The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 November 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

FRIDAY. Hospital Ship Sunk—Attacked by Submarines—Roumanians' Resistance — Allied Plans in the Dadrudja. The White Star liner Britannic of 50,000 tons —the largest of British steamers —was sunk in the JEgean Sea while in use as a hospital ship. The British Admiralty attributes the disaster to mine or torpedo, but survivors are positive that two submarines made a simultaneous attack on the Britannic, one torpedo missing and one taking effect. The Britannic was not carrying wounded at the time, but was on iier way to the island of Lemnos on board wounded. One ViuKdred were lost, 1106 persons being saved There is consternation in Sofia at the loss of Monastir. It is feared that the allies will be able to seize the Balkan railways and . advance against Sofia. Heavy German reinforcements have reached the Monastir front, but the Servians continue to make progress. A great battle is reported to have begun north of Graiova, 112 miles west of Bucharest, the town which was evacuated by the Roumanians on Tuesday. It is presumed that the Germans captured Craiova by bringing ) heavy guns through the Vulcan v Pass, and out-manoeuvring the * western Roumanian defence. SATURDAY. Roumanian Retreat—Progress from Monastir—Russian Dreadnought Sunk. From French sources comes the statement that the Germans planned to compel a Roumanian concentration, and, having delivered a decisive blow, to march on Bucharest. The .Roumanians have prevented this, and have kept their reserves intact, although their retirement involves the evacuation of almost the whole of Western Wallachia. The French have gained ground north of Monastir, and the Italians to the west. The weather is very unfavourable. British soldiers recently passed through Odessa, in Russia, where they received a warm welcome. The Russian Dreadnought Im~ peratriza Maria, a unit of ;the Black Sea Fleet, has been sunk through the explosion of 'her magazines, with a loss of 213 lives. This Was one of three' Dreadnoughts of the 1911 class, with a displacement of 22,500 tons and ten 12in*guns. The Italians report another enemy atrocity. The Austriahs shelled a field hospital in the Gorz region despite the flying of conspicuous Red Cross flag, and killed seven patients and wound" ed seven. MONDAY. / Attack on Roumania — Russian Advance In Dobrud]a — Another Hospital Ship Torpedoed—German Raid on the Channel. The Germans have forced the passage of the Danube' from Bulgaria to Roumania near gimnitza, §0 miles south-west of Bucharest. Probably they have also landed troops at qther- pqints on the Roumanian side of the ' river, The Roumanians claim that the advance has been arrested. The Germans have capr tured Orsova, the IJunganan town on which the Roumanian flank has rested for some weeks, and also Turnu Severin, In the Dobrudja the situation is more favourable to the allies, There has been an advance all along this front, and the allied left wing is within 18 miles of opposing armies on the front have been reinforced, and there has been heavy fighting. ' The. allies appear to be adopting sfeorjger measure's in Qreece. An ultimatum is to be presented in consequence of the refusal. of the Royalist Government to surrender the war material demanded by the allies. Six German destroyers attempted to approach, the English coast, near the Channel, but were seen by a patrol vessel, The enem/fjre'4 1% rounds, arid then off 'immediately. One shell hit a drifter. Another Hospital ship, the . Braemar Castle, of 6280 tons, with 400 sick on board, has been torpedqec! jn the Sea. p'nfeqanwas c]ro\yn'ed and ten injured.

TUESDAY Roumanian Campaign — Further German Advance—Greek Officers 1 Threats. A German communique claims that the forces which crossed the Danube are now before Alexandria, 25 miles north of the river, It records progress in the Alt Valley, and suggests preparations for a Roumanian retreat east of the Alt. Critics continue to take a hopeful view of the Roumanian situation. The best known of Swiss authorities says the Roumanians are by no means crushed and with the coming of the frost the Russians will move again. Germany is drilling the peasants in Asia Minor, and is bringing Turkish troops to the European fronts. In explanation of the political crisis in Russia, it is stated that the Duma has made itself heard for the first time, and, with the Tsar's assistance, has finally accounted for pro-German influences. WEDNESDAY Help Given by Russia — Success near Monastir — Airships Raid English Coast. An authoritative review of the Roumanian situation, issued by Southern Russian headquarters, states that Russia has transformed her plans radically in order to help Roumania. The position in the Northern Dubrudja is now assured,, and the enemy's attempt to cut Rou mania in two has been frustrated. The German invasion of Western Wallachia is marked by many barbarities. Unfortified towns have been shelled, and defenceless peasants working in the fields massacred. The Servians and French have taken by storm an important hill position north-east of Monastir, which was defended by German elite troops. Hostile airships crossed the north-eastern cost of England on Monday night. Bombs were dropped at several places in the northern-counties. THURSDAY Zeppelins Brought Down off English Coast — German Advance on Bucharest—Greece grants Allies* Demand. Two Zeppelins were brought down during the raid on England on Monday night. Both fell' at sea, one off the coast of Durham, the second off the coast of Norfolk. Over 100 bombs were dropped during the raid. The | damage was insignificant, but 16 persons were injured, and a woman died of shook. A German seaplane, flying at a great height, dropped bombs on a London suburb at mid day on Tuesday. Nine persons were injured. The Germans claim advances which give them two angles of approach to Bucharest. The Roumanians in Western Wallachia are still resisting stubbornly, and the iGrerman generals are demanding large reinforcements. Greece lias decided to acquiesce in the a|lies.' demand that she should surrender to them an amount of war material equivalent to that handed over to the Bulgarians at the time of the invasion of pastern Macedonia.