GERMANY AT WAR WITH PORTUGAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 61, 11 March 1916, Page 5

GERMANY AT WAR WITH PORTUGAL.

PORTUGESE NAVAL RESERVES CALLED UP

LISBON, March 10

Portugal will call up her naval reservists 'immediately.

The German Minister at Madrid has notified the Portugese Government that*Germany considers herself in a state of war with Portugal, and Portugese interests in Germany.

GERMAN ATTACK ON VAUX REPULSED

WITH ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES

THE THIRD PHASE. OF. THE'BATTLE

WHY GERMAN PLANS MISCARRIED

THE CROWN PRINCE BLAMED FOR FAILURE

PARIS, March 10.

After several fruitless attacks on the village of Vaux, with ■.heavy losses, the Germans launched violent massed 'attacks below Fort' Vaux. This was repulsed with enormous losses.

A German wireless claims that the captured both the village and the Port of Vaux. , }

The third phase of the battle at Verdun was reached on Sunday,' when a terrbile artillery duel commericed east of the Meuse. Woods were levelled, and the Forges brook ceased to run, owing to shell-bursts having dammed the stream at six places. The crest of Hill 213 was' blown away to a depth of 30ft. The main French position at Goose Hill' is still untouched, but the Germans, by sheltering in the ravines, managed to force their way by a narrow country lane leading to the top of the hill, and jeopardising th e extreme French right on Goose Hill. It is believed the German plans miscarried through the Crown Prince's vanity and obstinacy. It was originally planned that there should be. three simultaneous attacks, a feint on the Woevre plain, land a strong attack on the west bank, but Douaumont hypnotised the Crown Prince, who had to justify his boasted capture of that place. He used a quarter of a million men there, against the advise of his generals, who favoured the west bank. The latter .attack has now developed. .

The attackers lost almost all their officers, owing to the K'aiser ordering the officers up to the ranks of general. to lead their men into action, instead of following. '