Some expressions in english

Posted by HCD on February 20, 2004

I'd like to know if somebody can help me with the meaning of the following expressions: "round and about" and "held and turned", shown in the contexts
below:
The war became a consuming fire 'round and about' the world, causing losses both to victors and vanquished out of all proportion to the issues involved.

The first phase of the war was a tremendous rush of the Germans upon Paris and an invasion of East Prussia by the Russians. Both attacks were 'held and turned.'
Thanks,
HCD