WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 19 July 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY,

Road Tto Lemberg Open — Rapid Russian Advance—Heroic Stand on Sand Dunes — Uprecedented Aerial Fighting. The Russians continue to ad" vance rapidly. Their success has made an opportunity for the cavalry, which is taking heavy toll* The defences of Brzezany, the scene of the initial stages of the Russian offensive, are already turned. The enemy is losing heavily in men and materials, and the Russians are capturing a considerable number of prison" ers and guns. The action last week on the N^Belgian sand dunes, when the %^Affermans gained 600 yds on" a of 1400 yds, was a tragic liepisode. The advance was made at the expense of a comparatively small British force, which was holding the dunes across the Yser. The bombardment destroyed the bridges, cut off supports, and decimated the British troops on the sector attacked. The air fighting on the British front during the past few days • has been of unprecedented "severity. The British brought down 31 enemy aeroplanes in one day, with a loss of nine.

TUESDAY New Russian Gains—Progress from Kaluss—Large ReinforcementsLocal Actions on French FrontKing Inspects New Zealanders. The Russian offensive, although suffering through rains and the flooding of the Dniester and its tributaries, continues successfully. The most recent fighting has been south-west of Kaluss, where the Russians repulsed counter-ettacks and continued their progress. Heroic leadership has inspired the army, and they are receiving large reinforcements. The French have carried trenches on a front of half-a--milei'on Mount Cornillet, an important height in the Champagne on which they have been gradually establishing themselves. Many counter-attacks were repulsed. Air fighting is still heavy on the British front. During his visit to France the King inspected New Zealand soldiers and examined the trophies of the battle of Messines.

WEDNESDAY The Russian Advance—Capture of Dolina — French Retain Gains— Pour German Submarines Sunk. The Russian advance continues, the latest town to fall being Dolina, on the railway, 50 miles due south of Lemberg. The total number of prisoners during the offensive is over 36,000. The whole Russian front is now stated to be alive with battle. There are renewed reports of German concentrations on the northern sector at the expense of the French and Italian sectors. The French have maintained their recent gains on the Champagne heights after severe fighting. The enemy recaptured some of the ground, but was rolled back by brilliant counterattacks, and suffered extremely heavy losses.

British naval aeroplanes dropped several tons of bombs on points of military importance in Belgium, including Ostend, Zeebrugge and Middelkerke.

A report from a German source admits that four large submarines of the latest type were destroyed during the unsuccessful" attack on American transports in the Atlantic.

THURSDAY ?, vlsVance from Verdun —Two German Mjjtines Captured—Russians Evacugf^ate Kaluss. A brilliant French attack drove back the Germans west of Hill 304, on the left bank of the Meuse north of Verdun. The assault first regained trenches which the Germans have held since the end of June and, continuing, carrried I two enemy lines. A fresh German effort against the Casque and Teton height, in the Champagne, ended in failure. The Russians have evacuated the town of Kaluss, between Dolina and Stanislau. They repulsed persistent attacks and secured important- crossings on the Lomnica, a tributary of the Dniester. Several German steamers ventured into the North Sea. A patrolling; British force captured four and two reached the Dutch coast in a damaged condition.