TERRIFIC FIGHTING NEAR VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2708, 1 March 1916, Page 5

TERRIFIC FIGHTING NEAR VERDUN

FRENCH THE MASTERS OF THE FIELD FORT DOUAUMONT CAPTURED AND RECAPTURED THREE TIMES / By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright _ .1 Paris, February 28. The Pjemier (M. Briand), in the lobhy of the. Chamber of Deputies, told a graphic story of the French counter-attack at Douaumont. He said "the enemy ( advanced from Clianipneuville and occupied Douaijmont Fort, but the vc-ry moment the Germans thought they had obtained possession or this formidable position at enormous sacrifice, the French Army Corps Reserve niado a violent counter-attack, and the Germans were caught between frightful curtains of fire, and were swept by machine-guns on all sides. Then the sudden appearance of our fresh divisions surprised them, and stopped the German attack dead. The first assumed titanic proportions. _ The Germans thrico' gained the for.t, ans were thrice driven out, Frenchmen fighting in absolute frenzy. "The French heavy and light artillory ploughed bloody furrows through the enemy's closed ranks. Finally becoming exhausted, the gradually thin, ning German armies gave way and abandoned Clianipneuville, Poivre Hill; and Douaumont. We resumed our advance, and remained master of the field. The heroic Frenchmen then re-established themselves in formidable positions." » ■ "VERDUN IS THE REAL THING AT LAST." London, February 28. Colonel Repington,_ the Military Correspondent of the "Times," says:— "Verdun is the real thing at last. The enemy's decision to put their fortunes to the touch will be received with fierco delight in the AVest. The appointment of Prince Henry of Prussia (the Kaiser's brother) to a high naval command heralds a Gorman offensive on water as well as on land. There are now 118 German divisions in the West, of which twenty-five are attacking Verdun. The general security of the Allied lines is not seriously menaced, nor would it be if the whole right, bank of the Meuse at Verdun fell into German hands, If the enemy is prepared to pay the price, we will exact it." Colonel Repington expects a fresh German-offensive elsewhere, possibly in the Champagne. , , ■ GENERAL JOFFRE HAS THE SITUATION IN HAND. London, February 28. There, is little news regarding the fighting at Verdun except that given in communiques, though the public in Bri tain and France liave been cheered by the glowing story-of M. Briand, the Fronch Premier, ■ regarding the recapture of Douaumont. . There are, however, other hopeful signs. One is that . the Germans have not issued further special headquarter statements announcing successes as they did on Saturday. The TjeltET that General Joffre lias tho situation well in hand is confirmed by the fact that it has not been found necessary to apply a counter-irritant elsowlifcre. It is understood that General von Beseler, the victor of Antwerp, is di-' reeling the German heavy artillery at Verdun. CAUTIOUS ATTITUDE OF GERMAN PRESS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) _• , London, February 28. The German' Press has evidently been instructed for the present to adopt tKe most cautious attitude in referring to Verdun. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" says French reports admit that the Germans have initiated a big successful operation. The "Cologne Gazette claims a great German success.' FRENCH ARTILLERY ACTIVE AT ALL POINTS. London, February 28, 5.26 p.m. The High Commissioner reports:— , "In Belgium the French batteries have bombarded the German works which face Steen-straetc. , 'The French artillery energetically met the enemy bombardment along the whole-Verdun front. , j , . , . "Tn the Vosges, the Allies bombarded several enemy cantonments m the region of Ban de Sapt." ' % REPORT BY A GERMAN WAR CORRESPONDENT. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) By TelegrapTi—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February 29, . 5.6 p.m.) London, February 28. it German war correspondent at tho front' describes Fort Douaumont as entirely destroyed- 'liie concentrated fire of tho 17-iiicli guns blow the steel nnrl concrete cupolas to fragments. The French prisoners, jvho "'ere dazed, ; itato that tlie terrific fire quickly made tho Fort untenable. ' OUR TIME WILL COME WHEN GERMANY IS EXHAUSTED. | (Rec. February 29, S.B p.m.) London, February 28, Colonel Repington says the French were not wight General .Toffre never bad larger reserves, and they were better placed for security.

I'lie Kaiser and General Falkenhaynl(War minister) have adopted the desperito remedy suiting their imperilled interests. Opinion in France and hngand is of calm hope, and public and political clamour will not force Genjral Joffro into a premature counter-offensive. It is probable that the main French reserves have not yet moved, being confident the local reserves are sufficient. After the Germans are exhausted our time will come. "Waiting will :iot lessen the weight of the blow. ' Mr. J. L. Garvin, editor of the "Observer," comments as followsj — Hie Sermans know that by the end of the autumn they would reach 'the limit Df moral and military endurance. Three-fifths of tlioir fighting males have and they are faced with the necessity to stake everything in a despcrite effort. We must, in the next three months, he prepared to meet everything Germany can contrive to risk on land, at sea, and in the air. lt_ is Germany's ivar dynasty's and castes' last chance. The Verdun offensive is the beginning of the climax on land, and the Kaiser's visit to the fleet is the strongest hint that the climax is coming at sea. All France waits spellbound, hut without fear." INTERESTING REPORT ON THE SITUATION. (Reo. February 29, 9.5 p.m.) London, February 28. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent says the arrest of hostilities on Thursday night proved only an interval in the fierce lighting. The French thought the enemy was wearying, but tho Germans renewed the assault with great vigour. The line embraced the Mouse heights east of Montfaucon, Forges Wood, and the towns of Malancourt and Bahincourt. The French at Forges being divided, the abandonment of Samogneux and Ohampneuville, which it was impossible to hold owing to gunfire from the heights, gave tho front a curious form. A "double loop in the Mouse Valley nearly a mile wide and somewhat flooded is covered by tho German guns from Forges,, and by the French guns from Cumieres and Coredefalon, the position was therefore seen to be untenable in strength by either side. From a three-mile range from the cliffs above Cumieres, the French can rake tho ground which they wore forced to-abandon and cross the river, while they themselves are under fire from the north and east. The French after Saturday's readjustment of their line are in a. higher position at Douaumont, immediately south. Saturday's line lay strong and levol, from behind Champneuville, eastward over Poivre crest to tho 'Douaumont plateau. The line has been withdrawn rather less than four miles. In six days of fighting of unexampled severity, the prize for which the Germans are aiming, i.amely, breaking the line, still eludes them. , HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING FOR A REDOUBT. (Ilec. February 29, 10.55 p.m.) , . Paris, February 28. A French communique says:—North of Verdun the activity of German artillery is still great, except west of the Meuse, where it is slackening. The Germans attempted partial attacks, but our fire and counter-attacks drove them back. We engaged in hand fighting west of Douaumont with the enemy, who was driven out of a small redoubt where he had established himself. , Two enemy attacks at Fresnes, in the Woevre sector, completely failed. There is great artillery activity in Lorraine, in the Ileillou, Domevre, and Badonviller sectors. GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS IN THE FRENCH PAPERS. ; (Bee. February 25, 10.55 p.m.) Paris, February 28. "La Liberte's" correspondent says "the twenty-sixth ivas one of the most glorious days for the soldiers of F ranee. During eighteen hours our soldiers were exposed to a deluge of shot and shells of such that an 1870 veteran officer said it was impossible for human beings to remain in such a hell—yet our men remained. The enemy gave way. Our soldiers have not flinched in the iron rain. The German leaders, with incredible prodigality, sacrificed thousands. ■ ' ' , "There was ono critical moment in the middle of the forenoon following the taking of Douaumont. The Germans gained a footing on our inner entrenchments. • The French were ordered to hold on to the death. A furious attack burst upon them by enormous masses in successive waves. _ The German infantrv clashed forward,in closed ranks, stretching endlessly; it was _ the supreme attack which might decide the fate of Verdun. Our batteries kept up a ceaseless fire, and ravaged the enemy. We then launched a vigorous counter-attack, and with irresistible dash our soldiers threw themselves on the Germans. The struggle was dreadfully, murderous, but the French proved their superiority in the open grouad The\foremost' ranks of tho enemv were thrown into confusion, and fell back slightly. Wo followed up the advantage, and the Germans wern ov-trwhelmed to tho westward, and abandoned the ruined fort. A cry of triumph burst from tho French ranks." M. Marcel Hutin, writing in"L'Echo do Paris," says the battlo is being; fought with various fluctuations. If a wall of troops ready for any sacrifices Items for two days more tho. most colossal weight ever driven against defensive positions, the tide will turn definitely, for the enemy's attack v ill be broken. THE ESTIMATED STRENGTH OF GERMAN FORCES. (Rec. February 29, 11.15 p.m.) Paris, February 28. ,Tha latest calculations show that 800,000 Germans are engaged in the offensive at Verdun. AN AWFUL PICTURE OF SHELL-FIRE. ! (Rec. February 29, 11.15 p.m.) '' ■' Paris, February 28. An eye-witness stationed at observation post describes tho attack on D ° the battle proceeded the front; grew steadily smaller, the enemy's attacks concentrating on a line from north of Louvemont to the right of Douaumont. During the first five days the French were steadily driven back. They then executed a manoeuvre, abandoning the ground unknown to the enemy till 16 hours elapsed. Shells of every calibre were bursting with a tremendous hubbub, thousands of projectiles flying in all directions, whistling, howling, moanin". and uniting in one infernal roar, throwing up clouds of smoke, earth, and snow for miles. The enemy's shell expenditure exceeded anything imaginable. The German fire slackened, revealing an indescribable scene. Nothing remains, everything being levelled to tho earth flat. In the valley beyond dark masses of German infantry move on the snowy ground in. packed formation. We telephone to the batteries, and the firing begins again. It was a hellish sight A deluge of heavy shells were poured on the enemy, and glasses reveal tho men, maddened, covered with earth and blood, falling oyer ono another, the "round being dotted with heaps of bodies, the shells carving awful gaps in the liuman ranks. A GERMAN IIEGIMENT SURROUNDED. (Rec. February 29, 10.55 p.m.) Paris, February 28.' A German regiment is surrounded at Douaumont. SEVERAL ENEMY ATTACKS DISORGANISED AND REPULSED London, February 29, 0.55 a.m. ,Tho High Commissioner reports: _ . , "French heavy artillery shelled enemy transport routes in the region of the wood of Cheppy. . "We exploded a mine on Hill 285 and now occupy the crater. "North of Verdun artillery activity continues. Tile Germans during tho day attempted several attacks which were disorganised and repulsed by our fire and coimter-attaqks. _ ' . "West of Fort Douaumont French troops engaged m hand-to-hand fighting and expelled the enemy from the redoubt they had succeeded in ocoupyW ° "At Woevre the attacks on the French completely failed." GERMANS' SUCCESS ON THE NAVARIN FARM. (Rec. February 29, 9,45 p.m.) ' London, February 28. A Berlin communique claims a gain, on a front of IGOO yards on tho Nayarin Farm, and to have captured a thousand prisoners, a mortar, and nine machine-guns. < • Paris, February_ 28. A communique states:—The enemy in the Champagne, in the region of Navarin Farm, northward of Souain, by a - coup-de-main, succeeded in pene. Crating some o'f tho elements of our ad vanced fine and support trench. An intense bombardment continues northward of Verdun, especially on the central'sector and right. There has been no fresh attempt against Poivre The Germans at the end of yosterd ay made several attempts to carry the village of Douaumont, but their efforts broke against the resistance of our troops which was unshaken by the most furious assaults. The sitiiation is unchanged at Fort Douaumont, which remains closely surrounded. The fighting is les3 furious on the plateau northward of Vaux. Tho enemy at Woevre has assumed a more active The railway station at Eix was taken and retaken and remains in our possession. All the German efforts to capture Hill 95o"'south-east of Eix, failed. The German attack at Manheulles failed completely. , SMALL ATTACK NEAR ALBERT REPULSED. (Rec. February 29, 9.45 p.m.) ' " London, February 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—\Ve repulsed a small attack south-east of Albert. The enemy during the night sprang a mine near the La Bassee Canal, doing some damage to our trenches.