Second Edition In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 70, 28 February 1916, Page 6

Second Edition In the West

——— Ms . •OVERTAKSi'iG A LIE, FRENCH LOSSES LESS THAN 5000. (Received 1.20 p.m.) London, February 27. A Flench official message emphasised the false claims made in a Herman communique ; and affirms that the total number of French captured by the Germans is less than 5000 although the Germans alleged the total to be ten thousand.- | NEW GERMAN DEVILRY. \ TWO KINDS OF FLAME-THROW-ERS. PARISIENS OPTIMISTIC OF RESULT. OPERATIONS OF GREAT MAGNITUDE, “NOT A SIEGE, BUT A BATTLE.” (Received 8.5 a.m.) Paris, February 27. Le Temps states that the French V made prisoners of a entire battalion of pioneers. . ft is reported that the Imperial A Guards were supplied with two kinds of flame-throwers, the smallest hurling the flame twelve yards, and the biggest having a capacity of fllty-five. Parisiens were never more optimistic than they are to-day. The Bourse has shown a gradual rise since the beginning of tlie battle, and military cir- . cles are quietly confident, firmly glad that the loilg-thrcatened attack has come. They describe the German advance at different places as purely strategic; in fact, advantageous to the • French, since both sides are playing for a stronger position. According to a prominent f rench military critic, the French evacuated on their left wing a height extending from south of Champ Neuville to Beaumont, on which it would have been dangerous ,to prolong their stay, because the Meuse would have hampeied the falling back of the soldiers, and later they would have been uneasy, knowing that the river was oulv a short distance in the rear. Accordingly, all the first line retired to the heights between the side ol Pnwrc Hill 1 and the Yauche wood. The Germans are now assailing this position. The whole operation is not a siege, hut a battle against one of the French armies. * It must he remembered that the garrison at Verdun and its forts are only a figure in these combats as an element of resistance. The enemy’s big guns might demolish the fort at Donamuont without destroying anything hut an inert block of concrete. Operations of such magnitude as have been described must bo carried on to the end. Despite the snow, the Germans cannot remain long inactive awaiting better weather, while a thaw would put them in a worse situation. “SN A SEA OF FIRE!” / ENEMY NEWSPAPER’S ADMISSION. (Received 8.5 a.m!) Amsterdam, February 27. German newspapers admit that the forces sustained appalling losses northward of \erdun. The Frankfurter Zeitmig describes the German regiments as fighting in a sea of fire. REFUTATION OF GERMAN REPORTS, VERDUN, AN EMPTY SHELL. (Received 12.45 a.m.) , London, February 27. Though the German claim to a great victory came us a shock on Saturday evening, flip French announcement this morning brought equally great relief, but the French official wireless now puts the matter in a truer proportion. Commencing with the German statement about the armored fortress of Dououmont, etc., it says that the German’s attribute too much importance to the forts, which are out of date, and were dismanled during the first month of the war, and no longer contained a gun or any soldiers. A wireless message quotes the paper, Le Matin, as saying that if the Germans, after their frightful losses, sue- i ceeded in capturing Verdun itself, it would find an empty shell, as all the supplies had been removed months ago. FURTHER PARTICULARS. FUTILE ENEMY ATTACKS. (Received 12.15 p.m.) Paris, February 2<. A communique states: Our troops during the night continued, to stren-gthen-the position north of Verdun. . There is no change east of the Meuse. where there was a heavy snowfall. • There have been no fresh enemy attempts on Talon Hill, nor on Roivre Hill. Strong enemy attacks during] Saturday evening on Haudromout farm, east of Poivre Hill, was broken up by our artillery, machine guns, and counter-attacks. Another, attempt, equally violent, on Hiinlminicnt wood, east of Donamuont, was equally futile. Our advanced posts at the )\ m ’•’re curried out a withdrawal unhindered. No infantry action occurred west of the Meuse. A strong enemr attack on a two-mile Iront. near Cellos, altei artillery preparation, was a complete failure.