In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 18 December 1916, Page 5

In the West

OFFENSIVE AT VERDUN. BY OUR FRENCH ALLIES. • V\ ’ ADVANCE OF 3 KILOMETRES. v ' • • . \ '. A' ■ 1 IMPORTANT CAPTURES. ) THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS. ——— ; ( ■ Press Association* Austra. lian and N.Z. Cable Assoolation. London, December 16. A Paris communique states: After several, clays’ artillery preparation, we attacked the enemy in the morning north of Douauraont, between the Meuse and the Woevre, dn a front exceeding ten kilometres. The enemy front was everywhere pierced to a depth of three kilometres. We captured, besides numerous trenches, the villages of Vaclier-au-Ville and Louvemont, farms at Chambrettes, and works at Hardaumont and Bezonvaux. We have not counted all prisoners, but 7,500. including 200 officers, have already passed the collecting stations. We took or destroyed numerous guns, including heavy field pieces and trench guns, besides a great quantity of material. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather the air service brilliantly participated in the success, which was complete, our troops displaying the greatest enthusiasm. Our losses were slight. On' the Vacher-au-ville —Beaumont road French contingents surged up behind the Germans, causing a panic. They abandoned everything.

The attackers from Poivre Hill assisted in the rout. Half an hoar from the commencement of the. attack the French were on top. The village of Louvemont was speedily captured, the Germans surrendering along the whole line.. The victorious troops pushed on to Chaxnbrettes f Farm, south-east of the .horn of Bois-des-Fosses. The artillery had completely* destroyed Hardaumont defences, so they were unable to assist the enemy, who fell hack in disorder, leaving the whole wood in French hands. General Mangin, having gained his objective, dispatched search parties in all directions, who destroyed num-

erous guns. The positions captured yesterday were those taken by the Germans on February 25.

NIVELLE’S BRILLIANT DEBUT.

Paris, December 16. The newspapers are enthusiastic over the Verdun army’s reply to the peace proposals. General Nivelles. made a brilliant .debut as chief in command. He and General Detain planned the vast operations, which General Mangin carried out. On General Nivelle’s signal, at 10 a.ra., five of the attacking divisions dashed forward under the protection of guns of all calibres. They immediately penetrated. the enemy s trenches, whoso occupants were unable to oppose seriougly, but made use of numerous machine-guns at Vacher-au-ville, where the fighting, though short, was very Ihely. The French, admirably led, dashed to the slopes of Poivre Hill, crushing all opposition, yelling and shouting. Above the din the watchers could clearly hear the notes of the Marseillaise as Vaucher-au-ville and Poivre Hill were captured by the onrush. Tlie Germans, seeing that resistance was Impossible, fell back m good order.

OTHER REPORTS.

London, December 16. A French communique states: — Four French divisions, which yesterday, attacked between the Meuse and Woevre, defeated five German divisions, whereof all regiments were in action. Prisoners ,were taken from every one. The enemy did not coun-ter-attack during the night. A German evening official report states that a strong French attack has been in progress east of the Meuse since the forenoon, whereby the French gained advantages in the direction of Louvemont and Hardaumont. The fighting continues. A French communique states: — Following up our successes on the right of the Meuse, we progressed in Caurieres wood, and captured the village of Bezonvaux. A violent German attack at Pepperville was decisively repulsed. We maintained the,'whole of our new front. Prisoners continue to arrive. So far they exceed 900, including 250 officers. Wo captured or destroyed 81 guns. WITH THE BRITISH TROOPS.

Loudon, December 16

General Sir Douglas Haig reports: An enemy attack 'upon Les Boeuls was crushed. We raided trenches southward of Armentieres and eastward of Viertstraut. A powerful enemy raiding ! party endeavored to enter the line southward of St. Eloi, a few reaching the trenches, hut they were immediately ejected. The enemy’s losses were severe. London, December 17.

General Sir Douglas Haig reports: _We bombarded trenches northward of Hulluch and eastward of Neuve Chappellc.

THE VERDUN;BATTLE.

BATTLEFIELD DESCRIBED.

GALLANT FRENCH ADVANCE.

NEW BATTLE TACTICS.

Fress Association-— Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams (Received 10.20 a.m.) London, December 17. A correspondent who witnessed the Verdun battle states: It was a croar morning, and the whole battlefield was' soaked with many weeks’ rain, which made movement most exhausting for the infantry at the front. \\\ c held-a long whale-backed lino on Pepper Hill, and 335 metres: to the right thereof was the fiat battered crest ol Douaumont. Between Popper Hih and Foideterre Ridge, whereof Douaumont was the highest point, stood out the ridge of Louvemont, which none expected would be captured that day. The attack on Pepper Hill was conducted with chronometric precision, characteristic of the new h rcnch battle tactics. ' The infantry rushed forward witn absolute confidence, advancing to the very edge of their artillery barrage, an unbroken line of milky smokehursts marking the grenade barrage with which the infantry smother the enemy resistance before they leap upon them. They moved steadily up tne great shoulder of the hill, and in an hour the German barrage retreated to the far side of the crest, while in loss than two bourse the whole position u as captured. Already other lines of, smoke were launched from Douaumont and Foideterre, and reinforcements,] after climbing the face of Louvemont, .made a. similar swoop on' the right and seized Bezonvaux Work. 1 It was a glorious day, aviators ttying low over the advancing hues, returning with exact information, and pursuing and machine-gunning the fie- j ing Boshes. The German air service was apparently paralysed, as during four hours we saw not a single enemy machine. . . • The victory was strategically mipori rant, depriving the enemy of them 1 most valuable observation posts.