GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 26 November 1915, Page 3

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

GERMANS WITHDRAW FROM

FRONT.

TEN GOfING TO THE

BALKANS

RUSSIA’S UNDERTAKING [NOT

REVEALED.

PETROGRAD, November 24

Ten German divisions have been withdrawn from the northern front and have gone towalrds t!he Balkans. What Russia is undertaking in the Balkans cannot yet be revealed, hut in all inspects it is fully adequate to requirements. HUGE NEW RUSSIAN ARMY. 200,000 MEN BEING MOBILISED. ANTICIPATIONS REGARDING ROU MANIA AMSTERDAM, November 24. A German semi-official report states that Russia is preparing a Balkan army of 200,000 men, towards which Odessa is contlributing 80,000 and Reni 70,000 men. Ismail states that early events are expected in the neighbourhood of the Roumanian frontier. FRENCH GAIN DOMINATING HEIGHT. STIRRING STORY BY AN EYEWITNESS. MJr Renwick, writing in the “Daily Chronicle,” describes his visit to the French front in the B'elastchista Mountains at night. It was a weird specif tacle, he says, fires dotting the hill tops and searchlights sweeping the approaches to the valleys.He visited Hill 160, the key to the important Hill 516, a lower eminence pockmarked with shell-holes and shrapnel bullets. He could have gathered cartloads. Hundreds of abandoned rifles were lying on the hill. From the trenches a good view could be obtained of the Bulgarian lines near the vilages of Kosturino and Islismaily. Duels took place between snipers in these and other points of vantage. There was a fierce ccmbat on the ’ Rsyhsec.he, a tributary of t * e Cerna, which marked the farthest point of the French advance. As a result the French hold a strong position at the important bridge-head of Foysarts, this controlling the point of communication between the French position and the Pochangel heights, facing GHradsko, on the Nish-Salonika railway. It also dominates the route to Veles. The enemy attacked the French position. “I distinguished the whereabouts of the artillery,” writes Mr Renwick, “by smoke rising from the hillsides. Then the French infantry advanced with 'rifles and machine guns. It was glow work, but eventually the top was reached. Then a fierce bayonet, encounter took place, and the enemy were dishcged.”

ITALIANS TO HELP SERBIANS,

GENEVA, November 24

According to the usually well-inform-ed newspaper “La Suisse,” Fcakan troops have begun landing in Anania.

(It Avas recently reported that Italy had decided to send troops to Durazzo, to march across Albania).

ITALIANS CAPTURE IMPORTANT

FORTS.

The High Commissioner reports, as follows— LONDON, November 24. The Italians, betAveen San Valentine and Podgora, seized Forts 73 and 67, capturing a thousand prisoners. Others forts Avere destroyed by artillery. THE TURNING OF THE TIDE. RUSSIANS ASSUMING OFFENSIVE. ENORMOUS DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. h; LONDON,- November 24. The “Times” correspondent at the Russain headquarters reports ten days’ fierce fighting on the Svfcitp Lakes, Avhicjh is the most important engagement since the fall of Warsaw. The Russians are assuming the offensive, and compelling: the Germans to recede. ii/ It is believed that the German failure here is permanent. The Russian troops are magnificently brave and devoted. Their artillery is brilliant, and their staff overcame enormous tactical difficulties in carrying out theSr offensive.

“PROUDEST WEEK OF MY LIFE.”

JOHN REDMOND VISITS THE FROfNT

LONDON. November 24

Mr John Redmond returned from the front ni a troopship. He attended an Irish recruiting meeting at Queen’s Hal!. He declared tha the had spent the proudest Aveek of his life. “Our troops rae absolutely confident. There is no pessimist at the front. For every German shell on the Avestern front avc throAV five.”

Mir Redmond gave the lie direct to Lord St. Davids’ allegation that there Avere young aristocratic shirkers on the General Staff. The Irish troops had covered themselves with glory. Blfast and Dublin men Avere figihting together as true comrades and brotheririshmen. No poAver could turn these boys into enemies Avhen they come home. “I told King Albert that Ireland Avas determined to insist on Belgium’s independence, Avhatever the sacrifices,” said Mr Redmond.

THE ALLIES IN SERBIA.

SARRAIL SHOWS GREAT INITIA-

TIVE.

IMPORTANT POSITION ALMOST WON.

FIGHTIjNG AGAINST DESPERATE ODDS. (Times and Sydney Sun Services). LONDON, November 21.

Mr Ward Price, who is at Salonika, writes: The French are the only Allied Uroops so far in action. Their engagements indicate General Sarraiks energy in grappling Avith an eleventhhour situation. T|he usbordinate generals were boldly attacking a superior enemy in difficult country, and with special handicaps. Without Avaiting fdr the Avhole force to be transported up country, General Sarrail immediately took the offensive, aiming to help the Serbs by forcing his way through the Babuna Pass. At one time the French troops Avere within ten miles of effecting a junction Avith the Servians, but circumstances preA r nted this. The Balkan campaign hangs on a single line of railway, grass-tracked, parallel Avith the Vardar river. Whoever possesses this line aaull be able to stop access to Central Macedonia. Genera Sarraiks first action Avas to seize this point. The French established a strong bridgehead on the east side of the Va'rdar and another at a weak point higher up the line. The French effort to join up with the Serbs in most difficult country was hazardous, marching ever slender Avcoden bridges in the mountain defiles. Avhich are the sole line of retireat. Finally they Avere able to attack the Bulgarians in entrenched positions in the mountains at ParreilToberna, Avhich formed a gap in the Babuna Pass, where the Servians are holding the main Bulgarian army. In a despeirate battle Ave were thrice outnumbered by the Bulgarians Avho had constantly streaming reinforcements, and splendid artillery positions. The French attack failed to carry the key of the position, because they had no reinforcements.