FIGHTING NEAR DOUAUMONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2749, 18 April 1916, Page 5

FIGHTING NEAR DOUAUMONT

> ATTACK BY THE FRENCH PARTS OF THE ENEMY TRENCHES OCCUPIED By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright nf ¥ at f th -\t 7i W s attaok on Sons^outhward of fte enemy trenches m tie Frendl 10 OCOU Py 6011,6 elements VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT OF FRENCH POSITIONS: The High Commissioner reports: London, April 17, 12.55 a.m. at bomba ™ *he .French positions Hautmonr^d 6 E P a h rg aB 1 !- eil MtW * al LIVELY ATTACK ON GERMAN POSITIONS, WITH RESULTS. The High Commissioner reports: London, April 16, 4.45 p.m. M t! le 1156'l 156 ' he bombardment was continued during the com so of the night in the sector, A vocourt and Caurettes Wood. ■ H. n rlg 'l- n ii® , rf S? u nched late yesterday a lively attack on he German positions south of Douanmont, occupying ■ narts of the enemy trenches. Two hundred Germans were made prisoners. l ' VIOLENT MINE-FIRING-NEAR THE LA BASSEE CANAL. By Telegrapl—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. April 17, 5.5 p.m.) •« n ' • um, London, April 16. A German communique says: "There has been violent and artillery actions on both banks of the La Bassee Canal. Our mine destroyed sixty yards of the British positions at Vermeilles +i' V l ol l I l t , fi g lltin g'developed eastward of the Meuse on Saturday evening on the front between the fortress of Do uaumont and the ravine at Vaux. The French, after strong artillery preparation,. attacked in considerable force, but wore repulsed with heavy losses." : , ' GERMAN ATTAOK ON VERDUN.TO BE ABANDONED. (Rec. April L 7, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 16. German newspapers hint at the a bandonment of the attempts' to capture Verdun, declaring that the German mo ve was intended merely to forestall a tremendous French offensive against flletz, planned for yesterday. The French calculation of German losses are said to be absurd. They don't give the correct figures, but state that ninety ger cent, of tho Germans wounded ai Verdun are able to return to the front. FALSITY OF GERMAN COMMUNIQUES EXPOSED. . Parts, April 16. A semi-offioial message points out that the German communiques per-* sistently allege'that General Petain is counter-attacking, of course unsuccessfully, but sufficiently violently to ex plain the protracted operations. In reality General Petain is still acting on the defensive, and will remain so as long as he- thinks fit. THE DEFENDER OF VERDUN ISSUES "A STIRRING ORDER. (Reo. April 17, 6 p.m.) ' , ; Paris. Anril 16. General Petain, after the action on April 9, issued the following order "This day brings glory to our arms. our infantry, artillery, engineers, and aviators have rivalled each other in heroism, everywhere breaking the Crown Prince's soldiers' furious assaults. Doubtless they will attach again. Therefore, work and watch. We shall achieve tho same'success. Courage IWe shall beat them." 1 THREE GERMAN GENERALS KILLED AT VERDUN. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) • London, April 15. Rome reports that a near relation of tho Kaiser was wounded and three generals killed at Verdun. WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF FRENCH PRISONERS. v ' „ ~ \ Amsterdam, April 16. Two German deserters have inform ed a Dutch correspondent that they were g rr, 10 ® soa F tlle ell Verdun front. Thev witnessed the fight at the lermiten Hill (south of Haumont), reported on April 8. .According to the German report, a French detachment surrendered, and then' resumed Dims ana attacked the Germans' rear, necessitating drastic measures. In reality, the French were cut off, and refused to surrender. They inflicted terrible losses on the Germans, who had passed on. Eventually the French finding it impossible to cut a way throu gli, surrendered, whereupon the Ger' mans, after the men were disarmed, co mmenced a wholesale slaughter. Many of tho Germans were disgusted at the butchery. • . 1 WONDERFUL FEAT OF A FRENCH LIEUTENANT ■ (Rec. April 17, 9.15 p.m.) The lieutenant of a famous African corps has been awarded tho'Lesion of Honour arid the War Cross for a wonderful feat at Verdun. A battery of seventy-fives was stationed at a crest flanking Douaumont. An Austrian ™ 2 f , onud tlie «? ct tango, and at daybreak rained shells of 130 calibre for half an hour, wounding the captain and putting most of the guns out of action. The lieutenaut, in desperation, pushed the rest of the guns into a crater, and recommenced firing himself, serving one gun. 'By eight o'clock only four 'gunners were left, and by nine o'clock two. Half an hour later the lieutenant was alone, and watched the Germans preparing to storm the crest with the bayonet. He waited until they were 400 yards away, and then worked his gun at top speed. The shells tore the German masses, ploughing furrows through whole ranks. The Germans wavered and fled in disorder, never believine that one man was against them. b . The lieutenant spiked two guns harnessed three mules to a couple of cannon which were almost intact, and brought them into the main position with the wounded captain. \