THE FRENCH ADVANCE AT VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2915, 30 October 1916, Page 5

THE FRENCH ADVANCE AT VERDUN

QUARRY BRILLIANTLY CAPTURED STORY OF A GERMAN BLUFF The High Commissioner reports:— ~„ London, October 27, 2.20 p.m. Aorfchwards of Verdun, in detail operations west of Fort Vaux, we took .luU prisoners, and made progress generally. At Douaumont and Chenots the enemy violently bombarded us. Tho enemy's works at several points wore bombed by our aeroplanes." London, October 28, 2.55 p.m. A French official communique l states:—"We brilliantly captured, by grenade fighting, an organised quarry north-east of Fort Douaumont." FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Asßorintion. Clce. October 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. A .trench official communique states:—"The enemy delivered a continuous and violent bombardment of our first lines at tho village of Haudromont, .fort Douaumont, and the Damloup battery. They attempted to attack westward of the village of Douaumont, but were instantaneously stopped bv our curtain of fire." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ■ (Rec. October 29, 5.5 p.m.) •,,.'.. London, October 27. A German official communique states:—"There has boen heavy fighting at Verdun. The French attacked from tho Thiaumont forest and fort, and also from the Fumin forest, but were repulsed with heavy losses." London, October 27. A German official communique states: "Wo repulsed a French attack cast of Fort Douaumont." ENEMY APPRECIATES HIS DANGER.. Olmitp.r'H Telegram.) (Rc. Oofohcr 28, 2.35 p.m.) London, October 27. Major Moraht, the Germany military writer, in the "Berliner Tageblatt," says:—"The success at Verdun signifies ihe strength, unity, and determination oF~the French troops, which the Germans must brea'k.' J WHOLE GERMAN REGIMENTS MELTED AWAY. Australian-New Zoaland CaMe Association. (Rec. October 29, 5.5 p.m.) ._'•...! Paris i October 28. The newspapers describe the French, "seventy-fives" as "ploughing up" the Germans in Thursdays counter-attacks at Verdun. "Three regiments moltted away in two hours, and some battalions had to be Te-formedl ten times." CALLING THE ENEMY'S BLUFF Rec. October 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, Octooer 28. Mr. Asbrnead Bartlett was an eye-witness of the French attack at Verdun. He says: "Since the battle of the Somnie opened the Germans at 'Verdun have been putting up a gigantic bluff. Divisions have been constantly withdrawn and changed. Verdun had becomo a rest camp for divisions which were shattered on the Somme, and from one-third to half the guns had been withdrawn. Finally, General Joffre decided to call the enemy's bluff." FORTY-THREE TRAINS OF,GERMAN WOUNDED. Paris, October 27. Messagos from Luxembourg state that forty-three Red Cross trains, full of wounded from Verdun, pa6sed in sis hours in the direction of Treves. The French casualties during 115 days on the Somme were only half the number suffered during the twenty days of the autumn offensive in 1915.

"HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST" Paris, October 27. M. Marcel Hutin, in tlio "Echo de Paris," writes that three French divisions at Verdun completely beat seven German divisions. There was no question of surprise except regarding the direction of tha attack. More than a fortnight ago the Germans were exhibiting' placards asking, "When is the attack coming? We aro waiting for you; regard yourselves as corpses."

' THE BATTLES OF THE SOMME

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL ATTACKS BY THE BRITISH. The High Commissioner reports:— London, October 27, 2.20 p.m. A French official report states: "Our artillery fire exploded a. munition depot between Genermont and Ablaincourt. London, October 29, 12.20 a.m. A British official report states: "This morning wo carried 1 out successful local operations north-east of Lesbooufs, resulting in the capture of several important trenches, including 8 officers and 61 men. The bombardment was very effective. The enemy was drivon out and exposed to our riflo fire. On other sectors artillery duels have been going on." ? . GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand O&ble Association. • (Rec. October 29, 5.5 p.m.) Amstsrdam, Octobei 28. A. German official communique states: "The infantry battles north of the Sommo recommenced yesterday. The British attacked from the GueudecourtLesboeufs line, and the French from Morval. The attacks were sanguinarily repulsed." , HEROIC CHARGE ACROSS THE SLOUGH (lice. October 29, 5.5 p.m.) _ London, October 28. Mr. -Percival Gibbon writes: "Hand-to-hand fighting took place in the gun-pits at Hazy Trench on Thursday, It was one of the bitterest episodes in the Somme action. The attack was undertaken in weather conditions under which only tragic heroism could have made it possible for an advance to he made. The British unite went to their trenches the previous night in soaking rain, aud seven degrees of frost were registered before morning. Later the rain melted the country to a loathly yellow paste. The artillery barrage advanced ahead of tlio attackers. They were only half-way out of their quagmire of a trench when they saw a German officer recalling tho defenders to their parapets, and while the attackers floundered in_ the mud every German wns firing a rifle. The British took the German position by crawling and tumbling forward somehow until tho trench was captured. The defenders wore Bavarians, who captured Fort Vaux at Verdun in the face of a magnificent French defence, so they wore worthy foes. But thoy were no match for British hayonets. Dead Germans now lie thick upon the ground. 'But for the miserable weather the British would havo been before the great trench system which is guarding Le Transloy." GERMAN FRONT FORCIBLY LENGTHENED ALLIES' WEDGES IN THE WEST. New York, October 27. _ 'Advices from London slate that the Allies' operations in France ate seriously adding to tho length of front the Germans have to defend with fastwaning reserves. Every wedge driven in the German line, lilro those at Thiepval and Douaumont, makes tho front zigzag instead of straight, thus increasing the mileage of trenches for which tho Gcrmaus must either get additional men and guns or retreat. It is estimated that fifty miles can- be added to the German front in this manner, which will requiro 300,000 new troops to defend.