GERMANS SURPRISED AT VERDUN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 5

GERMANS SURPRISED AT VERDUN.

- A GRANDIOSE AND IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE. DESPITE THE BLOODY NATURE OF THE FIGHTING.

THE BRANDENBURGERS ENVELOPED BY THE FRENCH. (Reed. 8.20 a.m.) PARIS, March 1. The Germans were momentarily surprised. Unexpected riposte the [ash between these two bodies of picked troops, in spite of the bloody naire of the close fighting, was a grandiose and impressive spectacle. The ermans quickly recovered from the'r surprise and defended themselves igorously, but the French dash partly enveloped the Brandenburgers. The ermans made a desperate but vain a tempt to rescue them. La Temps says the enemy's new attempt to reach Verdun via Mornville and Branzee had less chance of success than from the north. 'hey were unable to deploy their artillery without being dominated by uns on the Meuse heights. , HOW GERMANS ADVANCED: ON DOUAUMONT. THEIR RANKS PLOUGHED BY FRENCH ARTILLERY. Jfc LIKE OLD" TIME BATTLES, NO TRENCHES. THEY CLIMB*A WALL OF GERMAN DEAD. "REMEMBER THE FRENCH SHOOT ALL PRISONERS/' LONDON, Marcli 1. An infantryman who was in a sap before Douaumont says he saw the lennans advancing at the double. Suddenly, from the heights and the lopes on either side, the heavy French 'artillery, shortening its range, loughed the foremost ranks with 6in. and Sin. shells. Then dozens of atteries of 75's came into the open and began rapid fire on the advancag battalions. These melted away. We were eventually confronted y tenfold our numbers, 'and withdrew 2,000 yards behind the fort in good rder, our artillery and rearguard maintaining a curtain of fire to prevent he enemy coming too near. Before the enemy had time to establish irhself on the crest of the plateau w. 3 were ordered to re-take it. It was ike a battle of the olden times. Tln-re was little, shelter and no trenches. n he French advanced amid an inferno of shot"and shell, carrying everyhing before them. An officer participating in the charge had to climb 'a fall of German corpses.. Machine-gun sectiens were more numerous than a any previous battle. They kept p>ee with the infantry and taok up

positions in the open regardless of Cost. When the moon rose the mahines were still firing 200 rounds 'a minute, enfilading the ravines, where he enemy were trying to approach, and filling them with German dead, leven regiments were thrown upon the hill preparatory to advancing. The :eneral,. addressing them, urged them to light without pity, saying, "Renember, the French shoot fall prisoners." Seven regiments were shatered and broken by the French artillery. Still fresh troops swarmed iver the dead until it seemed as if the German reserves were inexhaustible.

ptENCH NEWPAPERS COMMENT ON THE FIGHT

THE GERMANS HAVE MODIFIED THEIR TACTICS

IN VIEW OF THEIR FORMIDABLE IMPOTENT ATTACKS

DIVERTING GERMAN PUBLIC'S ATTENTION

NOT RENOUNCED EFFORT TO BREAK FRENCH LINES

;RANDENBURGERS IN DOUAUMONT WILL NEVER EMERGE

GERMAN FIRST ATTEMPT NOT FAR FROM FAILURE

PARIS, March 1

(Reed. 10.55 a.m.)

French newspapers state that the Germans seem to have modified heir tactics in view of their formidable impotent attacks north of Verdun. ?here is activity in the Woevre and Champagne, are designed to divert he efforts of the French and also tho attention of the German public. The aultiplication of offensives in fresh theatres shows that the enemy has not enounced the plan of forcing the French lines, hut France may have sureme. confidence in her leaders.

Le Journal says: Even if ever th e enemy succeeded in breaking our ront the fight would he on open country, where a factor would be the alour of our men. To regain its importance Germany Tvill again need 1 to leet the victors of the Marne.

M. Pichcn writing in the Petit Journal, says the news is encouraging; nemy fury has failed before our! wall of steel. The Brandenburgers, who rere impudent enough to trust themselves in the interior of Douaumont eem doomed to never emerge. Gustave: Serve writes in La Victorien: The Army has many regiments ike the When an army thus sacrifices corps which are eleted victory at the first attempt, it is net far from ailure. . ™ Th& "French Daily Review states there has been a lull at Verdun. Arillery bombardment 'on either side is intermittent. Le Matin says the enemy «aims at taking Verdun and the heights of he Meuse, and that it will not recoil before any sacrifice to attain its bject. , ; •- V

A GREAT OFFENSIVE MOST CAREFULLY PLANNED. PAST ATTACKS TO MASK THE DECISIVE BLOW. .VICTORY SOUGHT AT APPALLING SACRIFICES. DOUAUMONT SLOPES STREAM WITH BLOOD. LONDON, February 29. An authoritative account of the operations at Verdun states that the great offensive is one of the most carefully planned and powerfully equipped movements of the whole war. Partial attacks on the whole front since the beginning of January seem to have been intended to mask the decisive blow which was being prepared at Verdun. Seven army corps carried out the German attacks, demonstrating the enemy's desire for victory even at the price of the my.st appalling sacrifices.. The slopes leading to Douaumont, where desperate fighting is still proceeding, stream with blood. WHAT DOUAUMONT FORTS REALLY ARE. GERMANY USING UP HER LAST RESOURCES.

THE FRENCH SITUATION IS IMPROVING DAILY

LONDON, March 1

According to prisoners' statements, the old Verdun forts form part of the defensive line of similar trenohes. Therefore the capture of the fort is equivalent to the Capture of part of a trench without threatening

the entire line

the advent

The French situation is improving daily with troops, whereas the Germans are usiig their last resources

of fresh