GREAT OFFENSIVE AT. VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 5

GREAT OFFENSIVE AT. VERDUN

FRENCH MAKING PROGRESS ATTACK IN MASSED FORMATION BY THE . ENEMY BROKEN London, March 10, 1.20 a.m. The High Commissioner reports:— "West of the Mouse the French art; progressing and are holding nearly all of the Wood of Corbeaux. "East of the Meuse the Germans made several attacks on the front from Douaumont to Yaux. At both these villages the enemy's furious assaults were.broken.' "The German attack against our tranches at the foot of the slopes commanding Fort Vaux, made in massed formation, was thrown back with heavy losses. "In Upper Alsace we carried the enemy's trcnches close to Largues, cost of Sepppis." BRAZEN CLAIMS OF SUCCESS BY THE HUNS. Ry Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. March 10', 11.40 p.m.) Paris, March 10. A' IVcnch communique says: Wo have x continued our progress in the Corbeaux Wood. After several fruitless attacks on the village of vaux, suffering heavy losses, the Germans launched violent massed attacks below Tort Vaux, and were repulsed with enormous losses. A German wireless message claims that the Germans captured both the village and Fort Vaux. ' THIRD PHASE OF THE BATTLE BEGUN ON SUNDAY. ' Paris, March 9. The third phase of the battle of Verdun commenced on Sunday, when a terrible artillery duel commenced west of the Meuse. Woods were levelled, and the Forges Brook ceased to run. Shell-bursts damaged the stream at six places. The crest of Hill 213 was blown away to a depth of 30 feet. The main French position at Goose Sill is still untouched, but the Germans;- sheltering in the ravines, managed to force a way through a narrow country lane leading to the top of the hill, jeopardising the extreme Fronch right at. Goose Hill. V ' , ENEMY'S ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR PREVIOUS FAILURES.. Paris, March 9. 'A communique states: —We continued bombarding the communication lines in the Eastern Argonne. ' Tho Germans westward of the Meuse repeatedly attempted at night 'to repair yesterday's failures. Two attempted attacks at Bethincourt were preceded by intense artillery preparations. They were stopped by a curtain of fire, preventing the Germans debouching to Crow's Wood. Renewed efforts failed to dislodge us from a wide area which we recaptured, and which wo are consolidating. The fighting eastward of the Meuse was continued with obstinacy during the evening and the night.. There were several strong attacks on the French entrenched positions between Douaumont and Vaux. The enemy, despite the intensity of our artillery fire, made violent assaults, which wero completely repulsed. Some elements of the German infantry momentarily penetrated Vaux, but were driven out with the bayonet. FRENCH SOLDIERS BURNT ALIVE BY FLAMING LIQUIDS. Paris, March 9. The~ correspondent .of the American Associated' Press who visited Verdun says that less damage has been done than was anticipated. No buildings have been destroyed. • An artillery officer stated that during the first days of the bombardment 80,000 shells fell in. a single sector 1000 yds. long by 600 yds. broad. A general officer, told tho correspondent that Germany had lost 80,000 killed. A number of French soldiers were burnt alive by the Germans throwing flaming liquicfs. RESULT OF CROWN PRINCE'S VANITY AND OBSTINACY. Paris, March 9. It is believed that the Germans plans miscarried throught tho Crown Prince's vanity and obstinacy. It was originally planned that there should he three simultaneous attacks —a feinting attack on the Tvoeuvre Plain, a strong attack on the west biuik, and one at Douaumont. The hypnotised Crown Prince had to justify his boasted capture, and ho used a Quarter of a million men there against the advice of his Generals, who favoured tho west bank. The latter attack has now developed. h> The attackers lost almost all tlieir officers, owing to the Kaiser ordering officers to the rank of General to lead the men into action, instead of following them. . ' DIFFICULTIES OF -MOVING GERMAN HEAVY GUNS. London, March 9. Colonel licpington, the military correspondent of the "Times," says tho Germans at Verdun commcnccd moving up their heavy guns for a distance oE three miles on February 27. It is oxpectid that it will bo at least ten days or a fortnight beforo 'the work is completed, especially as tho weather is bad. Hie advance of heavy batteries to tho line of Bfiauinont-Ornes-Fro-irnmv j e difficult. Rootln must ba prepared, and puiipHn liud Iwistcrlitei) built;'the guns must be registered, and the whole of the artillery linked ui) by Maohona.

LATEST ESTIMATES OF GERMAN LOSSES AT VERDUN, ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) _ , , . . . London, March 9. Tlie best authoritative estimates are-thaE the Germans used 250,000 effectives in the attack on {lieMeuse, holding 100,000 in reserve. The original effectives have been lost, and the enemy is now using the reserves. ° TRAIN LOAD OF MUNITIONS SMARTLY SAVED. Paris, March 9. A Zeppelin, flying over Revigny, about 30 miles south-west of Verdun, endeavoured to bomb 70 wagon-loads of munitions. The stationmaster and two assistants coupled an engine on to the wagons, and steamed out safely, aniid tlie din of exploding bombs. Each of the three men has been awarded the War Cross. GERMAN CLAIMS REFUTED. . . , . , , „ Pa|, l s j March 9. *■ Tbe Matin," replying to yesterday's German claim, declares' that only 700" prisoners were taken. SUCCESSFUL AIR, RAID IN BELGIUM BY FRENCH AVIATORS. (Rec. March' 10, 9 p.m.) _ , _ _, _ Amsterdam, March 0. The 'De Telegraaf" states that sis French aviators bombed railways and <fcpot« in Central Belgium, doing considerable damage. GENERAL AYLMER SEVEN MILES EAST OP KUT ENEMY SEVERELY PUNISHED BUT NOT DISLODGED By TeTejrraph —Press Association—Copyright (Rec. March 10, 9 p.m.) ™ ~ , - London, March 9. The Press Bureau notifies that General Sir Percy Lake reports that General Aylmer advanced on Monday to the right baiik of the Tigris and reached Esiim, seve.n miles east of Kut-el-Amar.x. He attacked on Wednesday, but was unal-Ie to dirfodge the enemy, who su(f.>:«l very severely. 1 Beyond strengthening his position, the enemy has not 6hown any activity. Our casualtias were slight. • '