THE METHODS OF VERDUN AT WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 62, 6 December 1917, Page 5

THE METHODS OF VERDUN AT WORK

FEARFUL HECATOMBS OF DEAD RUMOURED NEW GERMAN OFFENSIVE ON UNPRECEDENTED SCALE By Tfllettraph-'PreBS Association-Copyright ' Paris, Decembor 4. M-.-Marcel Hutin writes:— I "Princo Rupprecht is apparently repeating against the British methods employed by the Crown Prince at Verdun, with tho same result—fearful hecatombs of dead—in order to gain a few inches of ground. The masß attacks continue, and will continue so long as it pleases the German Staff to throw into the furnace fresh divisions from their reserves or drawn from calmer sectors."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A POLICY OF DESPERATE ASSAULTS. ■ . ■ Washington, December 4. 'A communique to tho Secretary of War (Mr. Newton D. Baker) states that there are indications that the Germans are preparing a new offensive on an unprecedented scale, resorting to a policy of desperate assaults, because of tlie attrition oh the West front. The closing of the Swiss frontier means that Germany is transporting troops and guns to the West.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT London, December 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"The enemy artillery was active during the • night in tho neighbourhood of Bourlon and .Moouvres, There was no further infantry action."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. I (Rec. December 5, 9 p.m.) London, December 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The artillery broke up tho enemy's concentrations eastward of Gouzeaucourt and in the neighbourhood of Moeuvres before an attack could develop. The enemy'B artillery iB active in the neighbourhood of La Vacquerie. There is considerable hostile artillery activity northward of Armentieres, south-east of Ypres, and on the Passchendaelo sec-tor."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. December 6, 1.20 a.m.) London, December 5. fc'ir Douglas Haig reports: "Our aeroplanes on Monday bombed and atfacked with machine-guns villages in the enemy's occupation on the battlefront, bombed villages west of Cambrai, and co-operated with the infantry in the fighting east or Ypres. We brought down two of tho enemy's machines. Two of ours are missiug."—Aus.-N.Z. Ciule Assn.-Reuter. "ENEMY IS FORCING THE PACE" (Rec. Deoember 6, 0.35 a.m.) London, December 5. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "Throughout Monday the enemy continued his thrusts between Marcoing and La Vacquerie. He flung in at least six divisions on a narrow front, not counting the cost, and never weakening the pressure even where he made no advance. We have thus forced upon the enemy a battle more decisive than any preceding action, in view of Germany's weakening man power. The Germans seem to be forcing decisive fighting in open country, possibly for political reasons. Prisoners stato that they have been promised peace if they win this battle. The struggle is as fierce as ill the second Battle of Ypres. Tho enemy lias the offensive, is forcing the pace, and fighting all out. Our men yield ground only after a butchery of Germans. Tho most desperate resistance is shown where a body of Britishers lias been temporarily cut off or outnumbered. I talked with wounded Guardsmen who were lying in trucks, railway tarpaulins and blankets, their only protection against the frosty blasts. They told how they fought through houses, over broken walls, and in dark collars. In such fighting some bodies of troops are necessarily cut off, and must fight to the last to enable the others to fall back safely."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MOST CRITICAL MOMENT PAST BUT SEVERE FIGHTING STILL IN STORE, (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 4. _ The United Press correspondent states that it is believed that the most critical moment on the Cambrai battlefield is past. Ho does not think, however, that von Hindenburg will allow matters to stand where they are now. Severe fighting is most probably ahead. Von Hindenburg will undoubtedly fling more men over the barricade of German corpses that is strewn around the Cambrai bulge. Thus far, the attempt to flatten out Byng's jump towards Cambrai has been a total failure. Prisoners declare that Uhlans wero hold in readiness to exploit the hoped-for break through. Reinforcements continue to arrive, and the concentration of artillery is increasing. This is being fetched from other parts. I was in Flanders on Sunday at the time of our local advance in the region of Passchendaelc. Tho enemy's countcr-barrago on that occasion was nine minutes late, and much lighter than in previous fighting in this are? "Obviously tho British guns liavo knocked out tho Prussian batteries, or the latter have been withdrawn. The situation to-day apparently is that Princo Rupprecht's sword arm is actuated by von Hindenburg. The latter will wage battle so long as lie can find the troops to respond. Every British officer and 'Tommy' is most confident. Prince Eupprecht is unablo to make much headway regardless of tho amount of strength he develops, and in spite of tho advantages he has in fighting out from a chain of fortresses, with undisturbed roads and railways, against tho British, who are fighting in tho open and behind whom lies the devastated Somme battleground, without roads and railways save for the soldier-built routes. The Huns' human avalanches have been checked, and if Prince Itupprecht persists in fighting he may find that tho bulge which ho is prodding is a hornet's nest."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. HERO OF A TANK THRILLING. EXPLOIT ON THE OAMBRAI BATTLEFRONT. London, December 4. A captain of a tank in tho recent fighting was killed, and a lieutenant took command. Tho tank received a direct hit, and ho ordored the crow to hold some trenches a short distance away with a Lewis gun. The tank drew the gunfire. Alone he fired alternately with several Lewis guns from tho tank until all were red-hot and tho ammunition exhausted, when hq found a German machine-gun, and with this stopped the oounter-attack, holding tho trenches for hours until the infantry arrived.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.