WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 June 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY.

Messines Ridge Held — Counter- ' Attacks Broken—Enemy Losses Heavy—British Casualties LightActivity on the Riga Front The importance and completeness of the British victory in Flanders on Thursday, is emphasised by all reports including t -a long dispatch from Sir Douglas P_Haig. The centre of the British ■We between 4000 and 5000 yds, over 7000 prisoners were uThe British losses extraordinarily light —Mr instances an Irish comwhich took its objective a single casualty, on the Riga front is in the form of reconoperations by both sides. B^H^^xermans are attempting to the Russians from the r woods by igniting the trees. Further divisions of Austrian troops have been moved from the .~ Russian to the Italian front. f The enemy has made numerous attacks.

TUESDAY The Flanders Battle—Conquered Jg Ground Consolidated—New Zealand Losses Light—ltalian Gain on the Carso. The New Zealanders are firmly established on tae ground won in the Flanders battle, and so far there has been no counterattacks against the new positions The casualties are far below the Somme record, and the proportion of killed and badly wounded is surprising low. The Germans poisoned the wells at Messines before leaving. Messines was the first Belgian town captured since trench warfare commenced. Every know weapon except gas was used in the attack, including boiling oil thrown to a distance in projectiles bursting on concussion. The air and artillery services were excellent, and airmen flew, down and attacked 60 German concentrations. The work of tunnellers, including New Zealanders, contributed materially to the British victory. For over a year they had been storing tons of ammonal under the German positions, and when a disc was touched the earth opened and wrecked trenches and . dug-outs. The Italians haye! captured Janina, a town in the southern . sector of the Carso Plateau. .

WEDNESDAY Allies and Greece—Strong Action Forecasted — Further Gains in Flanders—Haig's Praise of New Zealanders. A radical solution of the Greek problem is forecasted. The Admiral in charge of the allied fleet in Greek waters has received plenipotentiary powers and is consulting with General Sarrail, Steps have been taken to control the Greek harvest. The British have made further progress on the southern edge of the Messines battlefield. It is stated that the Germans, knowing that defeat was certain on Messines Bidge, sacrified their infantry to save their artillery. While the infantry were signalling for help the guns were being hurried to the rear. Sir Douglas Haig paid a high tribute to the work of the New Zealanders in the Messines battle. The Italians have made a successful attack in the vicinity of the Asiago Plateau, in the Trentino, capturing a pass and nearly the whole of a mountain. A drifter which was on patrol work off Pover engaged five enemy seaplanes and destroyed two, the occupants being captured.

4 J|K^. THURSDAY Allies Seize Corinth—Two Landings In Greece—Abdication of Constantine—ltalian Offensive in Trentino —British Progress from Messines, The Greek situation has undergone a dramatic change. British and French troops have been landed without incident in Thessaly and at Corinth. The allies are also assuming responsibility for the maintenance of order in Athens. King Constantine has abdicated the throne, and Prince Alexander, his second son, succeeds him. Importance is attached |fco the Italian offensive in the Trentino, which was reported yesterday. The preliminary bombardment caused thousands of Austrian casualties, and then the infantry attacked on a narrow front between 1 A.isiago, south-east of Trent, and the Brenta River. The battle'is still raging. The British have gained further ground north-east of Messines on a front of nearly two miles.