Latest War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 March 1916, Page 3

Latest War News

(Rcv-ened 'Luis Day o.bO a.m.; BAtTLE OF \ ERiJi .s RENEWED. t aris, Muich o. news reports that .ne baitlo oi Yurduu was renewed on Thursday, when the enemy 's operations were, wrecked by a serious recrudescense as wo foresaw. it is the second phase ol the motst violent efforts '>he Germans ever have attempted against us. All the evidence shows that Verdun was chosen for the attack, because the wooded region hampered aerial reconnaissance. We were aware ol tiie tremendous preparations tJiey have been making for three months, but possibly did not realise its full importance. Yesterday's attack was extremelv violent, and the enenly losses over broken ground, » hioh already ,vat. covered with corpses, was enormous. 'Lhcy nowhere gainedi a footing in our trenches. We took the fullest advantage of the three days' respite, and the issue may be awaited with absolute confidence. The hrst act in the battle failed and the second will not meet with nny better success.

A STORY OF THE BATTLE. Paris, March 3. The. Figaro publishes a thrilling story of the Verdun battle. The Germans were reported eastward at three in the morning, andi flares and rockets lit up the battlefield as in broad daylight. The enemy clearly was seen advanoing in serried masses, singing his guttural war hymns. We lav motionless and silent in the presence of the stirring f.peetacle. When our machine guns opened the Germans fell in rows, but continued to advance through the hurricane of shot and shell. We were stupefied on learning that the enemy hid; penetrated the fort, mid our serEeant wept with rage, and demanded to know what we were waiting for.

Soon tilt) Older came Uj lix bayonets, and wo leaped over die sodden grounu »iiouting. 'liie .bayouel light avowed nuermiiiaiile. Uur men fell last, but tlie Germans iui luster. Ho cleared tliem out and gladly roiled. Our uniforms were caked with mud and blood. GiTt.YiA.Nti ADVANCING ON YERDlkN. Lundon, iViarcii '3. A German communique stales liiat we advanced south 01 JLfouuumont ioru, taking prisoner 1000 and i-apturwg mj ueavy guns. (Uecei\ed 'liiis Day :j.u a.m.; bJ JiA-UMt tot.Mv. jiareii •>. liie oDeamei JuaKos wm uuuou and unii oir the island di l uu. ftix wen killed. i.NUIJJIiLN'IS AT THE IiAITLh u. VI£JLU>UxV l'aris, jiarcii ."<■ Wlloli liie i" rolioh evacuated oainogueiix tuo companies ui infantry were isolated ill a group of houbCo. lhoir youtlliul captain resistance against overwhelming odo.s. two Prussian baitalioinsi twice attempted to rush tile position but were repulsed, losing 2UO killed and uOU wouu<ied. 'lire defenders were seriously reduced, and soon were without ammunition. I hoy sent a mes&a-ge to thoir colonel that they intended to cut their way -outj aud luadie a sudden sally momentarily disconcerting the Germans. When the dol'ondons auuu&t were overcome reinforcements saved them. During a critical moment of Mie struggle at Douauniont, a regiment, (.lazed by five hours incessant shell (ire, weakened in the centre and were aooui to yield. A part tell back and threw themselves 011 the ground., wiieu o>mmandant Iteaux seized a ritie and advanced amidst a hail or shrapnel. ile then stood alone oti the crest and. shouted: ''On your feet! fi'orin foursl" The men obeyed and ilixtux led them back to the firing line. REASONS f'OH Till-: ( A L.AI. The Temps saj'N that the proiiatile reason ol' the relative calm at Verdun it that it i.s due to the necessity tor trie Germn.ns rceonstitnit/ing their units, and possibly also caused tiy the question of munitions.