WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 28 October 1916, Page 6

WAR NEWS.

THE VERDUN VICTORY. PARIS, Oct 26. ■ General Joffre was an eye-witness of the triumph at Verdun. He watched the attack from 11.30 a.m. to G p. jn,, when a rocket announced that Fort Douaumont had been captured. The ground won represents the maximum of the entrenched hill and valley which could be thoroughly smashed in a single operation. It was a perfect example of the new style of scientific mechanical offensive, supported by the best troops. It is untrue to say Fort Douaumont was captured at a single bound. The small advances during 21 months, of which, the most important was Fleury Tillage on August Bth. Though the Germans had remarked on the heavy •bombardments east of the Meuse for a week, nevertheless there was an element of surprise in the attack. CAUSE OF GERMAN DEFEAT. -ft :r ■■■..■• ' . » • ROME T)ct 25. The German defeat at Verdun is attrfibuted to the transfer of troops to Roumania. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S PROPHETIC SILENCE. LONDON, Oct 25 In the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd George said the Government did not possess any later information regarding the situation in the Dobrudja than appeared in the Roumanian communiques. He said that the Allies were concernedly doing their utmost to assist Roumania. ITALY HOPEFUL. REPETITION OF CADORNA ‘S TACTICS EXPECTED LONDON, Oct 26. The ground won represents . the spondent says that, in spite of the loss of Constanza and Predeal, Italy does not regard the Roumanian situation as The “Daily Telegraph” Rome corredesperate. If the Austro-Gcrmans debouch on the Roumanian plains, Italy expect a repetition of General Cadorna’s manoeuvre ou the plain of Vicinza, where a new Italian army awaited the Austrians debouching from the Alps, and surrounded them. The Roumanians undoubtedly have a numerical superiority, though it is doubtful whether they have as good a quality of artillery.

GERMAN FURNACES BOMBED

SEVERAL FIRES CAUSED. FRENCH AIRMEN’S SUCCESS. PARIS Oct 25. Official: Eleven JB'ritish bombardment aeroplanes accompanied by five protecting aeroplanes,, at midnight on Monday bombarded blast furnaces at Hagendange, wherein they threw 1/2 tons of projectiles. Several fires were caused. The aviators observed that a French aeroplane raid there the previous night did much damage. IMPORTANT DAMAGE AT MET2*. AMSTERDAM, Oct 25. Four blast furnaces were destroyed at Metz by the last French air raid. Sixty workers were killed. GUNS REPLACE MEN AUSTRIAN STAFF’S EFFORTS. ROME, Oct 2s. Semi-official: —The Austrian general staff is making efforts to compensate for the loss of men by greatly developed armaments. The number vof medium and heavy guns has been doubled and light artillery increased by one-quarter. Machine-guns and trench ah dlery has also been greatly increased. Revolver guns, drawn by dogs are being largely used in the front trenches, especially in the mountains. It is estimated that Austro-Hungary is employing half a million militarised workmen in addition to others in arsenals. THE lamb AND THE RABBIT, Dming the last Zeppelin raid on the A east coast of England the only damage done in a certain district was the killing of one rabbit and one lamb The farmer owning these organised an exhibition for the British R e d Cross, charged sixpence to view the mutilated remains and the shell hole, and collected £ll. CHURCHES AS HOSPITALS. Referring to the transformation of St John’ Presbyterian Church, Northwood, into a hospital ward, “The Hospital” says: “Will the scheme be generally followed? The clergy and the congregations, who use their church only once a v/eek should face the question. No one, so far as we know, has ventured to criticise the action of the Presbyterians at’ Nortlrwood. ’ ’