The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 December 1916, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY. Oerman Overture—French Premier's View — Rioting in Hamburg— EJCabinet Reconstruction in France. The first official reference on allied side to the German attempt to open up peace negoti- • ations comes from the French Premier, M. Briand, who, in a vigorous speech in the Chamber of Deputies, warned France to beware of such poisonous attempts to dissociate the allies and to trouble the consciences of Frenchmen. It is reported that serious rioting, in which 200,000 persons took part, occurred in Hamburg three consecutive days, during & 1000 persons were killed . or wounded. The reconstructed French Ministry is announced. The principal portfolios are held as before, but there has been a reduction in the number of Ministers. SATURDAY. Germans Longing for Peace—Demands made upon GreeceAustrian Cabinet Resigns. The attitude of the British Government to peace proposals was indicated in the House of Commons by Mr Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was leading the House. He said that no peace proposals had reached the Government, but the allied policy could still be | summed up in the words of Mr Asquith when he stated that the allies would require adequate reparation for the past and adequate securities for the future. There have been frenzied scenes in Berlin. The churches are full of people praying for peace, and crowds stand in the snow outside the newspaper offices all night, waiting for tidings from the allies. ■*. A battle is in progress west and south-west of Buzeu, 60 miles north-east of Bucharest. A sensation has been caused by the resignation of the Austrian Cabinet, it is stated at the request of the new Emperor. The new Premier,' Herr yon Spitzmuller, was Minister for Commerce in the separate Austrian Ministry, but had no following. MONDAY. Success at Verdun —Over 9000 Prisoners Taken—Allied Demands on Greece—Duma Rejects Peace Overture. A brilliant success has been gained by the French on the Verdun front, east of the Meuse. The villages of Vacherauville, Louvemont, and Bezbnvaux were captured; numerous other positions were recovered. The French now stand on the line from which they were driven on 1 February 25, the fourth day of the German Crown Prince's first attack. Already 9200 prisoners have been taken. A successful offensive has been developed in Mesopotamia. Advancing along both banks of the Hai River, a tributary of the Tigris, the British forces have reached a point south-west of Kut-el-Amara. Demands have been made by the allies that the Greek army should be withdrawn towards Peloponnessus, and that the movement of all troops to the northward be stopped. Semi-official statements in all the Entente capitals indicate a refusal of the peace proposals. The Russian Duma has unanimously resolved not to enter into any peace negotiatians whatever at present.

TUESDAY tt^te^She Verdun Victory—Germans Flee iH^^in Disorder—Peace Note Reaches L*~ .. London—Greece Withdrawing her Army. The victory at Verdun is described as a triumph -- for the flew French tactics. The French swept over 20 square miles of territory. Objectives were reached with consummate ease, the German defence collapsing completely. After the battle the enemy was so thoroughly beaten that patrols were allowed to destroy German guns which lay beyond the occupied ground. The Germans regarded Poivre Hill as impregnable. It was captured in less than two hours, The German Peace Note has reached the American Embassy in London. The Greek Government has undertaken to comply with the demands of the allied Note as rapidly as possible. The withdrawal of the army from the north is proceeding under the supervision of allied officers.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

WEDNESDAY New Roumanian Lines—Bombardment in the West—German Reinforcements for Carso. The Russians and Roumanians in Moldavia are holding the line of the River Buzeu to Sarat, a town west of Braila. In the Dobrudja their line is somewhat further south, running north of Hirsova. Accounts from the western front show that the enemy is becoming demoralised under the tremendous artillery fire of the British and French. The Germans are showing an increased disposition, to surrender. The French tally of prisoners for the Verdun success is now 11,397, including 284 officers, violent German counter-attacks have been repulsed. The Germans held their front trenches in strength, but the only result of .this was to increase the number of prisoners. The Austrians on the Carso £}ateau have been reinforced by 80,000 Germans. *Sn/ rench fcransport Magellan ol 6000 tons, was torpedoed. All on board—numbering, according to a German message, 1000 men —were saved. THURSDAY The Allies' Answer. The four great Allied Powers have answered • the German Peace Note in unmistakable teams. In London, in Paris, in Petrograd, and in Rome the overture has been rejected. France's reply is—"With the bayonet."