defensive. A French aviator flew over Sofia on Friday morning, and dropped bombs in the city. He continued his journey, and descended in Bucharest.

After three days' .fighting, the Roumanians have been compelled by superior fOl ces to retire from Hermannstadt, in Southern Transylvania.

TUESDAY British Activity — New Gains in Picardy— Fifth Zeppelin Destroyed—Russians Resume Advance.

The British centre on the Somme front advrtncod <>n Sunday afternoon on a front of over 3000 yds be.ween tfaucourt PAbbaye and the AlbertBapanme joad. All the objectives were gained.

The N9-\v Zealander3 have been engaged in further fighting near G-ueudeeourt. . An attack on the Bulgarian positions on flic Stvuma front has been made by tf™ British, between the river an<l the Sere*- road, A motio" of the enemy's line has been captured, and, after stubborn fighting further progress was made,

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

Another Zeppelin has been brought down in flames near London. This is the fifth German airship destroyed in Britain.

The Rassians have resumed" the offensive in Galicia from north of the Brody-Lemberg railway to the Dniester. Progress has already been made.

WEDNESDAY Russian Offensive—Attack on front of 300 miles—Allies cross the Danube—Success In Dobrudja— Heaving Fight at Eaucourt The new offensive on the eastern front embraces the battlefields of Kovel and Vladimir, and a wide extent of Q-alicia—a front of about 200 miles. The recent success south of Brzezany is described as the first stage towards the separation of the enemy's Lemberg and Halicz armies.

The Roumanians have crossed the Danube in the rear of yon Mackensen's forces, having forced a passage between Rustchuk and Tutrakan. By a general attack on the Dobrudja front they have driven back the enemy's centre and right flank.

Oe the Somme a severe struggle is in progress about the village of Eaucourt PAbbaye. The British gained possession of the position, but the latest report state 3 that the enemy has regained a footing in the buildings. Progress has been made by the British beyond Gueudecourt and Courcelettte.

Congratulating the Frehch army of the Somme, General Joffre says that Verdun has been cleared, 25 villages recovered, and. 35,000 prisoners' and 150 cannon captured.

Progress has been made by the French east of Bouchavesnea.

THURSDAY

Roumanian Attacks — Mackensen's Army in Peril — Advance of Salonika Force—ltalian Successes

Violent attacks are being made by the Roumanians along the whole of the Dohrudja front. The enemy is resisting stubbornly.

Military critics agree that the Roumanians have established a passage over the Danube about 30 miles south of Bucharest. The success of this operation has placed yon MacKens^n's army in dire peril, as the flooded condition of the country has made a retreat impossible.

The Italians have captured the second peak of Mount Colbricon, in the Dolomite Alps, thus removing the barrier to their further advance towards the bottom of the Travignolo Valley,

The British advance on the Sfcruma front is being continued Two villages a mile apart were captured on Saturday. Having beateu off enemy, counter-attacks, the Uritisn have again moved foiward, and have occupied Jenhcoi, 2£ miles east of the river, on the Serres road.