WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 October 1918, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY. Battle Still Raging—Progress on Whole Front — Prisoners Now ia,ooo—Attack Against Austrians —Croatian Revolt in Flume. The British continued to make pJ^Kress on Thursday and Friday orM^, general line from east of Le Gateau to south of Valenciennes. The prisoners taken now number 9000, while over 150 guns have been captured. Fighting is now taking place on the of Morval Forest, due east of Le Cateau, and the village of Engle- ■ fontaine on the outskirts has been taken. Further progress has also been made between Valenciennes and Tournai, where several villages have been taken. > The French attacked between Sissonne. east of Laon, and Rethel north of the Aisne. An advance of two miles was made on a front of four miles, and 2000 prisoners and many machine- gunes were Further progress was made between the Oise and the Serre, where 800 prisoners and a number of villages were taken. An extensive mutiny, headed by Croatian soldiers and naval units, is reported from the Austrian port of Fiume. TUESDAY Capture of Aleppo—Turks Defeated on Tigris—Austrian Defence overcome—Advance Beyond the Piave —German, Appeal for ArmisticeAllies asked to State Terms. Aleppo was captured on Saturday by British cavalry and armoured cars, the enemy force of 12,000 troops having already retired to the north of the town; The offensive has been resumed by the British Army in Mesopotamia, the Turks being driven in retreat along both banks of the Tigris. An attack has been made on Piave line by the Italian Tenth Army, with the co-operation of British forces, on the sector midway between the Zenson Loop and the Montello region. The passage of the river has been forced, and three villages captured beyond. A further request for an armistice has been made by Germany to the President of the United States. The message states that the armistice is asked "in the name of the German people," It points to the changes in the German Constitution, and declares that the Government is "awaiting proposals for an armistice as the first step towards a just peace." As a result of continual French pressure the enemy has been forced to retreat between the Oise and the Serre. WEDNESDAy Austrian Peace Move—Request for Armistice—Notes to Britain and America—Success of Piave Offensive—Turks in Full Retreat. A request for an armistice has been received by the Briitsh Foreign Office from Austria. Reports from neutral countries state that Austria has replied to Mr Woodrow Wilson asking for an immediate armistice, to be followed by peace. It is stated that Austria accepts Mr Wilson's principles in their entirety. Seven thousand prisoners have been taken by the British and Italians in their advance'across the Piave. The offensive is considered to be of extreme importance. Despite the rumours of crumbling Austrian morale the front is being strongly defended and the enemy troops are fighting well. Maintenance of the British pressure against the Turkish front on the Tigris'resulted in the enemy retreating 12 miles on Saturday. Kirkuk was captured on Friday, The British have advanced 15 beyond Aleppo in close pursuit of the Turks. Only local operations are reported by Sir Douglas Haig. THURSDAY Allied Councils—Momentous Discussions — Rapid Changes in Austria—Three New States Evolving—Great Success on the Piave— Cavalry Leading Advance. 4H Mr yersailles War Council is in^fcon, the strictest secrecy being maintained regarding its proceedings. It is expected that no decision will be reached for several days, by which time peace may have been concluded with Austria and Turkey. The rapid disolution of AustriaHungary is making it difficult fo r the Allies to consider the armistice proposals, since it is hardly possible to decide with i whom to treat. 7 The British and Italians have crossed the Piave on a front oi over 20 miles, and are in firm possession of the eastern bank i for that distance.