SITUATION AT VERDUN CONSIDERABLY CHANGED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2715, 9 March 1916, Page 5

SITUATION AT VERDUN CONSIDERABLY CHANGED

THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN IN ASIA MINOR

STRUGGLE EXTENDING ENEMY'S PROGRESS WESTWARD. OF THE MEUSE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Paris, March 7. Semi-official.'—The situation at Verdun has considerably, changed, the struggle extending to the 'eft hank of the Meuse. Forges constituted a salient of our line. The enemy's gain represents at the utmost 150 nioties (about 164 yards). We remain solidly established iif a dominating position at' Goose Hill. The incident at Fejges is without definito influence at Verdun. The Germans, by means of an intense bombardment, progressed westward of the Meuse, along the railway in the neighbourhood of Eegnieville. Simultaneously "a German Division, notwithstanding heavy lossev, . captured Hill 265. , ' ' ' The French hold the village of Bethincourt and clumps eastward of Corbeaux and Cumieres Wood, also the upper part of Goose Hill. GERMANS .CAPTURE HILL 265 IN SPITE OF HEAVY LOSSES. London, March 7, 5 p.m. The High' Commissioner reports: "In the Argonne some enemy attempts to occupy a mine-crater at Haute Chevauchee were repulsed, the French artillery continuing tile '.bombardment of the lines of communication of the enemy. "West of the Meuse, favoured by intense bombardment, the Germans progressed by creeping along the railway line in the neighbourhood of Regnieville.. . "A very violent attack of one division was launched simultaneously on Hill 265, Which the Germans were able to capture in spite of heavy losses inflicted by the French artillery and machine-guns. ' "The French hold Bethincourt village, and the neighbouring spinneys east of Corbeaux and Cumieres Woods, and the top of 'Goose Hill. "An artillery combat continued very active in the course of the night east of the Meuse in the region of Bras and Haudremont, also in the Woouvre seotor, at Fresnes, and in the foot-hill villages." GENERAL' JOFFRE IS PLAYING THE CORRECT GAME. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydny "Sun" Services.) . London, Maroh 7. Colonel Repington, the "Times" military correspondent, says: "The Germans owe; most of their successes at Verdun to their heavy artillery. When a hurricane fire overwhelmed the advanced French positions, it was necessary to move the guns forward, arid this accounts for the slackening of the attack. We must expect a gradual closing in of the attack, and an extension a'lon" the whole front, from the Verdun bridgehead eastward of the Meuse, and "from Poivre Hill to St. Mihiel, with special attention at the Douamont position. It is probable that Verdun is only the beginning of larger movemeU^?ijj 10 ]T ren ch, Belgian, and British Staffs should give General Joffre all the troops that can be spared. I hope that General Sarrail will return with his army in time to give the finishing\blow ; "Till) doleful tone of the German Press is due to its realisation of the terrible cost of the operations. The German plan aims to influence opinionby means of the 'old guard of heavy guns. "We should not be influenced by the loss of men, guns, and ground, but realise that General Joffre is playing the correct game. The troops are displaying the highest qualities of the s(Jdiei. ■' "The only thing that counts is the final result." • THE FIGHTING AROUND VATCHERAUVILLE. London, March 7. An officer who was wounded on Sunday at Vatcherauville (north of Verdun) states that Pomeranian reaiments, fighting there, were composed of very young men, dressed in new uniforms. They were- not used to battle, and there" was a veritable panic when our batteries opened fire, which lasted until the Brandenburg Regiment and Landwehr Brigade reinforced them. The heaps of German dead at several points reached the height of the French barbed wire entanglements. A crack rifleman was awarded the Croix de_ Guerre for killing 60 Bosches. When the enemy wjs advancing he stepped outside tho trenches, firing, while his comrades handed up t|ieir loaded rifles. 'Though amid a storm of shot and shell, the rifleman was not hurt. A FRENCH GUNNER'S NARRATIVE. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, March 7.. A French gunner at Verdun writes: "Wo sometimes had to withdraw our machine-guns 30 yards, because tho corpses of the Bosches prevented us (iring. As the Germans jumped over the dead, wo killed them." INCREASING RETICENCE OF GERMAN NEWSPAPERS. • ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, March 7. Tiie German newspapers on Thursday and Friday showed an _ increasing reticence about the situation at Verdun. Several of the papers give greater prominence to other news. Tho telegrams from special correspondents show severe censorship. The general tone of the comments on the Western activity shows renewed optimism in the ultimate fall of Paris and the cutting off of the British armies. Herr Harden, in "Die Zukuuft," claims that this is a greater possibility than the miracle of the Allies driving hack to the llliiue prnvpd warriors, eguiused with the most modern weapons.

' EARLY ATTACK ON VERDUN-BELFORT LIKE PREDICTED. London, March 7. It is reported that tlio big German preparations indicate nn early attack on tlio Verdun-Belfort line. INTENSITY OF THE GERMAN SHELL FIRE, (Rec. March 8, 5.5 p.m.) , r tt „■ •, , London, Marcli 7. Mr. li. Warner Allen, s; pial correspondent of the British Press with the Irench armies, describing tlio intensity of tlio German shelf fire at Verdun says thirty large shells fell on one of the outer gates and wall in tive minutes! All over Verdun a rain of steel splinters fell incessantly on tlio roofs and roads, soldiers coming in from tlio firing line rovcaling the terrific nature of tlio onslaughts and tlio magnitude of the German losses. Tlio troops who retired grimly from the Haumont Wood, Bois des Caures, and Harbebois to tlio present line fought to gain time, gladly, giving up their lives. Two divisions held np two German army corps. The troops still retain their dash and unshakable morale. "We stay there till killed," said one, "so as to make sure the reserves are able to "et up." Another, wlio was wounded and lost liis right hqnd, cheerfully said: "I offered my life to France, and she has taken one hand only." A Paris correspondent points out that a caravan of German journalists has left Berlin for tlio battlefield, suggesting that the General Staff regards the offensive as Laving finished. " GERMANS OCCUPY FRESNES AFTER. SUFFERING HEAVY LOSSES. (Rec. Marcli 8, 10.5 p.m.) . n • m, Paris ' Marcli 7. A irench communique says:.—There is an intense bombardment with heavy shells west of the Meuse. The enemy multiplied his infantry attacks between Bethincourt and the Meuse, and all wore repulsed, except at the Corbeaux Wood, where he gained a footing. The Germans penetrated the redoubt in the region of the Haudremont Wood, and we ejected them. The Germans occupied Fresnes at the cost of heavy losses. SPECIAL GUNS BRING DOWN A GERMAN AEROPLANE, mi- tt- i n ■ ■ i London, March 8, 1.10 p.m. J.lie High Commissioner reports:— In the Argonne, near Avricourt, special guns brought down an enemy aeroplane. The aviators were wounded and made prisoners. The bombardment continues west of the Meuse and Melee. MERELY RIPE PLUMS AWAITING PICKING. (Rec, March 9, 0.45 a.m.) Paris, Marcli 8. The French retreat west of the Meuse was necessary. In consequence of the previous withdrawal it was the only method of avoiding a flank-lire. The German success at Forges and Regniville are.not surprising, as the places were merely ripe plums awaiting picking. / i

BRILLIANT WORK OF. THE BRITISH NAVY

GENERAL IMPRESSION v WE CAN FACE THE FUTURE WITH -A SPIRIT OF SERENITY" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright rri D-u TT . TT, ~ T , Lendon, March 7. i s'> n ' ■ Balfour, First Lord of the Adn'iiralty, in introducmg the IS aval listimates, said lie proposed to. give only a general impression tjl ? course the. Admiralty was pursuing. There was no German cruiser in n position to attack British commerce on any ocean. 5°- details particular ships could be discussed at present. Not merely the British, but many nations depended upon us. The goods and moil transported included a million horses and o tJier animals, two and a half million tons of stores, twenty-two million gallons of oil, and four million men. Tile Admiralty was not carrying out the policy of its different predecessors. Since the war began, the personnel of the Navy had been doubled, and the tonnage increased by over a million tons. The strength of the Air Divi•sioii of the Navy had grown tenfold. The first problem was to maintain the brand Meet at an adequate superiority over every force that' could be brought against it. Tho Navy and the Expeditionary Force had achieved all that could be expccted, and all it professed to do. "While 1 no one could predict the future relative value of Zeppelins and aeroplanes, the Government was developing airships in order to assist the Fleot by scouting, but there was uimculty _ m housing them. Since tho outbreak of hostilities the production or warships had been unprecedented. (Rec. March 8, 8.55 p.m.) „ . ~ T, , P , , London, March 7. Continuing, Mr. Balfour said the Admiralty had not replaced losses iu armoured cruisers, as their present superiority was enormous and incontestable. It asked whether tho Admiralty Was satisfied with the present' progress, us answer was ho, but tno limit of shipbuilding was the limit of skilled labour. Tho Admiralty hod never relaxed its desire to increase the strength of the weapon oil which the liberties of the world are now more than ever dependent. He must be a poor spirit who surveyed the position and measured the greatness of the Fleot in comparison with the enemy's, and could not race the future with a. spirit of cheerful serenity, Mr. Churchill Domands the Recall of Lord Fisher. Major Winston Churchill, who was formerly First Lord of the Admiralty, said he was sorr.y to strike a jarring note, not to reproach, censure, or cause a panic, but, in some respetfts, a note of warning. We must not assume that Germany will be content to allow her fleet to lie in port, derided in the iuel Canal. We must assume that Germany has completed all of her programme, and if ours is not comploted solid reasons must be given to justify the postponement and delay. Wo must not be unconscious of the relaxation of effort oil the part of the Admiralty. If a shortage of naval in arenal has occurred it will give no chance of future recovery. Tho vital units of our Fleet must bo a first charge on our labour resources. He demanded Lord Disher's return to the Admiralty, where there was a lack of driving power and mental energy, which we could not allow to be continued. If the ships aimed with 10-inch guns have been completed as arranged we should have a margin .for all foreseeable contingencies. An impenetrable veil had fallen over Germany s dockyards, and we are bound to assume that if tho German Meet ever came out to sea it would be with its maximum strength They must provide against tho increasing element of the unknown, fhey survived the shortage of ammunition in the Army at a hideous cost of life and treasure. Thqro must be no relaxation in tho Navy. If the plans of Lord Fisher and himself were carried out they would bo sufficient for any eventuality. The late Admiralty Board would, not have been content with tho attitude of pure passivity shown during 1915 against Zeppelins. Their policy was to destroy them in the sheds, and he could not ■ understand why with our naval air resources, it had not been possible to raid Cologne Dusseldorf, and Cuxhaven. ' ' Admiral Meux (member for Portsmouth) declared that if Lord Fisher were brought back it would cause consternation in the Navy. "What has there - been going on between Major Churchill and Lord Fisher, who were at dangers drawn." ' . ME. CHURCHILL'S SPEECH REGARDED AS NEEDLESSLY ALARMIST. (Rec. March 8, 10.45 p.m.) London, March 8. Lord Fisher was in the Peers' Gallery and listened with a grim smile to Mr. Churchill's sensational speech. The majority of the Commoners wero puzzled with Mr. Churchill's volte face, particularly when he said: "At one time I never thought I would be ablo to bring myself'to this step, but I havebeen away for some weeks, and my mind is now clear." Then he proceeded to urge Mr. Balfour to fortify himself and vitalise and animate the Board of Admiralty by recalling Lord Fisher. When Mr. Churchill sat down amid the astonishment of the House, Lord Fisher left tho House. It is announced that Lord Fisher for the first time attends the War Council to-day.'.He was invited before Mr. Churchill's speech was made. The "Daily Chronicle" says Mr._ Churchill bewildered the House. Some members regarded the speech as a sign of the largeness of his nature, but the majority considered it mischievous and needlessly alarmist.. GERMAN WARSHIPS OBSERVED IN THE NORTH SEA. . ,l , . „,' London, March 7. Statements have been circulated in Holland that over twenty German 1 warships were observed in the North Sea yesterday.

POPULATION OF TREBIZOND PANIC-STRICKEN By TelcgMpft—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ■ London, Maicli 7, Tho "Times" correspondent at Fetrograu that the population of Trobizond was panic-stricken at the fall of Erzerum, and the remorseless Russian advance. The Mussulman residents are fleeing in the direction of Karahissar (170 miles east-north-east of Smyrna), because Russian cruisers are cutting off the sea route. _ t During the flight of the Askaris, tne lurlash soldiers committed terrible excesses, looting shops and slaying civilians. TURKS ' STILL BEING rURSUEED ON THE BLACK SEA COAST London, March 8, 2.50 a.m. The High Commissioner reports: > ,c Pefcrogi;ad reports: In the Caucasus the Turks are still being pursued tho Russians ara 40 vers fa (about 27 miles) wuat of Kerman» .shah."- -

TEE WIDESPREAD REVOLT OF THE GARRISON 'AT SMJRN^ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)! (Reo. March 8. 5:5 p.m.) Athens, Maroli 7. Lack of medical supplies, owing to the Young Turks' theft of Red Ores, cent funds, is causing thirty deaths daily amongst the Smyrna soldiers, where tlio officers are unable to suppress tlie widespead revolt. RUMOURS OF ENVER PASHA'S DEATH (Rec. March 9, 0.45 a.m.) Athens, March 8. There are persisted \rumours that Enver Pasha is dead. j ■OCCUPATIpN OF COLA hi RUSSIANS. (Rec. March 9, 0.45 a.m.) Petragrad, March 8. Official. —The Russians Save' occupied Cola, twenty-seven miles west of Kermanshah.