PUNISHING FIRE BY THE FRENCH ARTILLERY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2739, 6 April 1916, Page 5

PUNISHING FIRE BY THE FRENCH ARTILLERY

GERIBAJJ ATTACKS DIMINISHING ENEMY SEVERELY HANDLED AT FORGES The High Commissioner reports: „ r , . , , London, April 4, 4.20 p.m. In the Argorwe we cannonaded the .enemy organisations, notably in the region of Montfaucon-Malancourt. , "West of the Meuso there has beon rather violent artillery fighting from Avocourt to Malancourt.' > "East of the Meuse the night was relatively calm.. "The Germans made no new attempts on the Douaumont-Vaux front, which was re-established by our cvi niter-attacks yesterday. Our batteries v.era particularly aotive on adversary positions in that region, the enemy feebly replying. . "East of Bois le Pretre a strong enemy reconnaissance was dispersed by our fire. . . ' , "In Alsace our batteries fired upon, convoys on the Thann-Mulhausen route." ~ ! ' . . London, April-5, 1.20 a.m. . ''West of the Meiiee an attack against the-village of Haucourt completely . miscarried. . "East' of the Mouse; between Douaufhont and Vaux, the Germans'delivered a powerful attack against our first line, 300 metres south 6f Douaumont village."The attacking troops were forced.out by our fire ;and flung in disorder towards the Chauffoyr wood, where they suffered heavily from the French artillery fire.' * - "North of Caillette wood the French troops continue to progress. "In tlio. Vosges, south-east of Seppois, a German attempt was foiled." * 1 y' : * •" —■ ' V FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE, (Rec. April 5, 9 p.m.) . _ ,- „ . Paris, April 4. A French^official communique states: "The Germans bombarded the Douaumont-Vaux front with great violence. Their infantry strongly attacked south of Douaumont, with successive waves, followed by columns. Our artillery, machine-guns, and rifle fire mowed them down, causing them to 'retreat in disorder to the Chauffoyr-wood, where our artillery inflicted further considerable - losses. We have further progressed north of the Caillette wood. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. V .V . By Tekuraph-Pre&s A6soclatlon-oopyrlgUt • « • i ~, , London, April 4. A German communique states: "After a powerful artillery preparation the English recaptured the crater of St. Eloi. "We captured on Sunday, after bitter fighting, strong positiona southward of- Douaumont and the Caill ette forest, and repulsed counter-at-tacks made all night long. In these attacks exceedingly strong. French forces suffered heavy losses. They repeatedly fruitlessly stormed lost positions:" 1' / ' VERITABLE CARNAGE AT FORGES NO CASUALTIES ON THE FRENCH SIDE. i J< T na -" ®*- vs 1 th l t French withdrawal M skilful that the enemy m his day-long bombardment .wasted thousands of shells. When the attack launched successive waves; the French fmntnl from the new positions mowed down th e enemy The , terrible fire on the flank. There was a veritable carnal w l T Ded a cut down. The French had no casualties ag9 ' * Uole rallks were AN INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL JOFFRE SITUATION TO THE FRENCH COMMANDER'S LIKING. . London, April 4 _ "The Times" says that Colonel Repington, its military correspondent, haa visited General JofFre, and seen Verdun. Colonel llepiligtoil states: '"Tho situation is to General Joffre's lilting. There are thirty German divisions at Verdun, and thirty-four before the British, showing that tlio Germans intend to attack the British or expect the British to attack. The rest of the German line is thinly held, and is destitute of reserves. It is vexatious that'tlie British are not fighting, but later wo shall sec. The Germans expected to capture Verdun in four .days. The situation was critical on February 25, when General Petaih brought up a second army and took over the command. The important task was to re-establish the French mastery of the air. The Germans were so emboldened that they bombed the French battalions on the march along a front of 440 yds. The French aviators restored the ''balance in the second week in March; no German aeroplanes now penetrate the French lines. "General Joffre is," sa.vs Colonel Repington, "enthusiastic over General Petain's use of heavily artillery, which renders it so supple that medium French ordnance can outfight the enemy's heaviest. The French artillery fight day and night; they hold fevery road, ravine, wood, and cantonment. under fire.' No Germans .within five miles can be certain of a moment's rest. If General Petain gives ground, as at Malancourt, he exacts three lives for one. Tho ✓Verdun front is carpeted with German dead. The whole German-line is being drained of men and guns to save tho Crown Prince from failure. _ "The morale of the French Army was never higher. The French trnst their chiefs, and aro confident of victory. Generals Joffre and Castelnau have ample reserves." ' ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services,) (Rec. April a, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 4. Colonel Repington describes the German prisoners at Verdun as an ignoble and unmilitary-lookin" lot, with brutish, horrible faces, and apparently canable of any crime, Many of them wc-ro timtaized. "It seemis as if 'everyWy, trained or untrained, has been c ailed out."