WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 September 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY.

Gains on Ypres Front—Triumph of British Methods—New Fighting in Riga Sector—Russians Abandon Jacobstadt. '

The importance of the ground captured by the British on the Ypres front is emphasised by the freedom with which the enemy has sacrificed troops in counterattacks. Undeterred by costly failures the Germans continued to throw in reinforcements, even when the light improved and the British airmen were able to observe and report the position of concentrations. British warships bombarded naval works at Ostend, and aeroplanes { bombed points of military importance in Belgium. .JLj& The Germans; are. again atqri the northern sector of *^^bW?£ussian front.. They have A captured Jacobstadt, 70 miles , south-east of Riga, and a bridger- head on the Dvina, the Russians * . l' retiring to the other bank of the river.

TUESDAY British Gains Secure — Fruitless Counter-Attacks — Progress near Langemarck — Activity on the Salonika Front. Further reinforcements were hurried up to the Flanders front by the Germans on Saturday and Sunday*: and vainly sacrificed. As a result of the perfect cooperation'between the air service and the artillery, moving ,columns were caught up by the British fire and completely shattered. A further advance was made by English rifle regiments north-east of Langemark. . Activity in the Balkans is being: displayed by the British and- ; .Prench forces. , On the Strtima front the British expelled an enepi,y detachment from a fortified position. The French, co-operating with the Albanians, made a successful raid on Austrian forces, south-east of Durazzo.

;-■ The. Russians have forced back the German advance guards in the direction of Riga. M. Kerensky has asked M. Terestchenko to undertake a reconstruction of the Ministry.

,The. Admiralty reports the sinking of a destroyer in the vicinity of,the English Channel by. a submarine. Fifty of the crew were rescued.

WEDNESDAY Raids on England—London again Attacked r— Airships over East Coast—German Tactics in West — No Defence of Front Line. Raids were made on England yesterday morning by Gotha aeroplanes and by airships. Bombs were dropped by the enemy at various points in Kent and ..Essex. Some of the machines reached London, where six persons were killed and about 20 injured. The defences of the -city proved very efficient, extensive barrages driving back the invading machines. Simultaneously a raid was made by airships on the coast of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. ~.,„ A. captured army order indicates that the German High Command has been forced, by the allied artillery, to devise a new system of defending positions. The order emphasises the necessity of concealment against aerial observation. It recommends the manning of given zones by succesive lines of troops strengthened towards the rear, and the abandonment of trenches for fortified shell well concealed. ..; After a sharp engagement an Italian column defeated a hostile force in Southern Tripoli last week. The enemy, consisting of 7000 riflemen and 800 cavalry, were under Turkish leaders and supplied with German war material, a Quantity of which nsfas captured. THURSDAY Germans Repulsed—Attack on the Flanders Ridges — Another Air Raid on England—Fighting on Riga Front. A heavy attack has been made by the Germans against the ridge between Tower Hamlets and Polygon Wood, in Flanders. The enemy penetrated the British lines for a short distance in one or two points, being ejected again after fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Another German attack failed to make any imppression on the British lines. Great aerial activity has been maintained, many bombs having been dropped on enemy billets, aerodromes and railway centres. The Russians and Roumanians report the successful repulse of attacks The Russians resisted two counter-attacks in the Riga section, while an attempt upon 'the Roumanian lines was repulsed.