VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE BIG BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2709, 2 March 1916, Page 5

VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE BIG BATTLE

. THE REAPER WITH BIS WHOLE GERMAN DIVISION WIPE© OUT BY A MINE By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright A refugee who lyitnessed the b'attle says: "I will ful spectacle. It was the most horj-ible I have ever seen. TEe French 7o's heaped the enemy's ranks in tangled masses, human fragments boinn- hurled everywhere. The searchlights illuminated the field like daylight. The Germans got into a.sort of basin, which was splendidly placed for a wholesale massacre. Thousands lie there who will hot see Germany again " Other accounts state that there were upwards of 750,000 Germans northward >of Verdun, the majority on a bottle-neck ridge on the Meuse heights Eleven hundred German guns were concentrated on this ledge Brand"nbur»' Regiment losses ill storming Douaumont exceed those when the Germans"threw themselves against the Liege forts. , 1 A soldier who-fought at Ornes said; "The order came on Thursday to prepare to retire, as Me position was becoming untenable. The retirement began on. Sunday. By skirmishing we reached Aaucourt. Then our artillery began to roar.. It makes one shudder to look back on what happened, ihe German battalions advanced m close order, twenty-five abreast Our 7o's and .the heavier guns rained shrapnel and high explosivofe on them". It was as if the Reaper went _ through them with his scythe. The high explosives flung limbs high into the air. Ave were so near at some points that Human fragment! almost fell on us. In front of two smaii sections the enemy fell in hundr°ds Our quick-firers were posted every five yards. Blood ran from the ears "of some of us." y v The "Paris Journal" relates ail episode, of Caiires Wood,' to which the Germans greatly aspired, Ihe French Engineers had mined the entire wood The German Division swarmed up, and the French ran, feigning a retreat' The Germans poured into the wood, yelling in savage triumph ° When the French were clear the mines were exploded. There was a terrible boom and then a groat silence ensued m the wood. The Division had been wiped out. Our men were hysterical with delight. 1 ATTACK AFTER ATTACK MELTED UNDER THE PITILESS , FRENCH FIRE GERMAN LOSSES ESTIMATED AT 130,000. ~ „ ~ ~ , London, February 29. ' Eye-Witness, cont.mnng his narrative, says: "The second wave pressed on. The whole vallev was converted int 0 a volcano; its exit was stopped bv a barrier of slam. After a series of attacks of this nature Rid<r e 3(5 in front of Douaumont was carried, and the bloody tide W battle, lapped the base of Douaumont. Attack after attack melted under the pitiless .French fire T7l timately the seventh wave earned the 24th Bwndenburgors up to the crest and at this stage all notion of losses seems to have been engulfed in an oro-v of butchery. • "Then a famous French corps, which has always been at the point of danger, launched a successful counter-attack. The infantry and Zouaves bounded forward from the Baumont Fort and Vaux, and conversed on the plateau held by the Germans. Brigade after brigade dashed up, but instead of making straight for the ruined fort, separated into two columns, and enveloped the position, cutting off and ultimately capturing a few of the Brandeuburgers From the heights on the other side of Ornes, the Kaiser watched wavo after wave of German infantry breaking helplessly gainst the impassable wall "The losses were terrible, but as fast as the men fell fresh reserves were brought up. "The final attack was made against the extreme edge of the French positions at Ifardaumont. There the carnage was fearful, and the Germans withdrew, leaving thousands of dead heaped high on the hillsido "The Kaiser witnessed the broken, and dispirited brigades retiring under diabolical fire. | "Tho German losses to the 27th are estimated at 130,000." REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FURY OF THE' ENEMY IS SPENDING ITSELF This is the ninth day of the Battle of Verdun. ports indicate that the fury of the enemy is spending itself. The attack- nnrtlieast of Verdun has been stationary for three days. . Telegrams from Amsterdam state that 45,000 Germans have already been killed. Endless trains of wounded ar c arriving at Metz, Coblenz Treves and Cologne. The early enthusiasm of the populace has been damped by the appalling sights. One regiment has been re-formed from the remnants of ten crack regiments. At one time 8000 men lay dead on a tyo-mile front at Hiumont. Unofficial messages insist that thero was great excitement wTicn tho General commanding tho French reinforcing armies, massed in trenches at the rear, announced that Douaumont had been retaken. The cry burst from every throat, "Vivo Ja France!!" and all the men thundered out "The Marseiiiaise." M. Marcel Hutin explains that the force of Brandeuburgers shut in at Fort Douaumont are closely surrounded on three sides. They refuse to surrender, hoping that a fresh German attack will drive back the French and enable them to hold the fort or escape. GERMANS ATTEMPTING A DIVERSION IN THE WOEUVRE. Paris, February 29. A communique states: "Violent night attacks in tho region of Douaumont ivere everywhere repulsed after hand-to-band encounters. The Germans appear to be attempting a diversion in the Woeiivre. After an intense bombardment they seized the village of Manheuliee. Our counter-attack recaptured tho out-tl-irts af the villaaa. 1 '

KAISER'S TELEGRAM TO THE TnET OF BRANDENBURG, , London, February 29. A Berlin wireless message states th„t the Kaiser telegraphed to the Diet of Brandenburg: "1 uuicli rcjoico at the new great strength unci the loyalty to death of the sons or Brandenburg displayed irresistible storm attack on the enemy's strongest fort. God Mess Brandenburg and the entire Fatherland." i COMMUNIQUE AND MESSAGES FROM BERLIN. ! Loncion, February 29. A Berlin communique states: "Up to last night we counted 22S officers and 16,5/5 men unwounded prisoners, 78 cannon (of which seven aro heavy and of the most modern typo), and 86 machine-guns. "Our troops in the Woeuvre have passed the villages of Abaucourt, Dieppe, and Blazee." Berlin messages state that finder cover of a snowstorm the German artillery is ceaselessly shelling the ridges from Douaumont to Cote de Frouard. The French artillery occupied itself with the front-line fire, and appeared to be powerless against the Germans' artillery behind and in front. VERDUN COMPLETELY EVACUATED BY CIVILIANS. . London, February 29. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent states that Verdun has been completely evacuated by civilians._ It is a quaint liiitle town of twenty thousand inhabitants, lying on both sides of the Meuse, the ancient walls, moats, and gateways being now only of historic interest. The population latterly had been much reduced. . Shells began to fall in the Verdun streets and among the old-fashioned houses on Monday. The cannonade on Wednesday was more Serious, whon the Governor ordered the civilians to leave. Hundreds of the poorer classes refuged in the deep underground galleries of the citadel. A dreary cavalcade of civilians has since trickled along the snow-covered roads, and' from the roads to the trains bound for Paris. ( (Rec. March 1, 8.45 p.m.) London, February 29. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent continues: —"The fighting continues on the lines held since Friday, across the Poivre crest, and through Douaumont to Vaux, on the west, through an incessant and frightful bombardment, which was kept up by both sides. A further retirement of 1-i miles ;to Froidterre is expected. Dcuaumont is still the heart of the furnace. After being repeatedly stopped and decimated in frontal attack," the enemy is endeavouring to penetrate by the eastern ridge,and the hills near Vaux, ivith supporting assaults from the Woeuvre columns. The infantry also was launched repeatedly against the ruins of the Douaumont village." INTENSE "RELIEF FELT EVERYWHERE. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. March 1, 5.15 p.m.) London, February 29. _ The tone of the Press comments shows that everywhere, including Germany, intense relief is felt over the return to open warfare and the prospects of rapid results. . JOFFruE LITERALLY RUBBING HIS HANDS WITH DELIGHT. \ ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. March 1, 5.15 p.m.) London, February 29. The Duke of Richmond, speaking at Edinburgh, said that a friend of his saw General Joffre, who was literally rubbing his hands, being delighted with the Gjerman attack. General Joffre had been steadily massihg men in the threatened sectors, and regarded the fortifications as impregnable. N FORTY-ONE TRAIN-LOADS OF GERMAN WOUNDED. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. Marcli 1, 5.15 p.m.) London, February 29. Railway traffic in Luxemburg has been suspended for twenty-four hours, to permit of the transport of German wounded, and forty-one train-loads have passed through to Germany.' ICloven hundred-* German corpses arrived at Seraing, where they were cremated. It is reported that 5200 Germans were killed in the Brabant region alone. TWO GERMAN DIVISIONS'HELE FOR THE 'FINAL ASSAULT. ("Times", and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rcc. March 1, 5.15 p.m.) London, February 29. Two new German divisions at Met z departed for Verdun, where they are being kept in reserve until'tho great assault begins on the forts of Verdun, GERMANS ENTRENCHING ON THE, SLOPES OF POIVRE. (Rec. March 1, 9.35 p.m.) \ Paris, March 1. A French communique says: "Our batteries in the Champagne wrecked German organisations in the region of Hill 193. ; "The bombardment'ori the north front of Verdun is less intense; no infantry action has been reported. Tho Germans are entrenching on the northern slopes of the Poivre ridge, the first crest of which our advanced troops occupy. "We violently bombarded Samogneux, where an enemy battalion had assembled. "Our artillery in tho Woeuvre prevented enemy attacks in preparation. "There is great artillery activity iu the Vosges region, at Senones and Ban do Sapt. . "Our counter-attack east of Seppoils drove out the enemy from some trenches ho penetrated in the morning." FRENCH SITUATION IMPROVING DAILY. (Rec, March 1,- 9.25 p.m.) London, February 29. An authoritative account of the operations at Verdun shows that the great offensive was one of the most carefully-planned and powerfully-equipped movements of the whole war. The partial attacks on tire 'whole front since tho beginning of January seem to have been intended as a mask for the.decisive blow they were preparing for Verdun. Seven army corps carried out the German attacks, demonstrating the enemy's desire to secure a victory, even at the price of the most appalling sacrifices 1 The slopes leading to Douaumont, where _ desperate fighting is still proceeding, is strewn with doad, according to prisoners' statements. t The old Verdun forts form part of the defensive line, similar to trenches, therefore the capture of a fort is equivalent to the capture of part of a trench, without threatening the entire line. The French situation is improving daily by the advent of fresh troops, whereas the Germans are using their last resources. THE AWFUL FIELD OF SLAUGHTER.. (Rec. March 1, 8.45 p.m.) London, February 29. A refugee states: "I was at Suippes and Souain in October, and they were nothing in comparison to this. The slaughter was indescribable. Lavancue is no longer a wood, but a waste of snow land ,torn up like a lunar crater. The thunder of unseen guns is continuous, and the ground shakes. When the smoke veil lifted, I saw the show slope dotted with German dead. The veil re-fell, and the thunder recommenced.. We filled our oars with scraps .of paper and cloth, but could not keep out the'stupefying noise. After nightfall, rockets from both sides, and ruses dropped from aeroplanes, cast fitful gleams on the awful field of slaughter." COMMENTS OF COLONEL MORAHT. 1 (Rec. March 1, 11.10 p.m.) London, March 1. Colonel Moraht, writing in the Berlin "Tageblatt," comments: "We are making progress." He contradicts tho "Times'-' statement that the Germans brought heavy guns from Serbia, and adds: "England will.be exposed to catastrophes until she realises that the Germans are better than the AngloFrench in infantry attacks." ATTACK ON VERDUN MERELY A DIVERSION (Rec. March 1, 11.10 p.m.) London, March 1. Swiss dispatches state that tho attack on Verdun is -really a diversion, the main German forces being concentTated in the Champagne for an attack via Noyou and St. Quentin upon Paris. -V ' I x TWO GERMAN AEROPLANES BROUGHT DOWN BY THE BRITISH. (Rec. Marcli 1, 9.35 p.m.) ffur i- i i London, March 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We bi ought down a German aeroplane behind our lines, and another fell in flames behind'the German lines, in tho vicinity of La Bassee." / ACTIVITY AT VARIOUS POINTSOF THE WEST FRONT. ' London, March 1, 10 a.m. The High Commissioner reports: "From Soissons to Reims tho French bombarded points of the onemy's line. | "At the west of Maison de Champagne, in the Champagne district, the I Germans exploded a mine, and we occupied tho crater. "In the region of North Verdun the bombardment is abating. There has been no infantry action. The Germans are entrenched themselves 011 the slopes north of Poivre. 1 "At Woeuvre, French artillery prevented German attacks which wero in course of preparation. "In the Vosges district there is great artillery activity, "East of Sopposlse tho enemy was ejected from portions of our- trenchee. "diich the.y penetrated this morning. •

ENEMY CAPTURES THE VILLAGE OF MANHEULLES. . London, February 29, 4.20 p.m. •the High Commissioner reports: "North of Verdun, mora intense bombardment lias continued in the sector east of Hie Mouse. In the course of the. night violent local attacks were renewed several times in the region of the village of Douaumont, and were brought almost to hand-to-hand combat, and were repulsed by the French. "At Woeuvre, the Germans succeoded, after intense artillery preparation, in capturing the village of Man'neulles. An immediate oonnter-a'ttack brought the French to the western border of the village, which they hold under fire. "In Lorraine the enemy penetrated certain small portions of an advanced trench, from whence he was chased out almost immediately. Nothing noteworthy occurred on the rest of the front."