IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE VERDUN BATTLE. AN ORGY OF BUTCHERY. . v _ THE GERMAN WAVE. Paris, Fob. 29. Continuing his story, tbe eye-witness of the Verdun battle says:— The wave passed on. and the whole valley was converted into a volcano and it~ exit stopped by a barrier of slain. After a series of attacks of this nature Ridge 3-15, in front of Douaumont, was carried, and the bloody tide of battle lapped the base of Douaumont. Attack after attack melted under the pitiless French fire, but ultimately the seventh wave carried the 24th Brandenburgers up to the crest. When at the heat point of the furnace all notion of losses seems to have been engulfed in the orgy of butchery. When a famous French corps, which is always at the point of clanger, launched a. successful counter-attack the infantry and Zouaves bounded forward from the Beaumont Fort and Vaux and converged! on the plateau held by the Germans. Brigade after brigade dashed up, but, instead of making straight for the ruined fort, separated into two columns and enveloped the position, cutting off and ultimately taking prisoners the few Brandenburgers. KAISER WATCHES THE FIGHT. From the heights on the other side of Ornes the Kaiser watched wave after wave of German infantry breaking helplessly aguinst the impassable wall. The losses were terrible, but, fast as they fell, fresh reserves were brought up for the final attack against the extreme edge of the French positions at Hardaumont, where there was fearful carnage. The Germans withdrew, leaving thousands of dead heaped high on the hillside. The Kaiser witnessed the broken and dispirited brigades retiring under the diabolical fire. The German losses to the 27th are estimated at 130,000. THE HEART OF THE FURNACE. ENEMY'S DESPERATE ATTEMPT. Received March 1, 8.45 p.m. London, Feb. 23. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent continues:—Fighting continues along the lines held since Friday across the Poivre crest, through Douaumont, and to Vaux on the west. Throughout an incessant and frightful bombardment has been kept up on both sides. A further retirement for 1% miles to Froidterre is expected. Douaumont is still the heart of the furnace. , After being repeatedly stopped and decimated in a frontal attack the enemy is endeavoring to penetrate the line by the eastern ridge of hills near Vaux, with supporting assaults from the Woevre.

Columns of infantry have also been launched repeatedly again9t the ruins of Douaumont village. SHOCKING SLAUGHTER. GERMANS BLOWN TO BITS. Paris, Feb. 29. A refugee who witnessed the battle says he will never forget the frightful spectacle, the most horrible he had ever seen. The French seventy-fives heaped the enemy's ranks in tangled masses and human fragments were hurled everywhere. Searchlights illuminated the field like daylight. The Germans got into a sort of basin, splendidly placed for wholesale massacre. Thousands lie there who will never see Germany again. Other accounts state that upwards of 750,000 Germans are northward of Verdun, the majority on a bpttle-neek ridge of the Meuse heights. Eleven hundred German guns are concentrated on this ledge. The Brandenburger losses in the storming of Douaumont exceed those when the Germans threw themselves against Liege forts. A French soldier who fought at Ornes said the order came on Thursday to prepare to retire, as the position was becoming untenable. The retirement began on Sunday and the German skirmishers readied Aueourt. Then our artillery began to roar. It makes one shudder to look back on what happened, The German battalions advanced in close order, twenty-five abreast. Our seventy-fives and heaviest guns rained shrapnel and high explosives. It was as if. a reaper went through them with a scythe. The high explosives flung limbs into the air. We were so near at some points that human fragments almost fell on us. In front of our two small sections the enemy fell in hundreds, Our quick-firers were posted every five yards. Blood ran from the ears of some of us. MINED WOOD BLOWN UP. The Journal tells of an episode in the Caures Wood, to which the Germans greatly aspired. The French engineers mined the r entire wood. A German division swarmed up and the French ran, feigning retreat. The Germans poured into the wood, yelling in savage t)i> umph. When the French were clear the mines were exploded with a terrible boom. A great silence ensued in tin wood and the division was wiped out, but our men were hysterical with de--1J S M - ... ..•._.. A PICTURESQUE NARRATION. FEARFUL SLAUGHTER. A refugee states: —I was at Suippes and Souain in October, but the battles were nothing in comparison to this. The slaughter is indescribable. La Vanche is no longer a wood, but a waste of snowland torn up like a lunar crater. The thunder of unseen guns is continuous and the ground shakes. When the veil lifted I saw a snow slope dotted with German dead. It (the veil) re-fell, and the thunder recommenced. We filled our ears with'scraps of paper and cloth, but could not keep out the stupefying noise. After nightfall there were rockets from both aides, and the fuses dropped from aeroplanes east fitful Xieamg on the a.wfuj field of slaughter.

NINTH DAY OF BATTLE,

TREMENDOUS DEATH ROIL. London, Feb, 29. On the ninth day of the battle of Verdun official and non-official reports indicate that the fury of the enemy is spending itself. The' attack north-cast of Verdun bas been stationary for three days. Telegrams from Amsterdam state that 4,",000 Germans have already been killed. Endless trains of wounded arriving at Metz, Coblenz, Treves and Cologne. The early enthusiasm of the populace has been damped by the appalling sights. One regiment has been re-formed from the remnants of ten crack regiments. At one time 8000 lay dead on a two-mile .front at Haumont. DIVERSION AT WOEVRE. SLIGHT GERMAN GAIN, Paris. Feb. 29. A communique states that violent night attacks in the region of Douaumont were everywhere repulsed after hand-to-hand encounters. The Germans appear to be attempting a diversion at Woevre. After an intense bombardment they seized the village of Manheulles. Our counter-attack recaptured the outskirts. "VIVE LA FRANCE." RECAPTURE OF DOUAUMONT. London, Feb. 29. Non-official messages report that there was excitement when the general commanding the reinforcing armies, who were massed in the trench at the rear, announced that Douaumont had been retaken. , A cry burst from every throat of "Vive La France," and all thundered the "Marseillaise." Marcel Hutin explains that the force of Brandenburgers was shut in the fort o! Douaumont and closely surrounded on three sides. They refused to surrender; hoping for a fresh German attack which would drive back the French and enable them to hold the fort or escape. GERMAN VERSIONS. A MESSAGE FROM THE KAISER. London, Feb. 29. Berlin wireless states that the Kaiser telegraphed to the Diet of Brandenburg: "I much rejoice auew at the great strength and loyalty to death the sons of Brandenburg displayed in the irresistible storm and attack of the enemy's strongest fort. God bless Brandenburg and the entire Fatherland." Berlin messages state that, under cover of snowstorms, the German artillery is ceaselessly shelling the ridges from Douaumont to Cote-de-Frouary. The French artillery occupied itself with the front line fire and appeared powerless against the Germans' artillery behind the front. A Berlin communique says: "Up to "last night we counted 228 officers and 10,575 men and unwounded prisoners, 78 cannon, of which seven were heavy guns of the most modern type, and 86 machine-guns. "Our troops in the Woevre passed Abaucourt, Dieppe, and Blazee." GERMANS GAIN A VILLAGE. HIGH REPORT. Wellington, March 1. The High Commissioner reports, under date London. February 29 (4.20 p.m.) : North of Verdun a more intense bombardment has continued in the sector east of the Meuse. In the course of the night violent local attacks were renewed several times in the region of the village of Douaumont. They were brought almost to a hand-to-hand combat and were repulsed by the French. At Woevre the Germans succeeded, after intense artillery preparation, in capturing the village of Manheulles. An immediate counter-attack brought the French to the western border of the ■village, which they hold under fire. In Lorraine the enemy penetrated certain small portions of an advanced trench, whence he was chased almost immediately. There is nothing noteworthy on the rest of the front. A MASKED BLOW. CAREFULLi PREPARED PLAN. Received March 1, 9.25 p.m London, Feb. 29. An authoritative account of the operations at Verdun says that the great offensive was one of the most carefullyplanned and powerfully-equipped movements of the whole war. The partial attacks along the whole front since the beginning of January seem to have been intended to mask the decisive blow that was preparing for Verdun. Seven army corps carried out the German attacks, demonstrating the eneniy's desire for victory, even at the price of most appalling sacrifices, equalling Jhose at Douaumont, where desperate fighting is still proceeding, leaving a stream of dead. According to prisoners' statements the old Verdun forts'form part of the defensive line, with similar trenches, and therefore the capture of the fort is equivalent to a capture of part of the trench, without threatening the entire line. FRENCH FOSITION IMPROVING. The French position is improving daily with the advent of fresh troops, whereas the Germanß are using their last resources. AUSTRALIANS GO FORWARD. TO HAVE A FLING AT THE HUNS. Received March 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 29. A batch of Australians, connected with one of the siege batteries, has left for the West front. It has been known for some time that the Australians 1b France were to be reinforced^

JOFFRE DELIGHTED

. PREPARING FOR MONTHS. ,Tinic3 and Sydney Sun Services. Received March ], 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 29. The Duke of Richmond, speaking at Edinburgh, said that a friend of his saw General Joffre, who was literally rubbing his hands with delight at the German attack. General .Tofl're had been steadily massing his men in the threatened sectors and regarded the fortifications as impregnable. GERMAN LOSSES. ' Railway traffic in Luxembourg was suspended for twenty-fonr hours to permit of the transport of German wounded. Forty-one trainloads passed through to Germany, and 1100 German corpse* arrived at Seraing, where they were cremated. It is reported that 5200 Germans were killed in the Brabant region alone. MORE REINFORCEMENTS. Two new German divisions from Metz have departed for Verdun, where they will be kept in reserve until the great assault begins on the forts at Verdun.

VERDUN EVACUATED. BY CIVILIAN POPULATION. Beceived March 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 29. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that Verdun has been completely evacuated by the civilian population. It is a quaint little town of twenty thousand inhabitants, lying on both sides of the Meuse, and its ancient walls, moats, and gateways are now only of historic interest, and the population has latterly been much reduced. Shells began to fall in the Verdun streets and among the old-fashioned houses on Monday. The cannonade on Wednesday became more serious, and tlie Governor ordered the civilians to leave. Hundreds of the poorer classes took refuge in the, deep underground galleries of the citadel, and a dreary cavalcade of civilians lias since trickled along the snow-covered roads to train to Paris. A DIVERSION, SAY SWISS DISPATCHES. Received March 1, 11.10 p.m. London, March I. Swiss despatches state that the attack on Verdun is really a diversion by the main German forces concentrated in the Champagne district, for attacks via Noyon and St. Quentin' upon Paris. MORE BLUSTER. General Moraht, in the Berliner Tageblatt, comments that the Germans are making progress, and contradicts the Times' statement that the Germans brought heavy guns from Serbia. He adds: "England will be exposed to catastrophes until she realises that the Germans are better than the Anglo-French in infantry attacks."

VERDUN HAMMERED, THE DOUAUMONT SLAUGHTER. A VIVID DESCRIPTION. Received March 2, 1.25 a.m. Paris, March 1. Many of the Verdun suburbs are severely hammered by the bombardment and numerous civilians are victims. The new church and the old cathedral were targets on Thursday and on Friday night heavy shells fell almost one per minute on parts of the torn ruins. . An infantryman in a sap before Douaumont saw the Germans advancing at the double. Suddenly, from the heights and slopes on eithe'r side heavy French artillery, shortening the range, ploughed the foremost ranks with sixinch and eight-inch shells. Then dozens of batteries of seventy-fives came into the open and began a rapid fire on the advancing battalions, and these melted away. "We were eventually confronted tenfold in number, and withdrew for two thousand yards behind the fort in good order, our artillery and rearguard maintaining a curtain of fire to prevent the enemy coming too near. Before the enemy had time to establish himself on the crest of the plateau we were ordered to retake it. It was like a battle of olden times; as there was little shelter and we had no trenches. "The Frencli advanced amid an inferno of shot and shell, carrying everything before them. An officer who was participating in the charge had to climb a wall of German corpses. The machinegun sections were more numerous than in the previous battle and they kept pace witli the infantry and took up positions in the open regardless of cost. "When the moon rose the machineguns were still firing at two hundred rounds per minute, enfilading the enemy. The ravines where the enemy were trying to approach were filled up with German dead. Seven regiments were thrown upon the lull. "Preparatory to advancing, the General, addressing the troops, urged them to fight without pity, saying, "Remember, the French shoot all prisoners!' Seven regiments were shattered and broken by the French artillery, but still fresh troops swarmed over the dead until it seemed as if the German reserves were inexhaustible."

Describing the French counter-attack, a wounded Frencli colonel says: "Hardly had the command 'En Avarit' been uttered than our men threw themselves forward with terrible dash."

POSITION FAVORABLE.

OFFICIAL REPORTS, .., Received March 1, 9.35 p.m. '■' "" London, ]?eb. 29. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: We brought down a German aeroplane behind our lines, in the vicinity of La Bassee. Paris, Feb. 29. A communique states that the batteries in the Champagne wrecked the German organisations in the region of Hill 10IS. The bombardment on the north from Verdun is less intense, and no infantry action is reported. The Germans are entrenching on the northern slopes of the Poivre ridge, the first crest of which our advanced troops occupy. We violently bombarded Samogneux. where an enemy battalion is assembled. Our artillery at the Woevre prevented enemy attacks in preparation. There is great artillery activity in the Vosges, in the region of Senones and Ban-de-Sapt. Our counler-attack east of Seppoiles drove out the enemy from some trendies that lie had penetrated in the morning. THE FRENCH COMMANDER. It is stated that the general commanding at Verdun is General Humbert, concerning whom one knows only what the newspapers were reporting some little time ago, that he had been assigned a particularly difficult and delicate task. What ta3k may have been meant one cannot guess now, but if it was really the defence of Verdun it is proving a severe one. There was a brief sketch of Humbert in a Paris journal a few weeks ago, and, although minor details, such as age and birthplace, are missing, it may be transcribed here in default of a more complete biographical note. General Humbert is the son of a soldier, and he made his debut in the army as a son of the regiment. He had two brothers, both commandants; one was killed at the beginning of the campaign, in the battle of Charleroi; the other is still at the front, at the head of his battalion. He lias two sons, who, when the war broke out, were still at Saint Cyr (the military college), who have both been wounded tiiree times and can both wear on their breasts the cross of honor, most gallantly won. One of them, who is only twenty-one years of age, and who left the school a 9 an ensign, is perhaps the youngest captain of the army; the other is a lieutenantaviateur. Almost from the commencement of his military career Humbert was attracted by the active and adventurous life of the colonies, was transferred to tlio colonial army and set out for Tonking. He found there all the fighting he could desire. He saw service also in Madagascar. Returning to Paris, lie passed through the regular course, served with the General Staff and in due time received the vommand of a brigade, having General Lyautey as his chief. With Lyautey he went to Morocco, and he was there when the thunder of the guns called him back to France in August, 1914. His zeal and ability had already won recognition, and when the Germans precipitated the war lie was in command of the First Moroccan Division, concerning which it lias been said that while its right was fighting- at Mezieres its left was still at Kenifra. This division, says, the biographer, has accomplished prodigies, which, however, cannot yet be celebrated as they deserve. One knows, however, of the hot affair at Mondlement, during the battle, of the Mame, where Humbert played his due part in the victory. He was mentioned in the order of the day announcing his promotion to be Commander of the Legion of Honor as having commanded first a division and then an army corps with the greatest distinction, estimating the most delicate situations calmly, deciding quickly and mirsumg Ms decisions with determination and energy in every trial. To-day lie esmmands an army and is the youngest general to have that honor. He is described aa being fair and handsome, pleasant in manner and yet with a certain reserve, sympathetic without being emotional, intellectual and yet severely practical.