THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN ALL HISTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 126, 29 May 1916, Page 5

THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN ALL HISTORY.

BATTLE OF MADMEN AMIDST VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS. AN UNCANNY, BLOOD-CURDLING NARRATIVE. THE FRENCH HAVE FURTHER ADVANCED. . '•>:; V) *r . . i ________ NEW YORK/ May 27. A message from Paris states that since Saturday the Verdun deadlock has developed into the most terrific pitched battle in history. Half a million men have been engaged in the struggle without a moment’s respite. iWhole regmients melt and disappear in a few minutes. They are replaced by others only to perish in the same way. “It is a battle of madmen amidst a volcanic eruption,” declares a staff captain. “Between Saturday morning and noon on Tuesday we reckon that the Germans used up 100.000 men west of the Meuse alone, this being the price paid for the recapture of our guns and the seizure of outlying

positions. The valley between Dead Man’s Hill and Hill 278 is choked with dead bodies. A full brigade was mown down in quarter of an hour. Dead Man’s Hill itself passed from our possession, hut the crescent .occupied by the French to the south prevents the enemy utilising their gain. The scene at this point is appalling. Certainly one at least dies in the open air, but at Douaumont are all the horrors of darkness. There men fight in tunnels, screaming in the lust of butchery, deafened by the burstingshells and grenades, and stifled by the smoke. Even the wounded refuse to abandon the struggle. As though possessed by devils, they fight until senseless through loss of blood. A surgeon engaged in the front line told me that in a redoubt in the south part of the fort he found 2000 French dead. Fully half had more than two wounds. Those Frenchmen he was able to treat seemed utterly insane. They kept shouting Avar cries and their eyes blazed in the strangest manner. They Avere indifferent to pain. At one time the supply of anaesthetics ran out, and there Avas no possibility of obtaining fresh supplies owing to the bombardment. Men had arms and legs amputated Avithout a groan. They appeared not to feel the shock. They asked for cigarettes and inquired how the battle Avas goingon. Our losses in retaking the fort Avere beloAv expectations as the enemy was demoralised and surprised. The, subsequent action exacted terrible toil, all cover being biOAvn to pieces. Every German rush Avas preceded by two or three hours’ hell storm. Then came an increasing Avave attack. Repeatedly the defenders’ ranks Avere reneAved. Practically the Avhole sector Avas sprayed by artillery fire in comparison Avith which the cannonade at Waterlo Avas merely an exhibition of fireAvorks. Some shell holes were thirty feet across, single shells killing fifty men. Before our lines the German dead Avere heaped in long rows. An observer calculated that there Avere 7000 dead Germans on a front of 700 yards. The enemy does not succour the Avounded, Avhereas at least one in three of ours is immedia/ely removed to safety at the rear. We know the Germans cannot long maintain the sacrifice. Since Saturday the enemy has lest two if not three for each of cur losses. Every bombardment Ava« Avithstood and every rush checked, bringing nearer each moment inevitable exhaustion. Then will come cur recompense for the days of herrer.

garFRENCH MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS, . PARIS, May 28. A communique says. We captured elements of trenches south-west of Morthcmme, and appreciably progressed north-west of Thiaumont farm.