ANOTHER DESCRIPTION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 11 July 1916, Page 5

ANOTHER DESCRIPTION.

GERMANS TAKEN BV SURPRISE. VERDUN FAILS TO HOLD FRENCH ANGLO-FRENCH WORK TOGETHER MAGNIFICENTLY. I' . ~ Heceived 8.45 p.ui. July 10(“Times.”) LONDON, July 10. The “Times” correspondent describes the French operations. While the Germans battered Verdun, the French Staff busily accumulated guns and men on the Somme front, re-creating Foch’s armies with the finest stock, tim troops including the Moroccans (tlie famous colonial corps), and new heavy artillery. Twenty-seven German battalions opposed the 1* rench at the sta: t, but they’were subsequently reinforced to thirty-nine. The German Staff distributed a circular among the troops before the commencement, declaring - that the imminent fall of Verdun prevented a northern offensive. This element of surprise greatly helped rite French in the first five da*ys. The enemy’s defence lines were: (1) In pie trenches linked up with the heaylyfortified Curlu, Friske and Domivcrre; : (2) two miles behind the bases of Feu L leres, Herbecourt, Assevillers and Fs fires; (3) Flaucourt and Belloye. The new French tactics were at first a prolonged and heavy bombardment, then the seventy-fives’ shrapnel blasted the lateral and rgar trench approaches, covering reconnaissance raiders, who ascertained the damage. If satisfactory, they signalled back, summoning the main infantry. These tactics governed the whole Anglo-French strategy. The Anglo-French troops, at the junction of thewline, pushed forward together. The French right held until later, famous colonial corps heard of the British capture of ’ Mametz. They were given the word, and jlounded forward and captured the first line Immediately. The Germans trusted tor their supposed impregnable network of trenches south of the Somme. Those had been strengthened to the ‘ litmolp during the last month. They were pounded to chaos, enabling the infantry to capture with lightning