WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 October 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY.

Raids on England—Two Successive Days -— Ypres Counter - Attacks Cease— Aerial Activity in Belgium.

Two air raids upon England were attempted by the Germans on successive days. The first proved a complete failure. A violent barrage from the antiaircraft guns drove them back and two machines were brought down. The second raid was on Sunday night, when bombs were dropped upon north-eastern and south-eastern districts of London. Reports from Sir Douglas Haig chronicle the successful repulse °f counter attacks upon the newly-won positions east of Ypres, and raiding activity adfiiacent to Lens arid Arras. All y attacks at Ypres have dv the activity being conto minor actions between ■v* Continuous bombing of aeiodjomes. dumps, and airship sheds in Belgium is reported by both Sir Douglas Haig and the Admiralty, the two services concentrating their attention upon the same points. The military air service in two days brought down 24 enemy machines, losing only j four. !

TUESDAY Success on Euphrates — Turkish Force Surprised—Many Thousand Prisoners—ltalians Win GroundGermans Repulsed in Flanders. A sudden attack by the British forces in Mesopotamia'resulted in the investment of the town of Ramadi, on the River Euphrates, 65 miles west of Bagdad. The •capture includes much booty and many thousands of prisoners, in-1 eluding the commander and his staff. A further gain of advantageous ground has been made by the Italians on the south-eastern edge of Bainizza Plateau, together with the capture of 49 officers and 1360 men.

The enemy has made three attacks upon the new line east of Ypres, between Polygon Wood and Tower Hamlets, all of which were repulsed.

A Japanese Admiral repbrts the torpedoing of a liner while, being convoyed by Japanese destroyers. Smoke screens were thrown out, and 555 people rescued in less than an hoar, including woman and children.

WEDNESDAY Unrest in Austria—Political Parties Clashing — British Strategy in Flanders — Threat to Coast Positions. Circumstantial reports of widespread disaffection and disorders in Austria have been received independently through several neutral channels. A yiolent scene took place in the Reichsrath, consequent upon a refusal to adopt the Budget. The leader of the German party accused the Czechs of disloyalty, and a great uproar ensued. A call by the Socialists to the munition workers to strike has met with a favourable response, and many strike leaders have been arrested. A statement has been issued in Washington that the result of the recent fighting on the YpresMenin Road has been to uncover the German lines of communication with Ostend and Zeebrugge. Information has also been received that the allies will commence an offensive next spring on the western front with an jarmy of 6,000,000 men. j The successive air raids upon London and the east coast districts have led to a concerted demand for active reprisals upon German towns. Both the British Admiralty and French headquarters report numerous raids upon German strategic positions, while the French have bombed the town of Stuttgart.

, VtV - THURSDAY ißeprisals for Raids—French Bomb German Towns—British Restore Ypres Line —Enemy's Frightful fosses. The possibility of aggressive action against Germany in reprisal for the air raids on London is suggested by several official statements, including a denunciation of the enemy by Lloyd George after examining the damage caused v by the recent attacks. Allied air raids upon enemy stations in Belgium continue without intermission. The French, as a reprisal for the bombing of Dunkirk, have raided several towns in the Rhine provinces of Germany. • Jfresh troops have been used j by fcfre Germans in numerous' counter-attacks on the British line east of Ypres. They were repulsed with frightful losses, and the British troops regained the few posts lost in the recent fighting. The artillery bombardment in Flanders is extremely violent.