In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 77, 7 March 1916, Page 5

In the West.

THE VERDUN FAILURE. * NEW OFFENSIVE AKTICJPATEC !N THE RHINE DISTRICT. DnITBII rahe>B AhHODIAXIO. Mihn, March 6. Reports from various sources statu that the Germans consider that they have made the maximum sacrifices 'it Verdun, and are preparing foi an of-: fensive elsewhere. 'I The Crown Prince Has transferred his headquarters at'Mulhausen. There is an uninterrupted movement ot troop trains from the Rhine southward. HEAVY CANNONADE AT MANNHEIM. IN THE BLACK FOREST. Amsterdam, March 6.

German newspapers announce in extraordinary heavy cannonade at Mannheim, and especially severe firing has been heard in the Black Forest. ENEMY HELD IN CHECK BY THE FR~MCH. Paris, March 6. A semi-official statement reports that the situation at Verdun is satisfactory. The Germans continue to dispute possession of the village of Douaumont, without being able to dislodge us from the surroundings ( which we hold solidly. The Germans submitted the sector between Houdremont Wood and Douaumont to an intense bombardment, but were unable to make the slightest progress during the day. The enemy's inability to advance at any point since the resumed offensive gives increased justification for the belief that the French are able to hold him in check. After several failures, the enemy, attacking Douaumont on Thursday, penetrated the village street, bringing their extremity into line with the broken walls. The French recaptured the village on Friday, while the Germans on Saturday again penetrated the northern end. A violent bombardment on the western battlefield was meanwhile kept up Mont Faucon andf,,uForg Bill;- V; 'i A communique st'ajt'es: A very \viOr. lent bombardment Jock Haudremont and ■#}% enemy did not renew their attacks. We still hold the outskirts of Douau- . mont. The Germans attacked east of Vacher-au-Ville, and were completely repulsed. Our aeroplanes bombed Conflans Ration.., ~ .

AN ENEMY STATEMENT, j fa London, March 5. A German communique says that the French on Saturday evening opened a heavy fire at several points ticularly between the Mouse and Moselle, where the French artillery bombarded the Douaumont sector with special violence. In order to avoid unnecessary losses wo evacuated a trench north-east of Badonviller. FEARFUL SCENES OF SLAUGHTER. London, March 5. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that Douaumont village has changed hands many times. r lhe Brandenburgers, Pomeranians, and Hanoverian reinforcements debouched from the north-west and north-east conversing on Douaumont and \<aux. The enemy losses were so heavy that new battalions had to be brought up, but they were swept back. As it is freezing cold the wounded are bound to suffer unspeakable agonies. The enemy attacking Vaux reached the barbed wire and met a terruic nro from seventy-five and mitrailleuses. Four thousand corpses arc lying real tho entanglements. Many I | we re driven on by their oihce.s wit. !revolvers. They climbed over piles ot [corpses of their comrades and weio 'then mowed down.

GERMAN CLAIMS TO TERRITORY London, March 5. The Lokal Anzeiger declares tliac since February 21 the Germans have gained 170 square miles, quadruple what Sir John French gamed in September The paper adds that the lossos have been relatively small. On the other hand 1700- Germans were buried at Beaumont yesterday and eight long trains have reacned Cologne carrying guns disabled at Verdun. , _ Po ur German army corps have been ; withdrawn from Russia to replace the [gaps at Verdun.