BRILLIANT FRENCH VICTORY NEAR VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 18 December 1916, Page 7

BRILLIANT FRENCH VICTORY NEAR VERDUN

ENEMY LINE PIERCED GREAT CAPTURE OF PRISONERS AND • (By Telegraph—Pjcess Aswoiation—Copyright). . (Rec. "December 17, 5.5 p.m.) ; ■ t •' •' Paris, December 16. ' , A ; French communique says"After several days' artillery preparation, ' <we attacked the enemy this morning north of the Douaumont, between the (Mouse, and the Woevre, on a front exceeding ten kilometres (6J miles). The enemy front was everywhere pierced to a depth of three kilometres (1$ imiles).. We captured, besides numerous trenches, the villages'of Vacherauville and Louvemont, ths Chambrettes Farm works at Haf3aumont, and Bezonvaux. We have not counted all the prisoners,'. but 7500, including two hundred officers, have alreadx passed the collecting-Btations. We took or destroyed numerous guns,'including heavy field pieces and trench guns';.' • besides a great quantity of material. - : Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, the air service brilliantly participated in the success/which was complete, the troops displaying the greatest enthusiasm. Our losses were slight.—Reuter. < FOUR FRENCH DIVISIONS DEFEAT FIVE GERMAN DIVI- , . SIONS. : . . • ■ (Rec) December 17, 5.5 p.m.) . „ i ' ~, London, December 16. . A r rencii,communique states:— 'Four French divisions which yesterday the Meuse and the "Woevre defated five German divisions, of which were in action, and prisoners wore taken Jleuter^ enemy, did not counter-attack during the night."— < OPERATIONS PLANNED BY GENERALS NIVELLE AND PETAIN , (Reo. December 17, 5.5 p.m.). m U '~ ■ ' Paris, December 16. ine newspapers are enthusiastic over the Verdun victory, which is the' 'Army s reply to the peace, proposals, and General Nivelle's brilliant debut aii ?' e t. om ™ a nd. He and General Detain planned the vast operation, which General Mangin carried out. .On General Nivelle's signal at ten o'clock in the morning the four attacking divisions dashed forward under the protection of guns of all calibres, and immediately penetrated the enemy's trenches,\whose_ occupants were unable to oppose seriously, but there were numerous machine-guns at Vacherauville, where tbo fighting, though short was very lively. The French, admirably led, dashed to the slopes of Poivre Hill, crushing all opposition, yelling and shouting. Above the din the catchers covdd clearly hear the notes of the "Marseillaise" as Vacherauville ?! were captured on tho rush. . The Germans, seeing resistance impossible, fell back m good order. _In the attack on Vaoheraiiville, ou tlie Boaumout Road, French contincents sudden]v surged am behind the Germans, causing a panic and forcing them to abandon everything. The attackers from Poivre Hill assisted in the rout. Half an hour from the commencement of the attack tho French were on . top of the village of Louvemont, which they speedily captured, the Germans ■ fJ? rr r>v. ,7 \ me - : 1 lie victorious troops then pushed on to the Chambrettes J arm, the south-west horn of Bois des, Fosses. , Tho artillery fire had completely destroy&i the Hardaumont defences; so they were -unable to assist the onemy, who fell back in disorder, leaving the whole of the wood in French hands. Goneral. Mangin, having gained "his objective, dispatched Search parties in all directions, who destroyed numerous guns * *••—"" GERMANS ADMIT THE FRENCH GAINS. (Rec. December 17, 5.5 p.m.) ' ' '!•/•, n- • , . , London, December 16. £ German communique states: "A strong French attack east of the Meuse since the foronooiiganwd advantages in the direction of Louvement and Hardaumont. The fightmg continues."—Reuter. .THE TALLY OF PRISONERS AND GUNS CAPTURED. The High Commissioner reports , ••.. •, _. . . London, December 16, 12.30 pm. A Irench official communique Mates: "The French carried the village of B.ezonvaux, north-east of Verdun. Tho total number of prisoners taken was nine thousand, which included two hundred and fifty officers. Eighty-one ""uns were,also captured. BEZONVAUX VILLAGE CAPTURED, (Rec. December 17, 11.30 p.m.) ; London, December 17. , i • ? renc " communique says: Following up our successes on the right bank of the Meuse, we progressed in Caurieres Wood, and captured the village of _Bezonvaux. A violent German attack at Pepperville was dcossively repulsed. We maintained the whole of our new front. Prisoners continue to Arrive, and so far exceed nine thousand, including 250 officers. Eightyono-guns were capturcd or destroyed.—Reuter. ENEMY RAIDING PARTY HANDLED BY THE BRITISH. (Rec. December 17, 5.5 p.m.) . . London, December Ifi. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy's attack on Lesboeufs was crushed. We raided trenches southward of Armentieres and eastward of Vierstraat. , "A powerful enemy raiding party endeavoured lo enter our line southward of St. Eloi, a. few reaching the trenches, hut they were immediately Ejected. The enemy's losses irero severe."

BRITISH BOMBARD ENEMY TRENCHES. (Rec. December 17, 11.30 p.m.) London, pecembcr 1' Sir .Douglas Maig reports: "Wo bombarded trenches northward of Hulluch <ind eastward of N'euvo Chnpelle."—Renter.