The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 November 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

FRIDAY. P. and O. Liner Torpedoed—New Bombardment on Carso — Bulgarian Attacks Repulsed. The P. and O. liner Arabia, of 7933 tons, was torpedoed in the Mediterranean without warning and sank. Over 700 passengers were on board, but all were rescued by the vessels which hurried to the scene of the disaster. Two engineers are missing. A fresh bombardment is taking place on the Carso Plateau, presaging, it is believed, another Italian advance. The Germans have commenced a violent bombardment of the positions won by the French j south of the Somme. The French artillery is replying, with good results. The Russians have gained ground south of Dorna Watra, near the northern boundary of Roumania. Bulgarian attacks south-east of Monastir were repulsed by the Servians.

SATURDAY. Advance in Dobrudja — Successful Italian Attack—Capture of 3489 Prisoners. The Roumanians are advancing in the Dobrudja, and have re-capturnd Hirsova, a town on the Danube 20 miles north of Cernavoda. < The Italians have made another advance on the Carso Plateau, north-west of Gorz, in the course of which they captured 3498 prisoners and much war material. The allies have presented a new Note to the Greek Government. The text of the Note has" been kept secret, but it is admitted that the position \s serious. A German attack at Saillisel, north of the Somme. has been repulsed by the French. Elsewhere on the front there are violent artillery combats. A reign of terror prevails in Belgium as a result of the Germans deporting civilians in a wholesale manner. An open conflict occurred at Mons, and two Germans were killed.

MONDAY. Balkan Crisis Over—Tide turns for Roumania — Battle between Air Squadrons—Peace Procession in Dresden. A message from Italy states that the tide is turning in favour of the Koumanians, and that the crisis is over. The Roumanians hold the defences south of Predeal, and General Falkenhayn is unable to advance. Further north the enemy is on the defensive' Very severe fighting is reported from the Transylvanian front. The net result is that the Roumanians held their ground at nearly all points.

The French and British have bcth made minor gains on the Somme front, and the French reßU^sed \?ith, heavy loss an attack near Dorn.iecqur.t.

The allied qirrnen h^ve made successful raids, the British bombing thpee trains, and ftie IFrenoh crossing the lihine and bombing; a German station, An unusual feature wa.s g, pitched battle, in wh.ioh 3Q Etriiisb aero= planes routed a larger German squadron and brought down several machines.

The contents of the latest allied Note to Greece have not been officially revealed, but it is understood that it demands that the Austrian and Gerrrjan i^assadqrs should le,^ye

TUE^AY pight for Saillisel — French in Possession — Enemy Retreat in Dobrudja, The French have all but completed the conquest of the village of Saillisel east and slightly north of Combles, on the Soinrne front. The French attack was commenced on Saturday afternoon, and after excellent artillery preparation the village was carried house by house.

There haa been very heavy fighting on the Transylvanian front, with the balancojn favour of the Roumanians, who lvtve captured aevpral positions. It is unofficially reporter] that tho enemy lias; 'destroyed and evacuate'! ilip Rouman'an port of Constanza, in tjie liob'rudjo. T}ie Austrjans are feverishly |qrtifjin^ »jid i! i§ rerWfted that -fhe fl'-et ib preparing to po-operate in the cMnnco fif the t-('WTi; The Servians uontiaue their a Jvance south-east of Monastir, and have captured a range of hills and a Village.

WEDNESDAY British Advance—New Point of Attack—Capture of 3300 prisoners —German Torpedo-boats Sunk. The British have extended by five miles their atlaciring front in the Somme region. They delivered as saults on both sides of the Ancre, a tributary of the Somme, ,just north of the point where the salient created by the offensive commences. The villages of Beaumont Hamel and St. Pierre Divion were carried, and 3300 prisoners captured. German torpedo-boats entered the Bay of Finland on Friday and bombarded the coast. The "majority of the raiders, to a number not stated, were sunk by the Russians. The Servians have captured Chuke heights, which have been described as the " key to Monastir." General Mackensen's army is still retreating in the Dobrudja, It is reported to ba demoralised by disease and failure, and to have lost onethird of its effectives.

THURSDAY Success on the Ancre — Further Britisn Advance — Servians win Stubborn Fight. The British have, completed the conquest of Beaumont Hamel, and have captured Beauco art, a village a little further east, on the Ancre. The number of prisoners is now 5000, and more are coming in. The Servians are still pressing !£ elr advantage south-east of Monastir. After stubborn fighting they took an important position, inflicting heavy loss on the enemy, and capturing 1000 prisoners, most of them Germans.

The enemy forces in Dodrudja are suffering from naval fire on both flanks. A Roumanian flotilla on the Danube bombarded their left flank above Cemavoda. More important was the bombardment of Constanza on the Black Sea, by the Russian bleet, which set Ere to the oil tanks and destrojed the town.