VERDUN TACTICS ON THE BRITISH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2795, 13 June 1916, Page 5

VERDUN TACTICS ON THE BRITISH FRONT

COMMENTS ON RECENT SEVERE FIGHTING FIGHTING IN THE ARGONNE, AND AT VERDUN , . "(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright): London, June 11. Correspondents at Sir Douglas Haig's headquarters point out ' that the enemy is repeating in a smaller degree the Verdun tactics. Tho bombard-' ment also disclosed the use of high-explosive shells from long-range naval guns. ' The enemy's higher ground- in this zone gives a preponderance of fire-command, which he is . utilising to tho utmost. , , When the test of sheer human courage and endurance came, the superiority of the \gallant Canadians was always demonstrated by the results. FLANDERS SHAKEN BY THE BOMBARDMENT. _ Amsterdam, June 11. The Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" states that the fighting at Ypres was restricted to tho artillery. All day and all night the bombardment was audible throughout Flanders. The Germans gained some ground southward of Hooge, and penetrated the » hills dominating Zillebeke, but their losses wero heavy. Belgian civilians were compelled to dig holes, which already on Saturday wero filled with corpses. The British firo'bit some men thus occupied in the rear. FRENCH OFFICIAL. COMMUNIQUE. Paris, June 11. A French official communiqno says:—There has been mine fighting to our advantage, in the Argonne. Wo. havo destroyed some underground- works all Haute Chevauchee. The explosion of two German mines created a single crater eighty yards in diameter, we occupy the lips of it on three sides. t There is an intense artillery, struggle on both sides of the Meuse. Two attempted surprises against Hill 304 and eastward of the hill failed ' • completely. There has been, no infantry action on the right bank, but hand-to-hand fighting occurred at the Apremont Forest, and we ejected, with losses, two detachments which were intruding upon our advanced positions. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tho High Commissioner reports:— ' ; London, June 11, 3.50 p.m. "Between tljo Oise and tho Aisne the French artillery destroyed an enemy work in the region of Saint Haar wood; "In the Argonne a mine conflict resulted to our advantage. "North of Verdun there is interno artillery fighting on both hanks of tho Meuse. On the left bank two of the enemy's cohps-de-main, ono on our positions on Hill 301, and tho other east of tho hjill, were completely stopped. "In the Vosges, following on a violent bombardment, the enemy was able to reach our trenches south of Hill Saint Marie, but were immediately repelled by our counter-attack." GERMAN OFFICIAL .COMMUNIQUE. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) Amsterdam, June 11. A German communiquo states: There has been heavy artillery fighting on both sides of the Meuse. A German patrol penetrated tho trenches westward of Markirch (or St Marie aux Mines, in Alsace). STAGGERING STATISTICS OF GERMAN LOSSES OFFICIAL AND OTHER ESTIMATES. , _ London, Juno 11. Tho Press Bureau states that the German casualties, according to official lists for May, show:— Killed or died of wounds 19,720 Died of sickness 2,751 Prisoners : 1,100. Missing 6,771 Severely wounded .'. 15,020 Wounded i 5,787 Slightly wounded 42,584 Wounded, but remaining with units 8,684 Total 102,507 Tho grand total for the war is now 2,944,586. The above figures do not include naval or colonial casualties. An Amsterdam message, referring ."o the latest issue of German casualty lists, says that the total Prussian losses alone are 2,699,000. In the latest ten lists, covering the slaughter ut Verdun, and obviously to conceal 'the truth, less casualties are admitted for tho past four months than for any period of tho past twelve months, when there was practically no severe fighting, except the French victories in the Champagne. TOLD IN A STAFF OFFICER'S NOTE-BOOK. , ~, Paris, June 11. A noto-book, belonging to a capturca German staff-officer, contains an. esti- . mate of the German losses at Verdun at the end of May as 425,000. This is based on information from reports to the General Staff. The figure is now probably 450,000. NEARLY A MILLION MEN SACRIFICED OUTSIDE VERDUN. .„ . ' , ~ Paris, June 11. A somi-omcial report, commenting on tho enemy s enforced inactivity after the fierce struggle at Fort Vaux. emphasises the "Lokal Anzeigor's" admission that tho fort was battered, and that tho French artillery made it untenable. Doubtless the Germans are preparing to further exhaust their reserves. Altogether, they have sacrificed outsido Verdun nearly 1,000,000 killed, wounded, and missing, far surpassing the Frenoh losses. : ' * HOW TO BRING THE ENEMY TO A STANDSTILL. r< 1 i-n , • ~ „t, i-j. -n • ■ „ PaHS, JllllO 11. Colonel Rousset. in tho 'Petit Parisien, says that tho prevention of' reinforcements, by which the repeated offensive against Franco wero maintained, is tho best way of bringing tho enemy to a standstill. He is convinced that if these means aro soon used to a sufficient extent they, .will prove decisive