In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 71, 29 February 1916, Page 5

In the West.

“GOING NAP !” CHAMPAGNE OFFENSIVE “MERE FIREWORKS.”' [UNITED pBKBiS AJIBOfIIiTION.] London, February 27. The Times correspondent at Paris points out that the thoughts of the whole of France arc concentrated on Verdun. There is equal anxiety to that shown regarding the struggle on the Marne, but there is less apprehension. All are feeling that so much depends on the Gormans capturing Verdun, as the enemy are “going nap” on the present olfensive, neglecting nothing that is likely to secure success. Accounts unanimously agree that even the tremendous artillery fire hi the Champagne offensive was mere fireworks compared with the pitiless bombardment and thundering on the Meuse. DISTORTING GEOGRAPHY. The famous 12in. and 17in. gnus that have been brought back trom the Russian and Serbian fronts swell tbc chorus, adding force to the tremendous artillery which has transformed, tlie whole region, twisting and dislmting local geography, and leaving, rending, and obliterating the trendies and field fortifications. Never was a battle so minutely prepared lor, nor an army abundantly pu.vi led with material.

GERMAN ANXIETY. The Allies’ tremendous industrial mobilisation ami Britain’s new armies forced German headquarters to realise the possibility of an (Hied general olj tensive on all fronts. Therefore the Germans decided to forestall iis and get in a “knock-out” bclorc being her ten by sheer exhaustion. After five days’ fighting they succeeded, at tremendous cost in battering back the French lines for two thousand yawls, | but they did not pierce them anvI where. SOLID FRENCH PHALANX. , j Broadly sneaking, the French een« j tre gave way under the tremendous pressure, while at' staple points each end belli firm but "as withdrawn in order to constitute a straight front ■ on the hills, a thousand feet high, and supported in the rear by 2t miles of solid field-" orks at Douaumont. The Germans must fight hard il they are ever to reach the main defences. General Morant, boasting of the German sacrifices, scoffs at the French policy to prosecute the war to exhaustion. with the highest possible a urg of French human material. ENCIRCLING THE ENEMY. Paris, February 28. A communique states; There is a certain slackness in the enemy’s forts northward of Verdun, except between the Douaumont height and the plateau northward of Vaux "’here a powerful 'attack on our positions "'as repulsed. The slopes eastAvard of Douaumont are covered with German corpses. Our troops are closely encircling the enemy factions which obtained footIhold there, and the enemy is holding' j the ground with difficulty.- The opening artilleries rendered Talon Hill untenable to ns or the enemy. The Germans at Woevre established contact with our outposts towards Blanzee and Moran villp from whence his attempts to debouch toAvarns Hill 1 255 failed. An enemy detachment in the Senones district Avas shelled and dispersed. TERRIBLE CARNAGE. ENORMOUS SHELL CONSUMPTION. London, February 28.. j The Daily Mail’s Paris correspond- [ ent says that the CroAvn Prince is at a standstill on the second line of the positions from Champ Neuville to Bexon and Vanx, on the edge of the Woevre plain. The’hilly ridge of the Meuse heights where the Germans are endeavouring to advance are earned with ravines and watercourses and French trenches. The batteries enfilade them and the' carnage is terrible. » 1 German corpses in many places form dams across the ravines, impeding the Avatorcourses. Occasionally the dams yield to a reddened stream that fiAvirls on carrying hundreds ol corpses* The French are sending up troops, munition trains, and battery alter battery, realising that victory is to their army. They are making the best use of their artillery,-hut the consumption of shells is exceeding all estimates. THE ENEMY’S CLAIMS. Amsterdam, February 27. ; A German communique says ; Wo repulsed an English attack south-east of Ypres, and live French attacks, in , an attempt to recapture Douaumont , were repulsed with sanguinary enemy losses. We captured Champagneville and Talon Hill, and fought our way to the neighborhood of the southern , border of the wood north-east , of Bras. Our troops eastward of Douau- ■ mont stormed the fortifications at . Hardaumont. Our front on the Woe- , vre plain is advancing against the , Lorraine hills. Unwounded French , prisoners uoav total fifteen thousand. THE BATTLE NEAR VERDUN. The High Commissioner reports:— : London, February 27 (o.dU p.m.) In the region north of Verdun the French have continued to reinforce j their positions. During th e course of the night there avus a storm, but it made no change in the front attack. , East of the Meuse quantities of snow are falling. Yesterday a heavy Ger- ] man attack was launched in the re- {• gion of Haudiomont farm, east of the Boivre slope, ft was broken by our artillery and machine-gun fire and . counter-attacks. Another attempt, not loss violent, was jmide >»i the - region of Hardemont cast ol Douaumont, hut it failed equally as at the Woevre. The withdrawal ordered of our outposts Avas effected unhindered hv the enemy. Jn the \<-s----ges, after artillery preparation, the enemy attempted a strong attack at nightfall on a front of two kilometres, south-east of Cellos, and the attack completely failed. This morning the action of our battries against the cue- | ,ny’s rovictualiing depots at Stoscweir ( and north oi Munster gave good i. j suits. I

j THE YPRES THEATRE, i artillery activity on both > SIDES, London, February 27. General Sir IHaig reports: 1 Yesterday we repulsed a small attack 5 north of Vpres and the Combines ' Canal. Artillery is active on both ; sides to-day at Hulhch. Annentieres, ' and Vpres. THE REAL THING AT LAST. COLONEL REPINGTON’S VIEWS. i; GERMAN OFFENSIVE ON SEA AND ; LAND. (Received 8.20 a.in.) London, February 1 28. Colonel Repington. in The Times, says: Verdun is the real thing at last. The enemy’s decisions to put their fortunes to the tost "ill bo received with fierce delight. The appointment of Prince Henry to a high naval command heralds a Herman offensive on water as well as on land. There are now 118 German divisions in the West, of which twenty-five are attacking Verdun. The general security of the Allied lines is not seriously menaced, nor would it boil tbc whole right bank of the Meuse at Verdun fell into German bands, if the enemy is prepared to pay the price we exact. I Colonel Repington expects a fresh German offensive elsewhere, possibly in the Champagne. GREAT FRENCH RECOVERY. THE FIGHT FOR DOUMAINT FORT. GERMANS THRICE DRIVEN OUT. (Received 10.55 a.m.) Paris, February 28. M. Briand. in the ]ibby of the Chamber of Deputies, related a graphic 'story of a French counter-attack at Doumaint. He said, the enemy ad- ■ vanccd on Champ. Neuville and ocon- ! pied Doumaint Fort, but the very moment the Germans thought they ( had obtained possession of this formidable position at an enormous sacrifice, a French Army Corps which was being held in reserve made a violent (counter-attack, and the Germans were caught between frightful curtains of [■fire, and were swept by machine-guns on all sides. Then the sudden appearance of our fresh divisions surprised them and stopped the German; attack dead. Fighting had assumed . titanic proportions, the Gentians thrice having gained the fort and were . thrice driven out by the heroic French- j men who were fighting with absolute i frenzy. ALLIES’ SATISFACTORY REPORT. THE CAME OF SEE-SAW. EFFECTIVE FRENCH ARTILLERY, : The High Commissioner reports: — London, February 28 (5.25 p.m.) f In Belgium the French batteries have bombarded the German works on the face of Streenstrat. I dn the Champagne, in Die region of ; the Farm Navarin, the enemy succeeded in penetrating by a coiip-de-main some parts of our advanced line aii|d supporting trenches. Tn the Region north of Verdun- the bombardment has continued intensely, especially in the central sector and on our right. There has been no fresh attack on Piovre Hill. Last evening the Germans repeatedly attempted to capture the village of Doumaint, but their efforts were shattered against the resistance of our troops, which the most furious assaults were unable to shake. Too situation is unchanged at Fort Doumaint, which remains closely encircled. Fighting is less active on plateau north of the village of Vauxi. , . At the Woevi'e last evening and in the course of the night, the enemy ) assumed a more active attitude, Ihe railway station at Fix was taken, and retaken in the course of attacks, but remains ours. All attempts against Hill 255, southeast or 'Fix have been powerless to dislodge us. A German attack against Manheulles failed completely. Tile French artillery energetically met the enemy bombardment along the whole front, j fin the Vosges the Allies bombarded several enemy cantonments in the re- l gion of Bandeasapt. j MANY GERMAN ATTACKS j UNSUCCESSFUL. 1 ALLIED TROOPS UNSHAKEN. (Received 12.5 p.m.) London, February 28. The Germans at the end of yesterday made several attempts to carry the vil- I I luge of Douaumont, but their efforts broke against the resistance of our j troops, which were unshaken by .the I most furious assaults. The situation lis unchanged at Fort Douaumont, | whish remains closely surrounded. J lie fighting is loss furious on the plateau i northward of Vaux. The enemy on , Woevrc assumed a more active attitude, and the railway station at Fix was taken and retaken, but remains in our possession. All German effoits to capture Hill 255, south-east of Fix, fililed. The German attack on Mauhcnlles tailed completely.