THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 February 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

f-KLECXIUU TKLEGKAI'Li —CO I'VIUOHT.j [iMSIt PUKSS ASSOCIATION.] THE BATTLE OF VERDUN. Paris, Eeb. 26. The latest news shows that the battle raging near Verdun is the most terrific of modern times, though twenty-four hours' of snowstorm abated the ferocity of it in some sectors on Friday. An eyewitness liarirates that the Get-man cannonade was such that all the trenches and fortifications wcjre completely overturned. A communique states: 'Severe fighting continues north of Verdun. Th» enemy is still directing his efforts against the Iront cast of the Mouse. According to the. latest information our troops are holding their positions against repeated enemy onslaughts, which he is making l'egardless-ol 'sacrifices. The lighting in the Douamont region is particularly fierce. Wo brought our advanced lines from Urnrs to Sfcnnomont, nearer to the front of the •Mouse hills, without lighting. Our artillery on both banks ol "the Mouse replies unceasingly to the enemy's bombardment. We attacked, and captured an enemy salient south Saint Mariepy, taking prisoner 300 Germans. Paris, Feb. 27.

A French communique states:— A desperate .struggle rages round Douauluout fort which was captured by the enemy this morning after very great losses. (This message is of earlier date than the High Commissioner's cable which states that Douaumont has bean recaptured.) London., Fob. 27. The High Commissioner reports The mine contest in Artois is to' our advantage. The enemy attack on our salient at Saint Mariepy was repulsed, and 340 prisoners taken. , In the region north of Verdun the bombardment continues. Oounter-wittacks completely disconslittcd the enemy attacks. On Hill Du Poivro ive are fit-inly established. and the enemy Jias been repulsed. I'icm> fighting was delivered against us around the fortress of Dona union t. which is a portion < f the <i Ivnn■•<■(! position of the old defence workg. The position was captured, this morning by the enemy after several fruitless attacks, which cost him heavily. It

has been captured afresh, and repossessed by our troops, whom the enemy's endeavours fail to drive out. A rench aviator brought down ' ,\o German machines by machine gun fire. A squadron of nine aeroplanes dropped bombs at Metz-Sablon station. Another squadron bombarded the enom\- works at Ohamfcley. THE GERMAN SIDE OF THE STORY. Copenhagen, Feb. 20. A German wireless message states: On the Mouse we exploited! our previj ous successes and captured fortified villages and farms at Chainp Neuvillo, Cote de Lette, -Vlarniont. Beaumont, Chamberebtes, and Ornes, in addition to enemy positions to the right oi Lou vemont, which we "captured by storm. 'J'he enemy's losses were extraordinarily heavy. Tile total prisoners taken were above 10,000. Jvo information is available as to the capture ot booty and materials. London, Feh. 25, A German message states :—A Brandenburg regiment stormed the armoured fortress of Douaumont, the northeastern corner pillar of Verdiun's per- j nuiieut iiiain iitie of lortifications. D.i,;..iinio:!t is l.ov. ''u nilv in our hands.

Loii.iou. Fob. 2-7. 5 V oii.-sidei able advances in the l\aii piese.'ico have taKon place. hast oi t ie Meu.se we captured tlie 5 .iills south-Hcsfc of Loa ve.iioli., also the liirt-iUod positions east thereof. 'Hie enemy's resistance on u,e plain 0 I , i\ oevre broke down on tne entire front , I.j Ma-rphoville, suutii ui the Paris»detz high road. He are cios>.ly pu'ri suing. The reported capture of Champ , Neuvillc proves to be erroncou.-.. Slli DOUGLAS HAIG'S REl'Ou T. London, Jj'eb. 2(j. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We sprang three mines on i'riday night iu Llie neighbourhood ol Loos with satisfactory results. Wo repulsed this morning a raid On the trenches -.south-east of Marincourt. There was artillery activity about ipres on both sidus during the day. RUSSIAN ACTIVITY. Petrograd, .February 25. A communique states:—ln the Caucasus we assaulted and captured the town of of Lisopir. Hie pursuit of the enemy continues in the region of Erz'eroum and Khnuyss. Our troops at Ivorniansliah dislodged the enemy from mountain positions and occupied the town of Sakhne, taking four guns. We have entered Keshan, south of Teheran. Ihe Russians have stormed and captured Kernianehah. in Persia.