THE DETERMINED BLOW AT VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2718, 13 March 1916, Page 5

THE DETERMINED BLOW AT VERDUN

ATTACK ON CORBEAUX WOOD

ENEMY TWICE REPULSED AT DOUAUMONT

AND VAUX

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. March 12, 5.5 p.m.) ' Paris, March 10. A French . communique says; The enemy assaulted Corbeaux Wood. Our infantry and machine-guns repulsed several successive attacks with great ravages in the enemy's ranks. jNotwithstanding the losses,'which were utterly disproportionate to the objective, the Germans launched their final assault with effectives amounting to at least a division, and succeeded in reoceupying part of the Corbeaux Wood, which we captured on Maroh 8. . The enemy was twice repulsed west of the village of Douaumont and tha village of 'Vaux, Thero were continued German infantry attacks yesterday on Vaux, at a cost of great sacrifices. The Germans threw floating mines'into the Meuse near Saint Miliiel, but these were fished up before doiiig damage. CLAIMS IN A GERMAN WIRELESS MESSAGE. (Rec. March 12, 5.5 p.m.) _ : London, March 10. A 'German wireless message says: We took the Ablain Wood, on the ridge west of Douaumont, after stubborn fighting. In the Wceuvre we pushed forward through the wood sector to south oast of Damloup. : The French delivered strong.counter-attacks against our new front east, and south of the village of V aux, as well as in the neighbourhood of the fort. The French again succceded in obtaining a foothold in. the' armoured fort itself, otherwise the attacks were repulsed with heavy losses. GERMANS ARE UP AGAINST THE STRONGEST FRENCH ENTRENCHMENTS. < . ' (Rec. March 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 11. The'general situation at Verdun, from the French viewpoint, is excellent. Experts opine that the Germans are now up against the strongest of the French entrenchments, while the Germans perforce must hold the abandoned and weaker positions. They 5111 st bo losing at least toil thousand daily. • The French regiments go into action in the gayest mood. The troops widely hold the 'view that the fighting at Verdun consists in killing Bosches. The' German lossns were particularly intense in the last two days. Mr. Joseph Reinach writes: "Verdun is 110 longer a battle—it is butchery. At least four hundred German cannon for two hours flung 80,000 shells on a space of two miles, between Douaumont and Vaux, end it needed all tho superiority of the French position to withstand the hell-fire. Then a German army corps was launched on Wednesday night, and new forces on Thursday morning. Seven Prussian regiments below the fort of Vaux, advancing in close formation, were simply massacred. The French gunners say that there are moments when the sight of the butchery becomes nauseating. An artillery officer added: 'I dream at night of the ghastly, crumpled liea'ps of shattered grey-green bodies. Germany's wives and mothers must curse tho Kaiser ill their prayers,'" AN UNINTERRUPTED BOMBARDMENT. London, March 11. 3.45 a.m. The High Commissioner reports: "Iu the west of the Meuse there has been an uninterrupted bombardment, several enemy attacks at Corbeaux Wood being repulsed with severe enemy fjss. IS a finel assault a German division succeeded in occupying part <jl the wood which we vcaptured on Wednesday. "Two attacks were repelled at the village of Douaumont.-The enemy were unable to attain the ; French position at the ville of Vaux," 0 SAXON REGIMENTS STORM A FRENCH POSITION. (Rec. March 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, Maror 11. A German official message says: "Saxon regiments stormed the enemy positions near Ville-aux-Bois, twelve miles north-west of Reims, on a front of fourteen hundred yards by a depth of five furlongs, and made prisoners of 700 mon and captured cannon, five maeliinc-guns, and thirteen mine-throwers, "We entirely drove out the Frenchfrom the Corbeaux and Oumieres woods, and the counter-attacks wore repulsed. "The enemy's surpriso attacks on Blunzee broke down with heavy losses." VILLAGE OF VAUX RUINED BY SHELLS. rp. TJ, , rt • • t London, March 11, 5 5 p.m. Xlie High Commissioner reports: "North of the Aisne, after having bombarded yesterday for several hours l'rench positions between Troyon and Berry-au-Bac, tho Germans debouched from \llle-aux-Bois and attacked the salient towards Bois-des-Buttes. After .1 very lively engagement, we threw back the enemy from the north-west point and the \\estern part of tho wood, which lie had succeeded in occupyinc ."AAcst of tho Mouse the Germans, in the course of tho night, made n stroll}.' attack south-past _of Botliincourfc against tho trenches along the road from Bethincourt to Cliattancourt. An immediate counter-attack to the French entirely an important communication trench which the enemy had penetrated. "East of the Meuse the enemy redoubled bis efforts botwoett the villus and crost of Fort Vaux: the bombardment was continued all nteht with

great violence, and the infantry assaults were multiplied against the village, which was ruined by shells. The enemy took some houses east of the church, but all liis efforts failed against the western portion of the village, which tho French still liold. 'As tho result of several attacks against the crest and fort, tho Germans mado progress along the slope, but tho attempts to reach tlio wire entanglements extending in front of tho fort were broken by our fire. "In the AVoeuvre the bombardment continues intense in the region between Eix and Moulainvillo. , "In Lorraine, tho French artillery fire caused grave damage to Gorman works near Embormosnil." j ENEMY BRINGING UP RESERVES TO VERDUN. (Rec. March 12, 5.5 p.m.) Berne, March 10. The great movement of troops from tho Rhine is.continued. An uninterrupted series of trains pass Balo crowded wisfc troops, and mostly at night time, with lights extinguished, apparently going towards Verdun. SITUATION ON BOTH BANKS OF THE MEUSE UNCHANGED. Paris, March 10. An official communique states that the situation east' and west of the Meuse is unchanged. During Thursday night the bombardment on both banks was continued violently. )Ye wrecked trenches at Hill 425 and eastward of Thanii. Our aircraft have had numerous encounters, mostly over the enemy lines. On Wednesday, out of fifteen machines which took part in a flight, ten lunged vrtically into their- own lines, two wore brought down in the Champagne, and three near Verdun. FLAGRANT OFFICIAL GERMAN LIES EXPOSED ■' Paris, March 10. A semi-official statement has been published exposing, seriatim flagrant official German lines. It is observed they are multiplying since the failure at Verdun. ... The offensive at Verdun continues with incredible ferocity. Despite enormous expenditure of munitions and fearful sacrifices, the enemy nowhere succeeded in bendiug our line. 'With mad obstinacy he has been subjecting our front since Wednesday night to formidable onslaughts, but the batteringram failed to break our wall. Contrariwise, we increased oar advance at Crow's Wood. We hold practically the whole of Crow's Wood. The struggle was particularly warm on the right bank of the Meuse. The Germans in one day made numerous attacks in mass in a space of one and three-quarter miles. They attompted to debouch from Douaumout to Vans but our lire pinned them down at the starting-point. Later in the day an equally unsuccessful attack was made on the trencbefe at the foot of the slope of a hill height overlooking I'ort Vaux. Towards evening, owing to a snowstorm, operations slackened. In these attacks it is estimated several army corps were used. , The fighting was extremely violent, and' the carnage was frightful. _ Tho Germans were decimated, but other troops replaced them. It was a veritable hecatomb, for which the Germans did not gain an inch of ground. FRENCH WITHDRAWAL FROM BETIiINUOUKT PREDICTKD. 1 London, March 10. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent say 6 that some military critics foretell a withdrawal from Be tUincourt, now a somewhat acuto salient, and even Goose liill, but General Castelnau is certain to be_ able to hold the ] existing line at present. The Germans in force twice fruitlessly attempted to rush Bothincimrli village at night. Desperate encounters at D&uaumont- continue. Long lines of Germans were hrokeii before the French parapets. GERMANS OUT FOR A BIG DECISION ON WEST FRONT. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, March 10. Colonel Repington, the military correspondent of the "Times;" says: "It is necessary to remember that the Germans arc out for a big decision on the West front. Temporary lulls and recrudescences in the attacks are only stages in their culminating offonsive of the war. Tho recent capture of Forges, Hill 265, and Freines are intended to draw tighter the chain around the main fortified position.' These isolated attacks will continue until the German batteries reach their second position!!, when the- whole of this front will he attacked." VERDUN WILL NOT FALL NOR PEACE COME EARLY. , Sydney, March 11. Mr. Harry Gullett, the war correspondent, addressing the .Journalists' Association, said lie would stake whatever reputation he had- that Verdun Would not fall. It was rank folly, he said, to talk of an early end to the war. When the Germans wera "right up against it" they would not collapse, but ivould fight with greater desperation. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES CALLED TO THE COLOURS. ("Times" and Sydny "Sun" Services.). London, March 10. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent ot Rotterdam says that it is reliably reported that Germany has willed to the colours all men of 18 to 40 years of age hitherto employed on Government work. % .- GERMAN PEOPLE DEPRESSED OVER THE LOSS JYS ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) . London, March 10. Neutrals arriving in Switzerland from Berlin state that the German losses at Verdun are becoming public, in spite of the precautions taken, and are depressing tho population. There are widespread rumours of disagreements between members of the General Staff. It is reported that the Duke of Wurtemburg will possibly replace the Crown Prince. SERIOUS MOB RIOTS. REPORTED AT COLOGNE. x l Amsterdam, March 10. Travellers report serious riots at Cologne, supposed to be the outcome of the fighting at Verdun. Tho travellers were not allowed to qui); tllo trains. They "heard that guns had been posted in the streets to overawe the mob. RIOTING IN BERLIN OF DAILY OCCURRENCE. (Rec. March 13, 0.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, March 12 A train from Holland, bound to Berlin, was detained for ten hours at Spandau, and the passengers were not allowed to leave the station. It is understood that there is serious rioting in Berlin daily since the failure at Verdun, and the dotent-ion was intended to prevent travellers witnessing a riot. : The Kaiser is expeoted in Berlin early next week. INTENSE BOMBARDMENT ON THE RIGHT BANK OF THE V i MEUSE. / 3 (Rec. March 12, 11.10 p.m.) Paris, March 12. A French communique sayß: "Activity by the opposing artillery on the left bank of'the Meuse has been less marked, but the bombardment on the right bahk is intense. (Westward of Douaumont fresh information shows that Friday's fruitless assaults on our trenches at that spot was most murderous for tlie eneny. The lattor, attacking thrice in columns of fours, was mown down, and retired, the ground being covered with corpses. "An aeroplane in the Douaumont district brought down a Fokker machine." A -GERMAN CLAIM AGAIN REFUTED. (Reo. March 13, 0.5 a.m.) Paris, March 12. The "Echo do Paris" says the German gain of five furlongs by three hundred yards at the Crows' Wood cost them 25,000 men. Alluding to the German claim of again obtaining a footing in Fort Vaux, a French semi-official message repeats tho earlier denial, and adds: "The fort was never lost, for it was never attacked."