IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE SMASH AT VERDUN. NO FURTHER PROGRESS. ATTACK IN CHAMPAGNE STOPPED. ■ Paris, March 2. A semi-official statement is to the effect that the latest news shows that the German attack on Verdun, which is wavering, has not made any further progress. Though the enemy lias captured Manheulles, it is not a strategic advantage, as the region is flooded and otir new line is strong and our artillery commands Manheulles. The German infantry attacks on Douaumont have ceased and our troops continue to surround the Douaumont ruins. Our line from Douaumont to Poivre Hill has been solidly reorganised and is now ready to resist the most violent efforts of the enemy. The attack in Champagne is confined to local operations and does not appear likely to extend. This offensive has sustained a prolonged check and the enemy, realising the futility of the Verdun effort, is now either confining himself to deiending the positions gained or is resting his troops before again hurling them to the assault. It would be rash at present to forecast otherwise, but certainly we shall know the enemy's intentions by the end of the week. J,e Petit Parisien says that the German casualties at Verdun are estimated at from 125,000 to 150,000 men. ATTACK ON FRESNES. REPULSED BY THE FKIi.XCH. Paris, March 2. A communique says: Intense artillery fire preceded a, lively German r.ttack on the French positions at Fvesr.es (18 miles south-east of Verdun) on Wednesday, which was repulsed, the GenaaHs abandoning the trench elements where they had momentarily secured a footing. GERMANS IN ARMOR. POUNDED TO DEATH. Paris. March 2. 'A French officer states that :tix German companies wore pounded to death by our artillery near Chanip Nouviiie. The men wore chain armor vests of steel and shin guards, and carried cylinders for liquid fire. SITUATION STILL CRITICAL. 3AYS A NOTED EXPERT. London, March 2. Mr. Hilaire Belloo say? that an the land and in the water the enemy lias launched a great offensive upon which will turn the future of the war. It is another proof that numbers are the determining factor in the campaign. The result may have a great moral effect on the French, whose object is to inflict such losses as to render the enterprise, whatever the result, a strategic Cerman defeat. 'IV Germans claim that they can maintain a battering ram ef irresistible density, weight and momentum. The French o"c.ipy the main ridge of Lonvemont, ceverincr Verdun, where the struggle will br decided. Had the enemy not occupied Wr.aunaent the whole of the ridge vould have been French, hut in the taking cf Douaumont the eneiay carried the 3-.i/»hest point of the ridge, which is p. position of gToat velue. The situation is still critical, but the •uccessful counter-offensive by the French en Saturday destroyed the enemy's iraiscediato advantage. KAISER RETURNS. WITH HIS CINEMA APPARATUS. Amsterdam, March 2. The Kaiser has returned to Germany. His staff enabled writers, photographer:, cinematograph operators, r.rt:st« and poets to witness the opening attacks. Their accounts have heen utilised by tho press, aH the cinemas are preparing the public for a great triumph. The newspapers are evidently reticent as regards the later stagea of the battie. ARTILLERY STILL ACTIVE. Paris, March 2. A communique says: There Is no infantry fighting at Verdun. The enemy bembardment continues west of the Meuse, between Malancourt and Forges. Our artillery actively hombarded the whole enemy front. Our French guns west of Pont a Mousson v/recked German organisations in the Bois le Pretre, TRAIN LOADS OF GA9. London, March 2. Authentic reports from Paris state that on the passage towards Verdun the German trains are loaded with gas apparatus, and the Germane ale awaiting a favorable wind. It is estimated that at least 2000 BrandeHbui'gers are sur-i rounded at Douaumoßt. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, March 3. The High Commissioner reports under date London, March 2:— In the Artois the French hlew up a mine under an old crater occupied by the ene»vy, taking possession of the new crater. At Verdun the enemy violently bombarded during the night "Dead Man" and Goose Hill, between Malancourt and Forges, also the principal passages of the Mouse. East of the Meuse there has been slight artillery activity. At Woevre, after intense preparation by artillery,' the enemy yesterday evening made a lively attack ja positions at Fresnes, being immediately driven hack by a counter-attack from some elements he had penetrated. In Lorraine a bombardment lasting several hours was directed on St. Marie farm, west of Bezange. The enemy attack following completely failed. In Alsace attempts by strong German patrola on small posts in the Lauch

RIVULET OF BLOOD.

A GHASTLY EXPERIENCE. IN A FRENCH MINE CRATER, I ' Reecivcd March 3, 9.5 p.m. Paris, March 2. Le Petit Journal says that three French soldiers completed the laying of a mine at Bois de Lavauche, and when returning they were buried by a terrific explosion, and the roof of the gallery collapsed being hit by a German' shell. For hours the men waited until their own mine exploded, and then with trowel and hands they began to dig their way out. Soon the narrow gallery began to drip with a warm liquid, which they discovered was blood. As they dug, the rivulet of blood increased, and the soldiers, clawing frantically, struck a mass of human flesh. There was a huge heap oE German bodies which had rolled to the bottom of the crater after the mine had been sprung, annihilating a whole German company. Through this mass of distorted corpses the Frenchmen slowly hacked their way to freedom. VERDUN ATTACK FAILED. I BRANDEXBURGERS STILL TRAPPED. Received March 3, 5.5 p.m. | London, March 2. ' | The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says that the German onslaught at Verdun must lie regarded as having faijed,. The extraordinary situation at the fort of Douaumont is unchanged; the Brandenburgers we still imprisoned in tbe'ruim, J CAUGHT! BRANDEBURGERS IN DESPAIR. Reecived March 3, 9.55 p.m. London, March 2. The Daily Telegnph's Paris correspondent reports that the remnar'T of the Brantlenburgers are hemmed in on all sides. They cannot obtain food and ammunition, nnd desperate attempts to relieve thent have failed. ARTILLERY ACTIVE AIRCRAFT DO DAMAGE Received March 3, 9.50 >.». Paris, March 2. A communique says: The enemy artillery northward of Verdun and Wscvre lias greatly increased in activity on the whole front, chiefly against Morthomr.ie, Poivre Hill, and Douaumont. Here several infantry attacks of extreme violence were driven back, our fire decimating the enemy ranks. Our batteries everywhere vigorously replied to the bombardment and cannonaded the communication roads. Our long-range guns north-eastward of St. Mihiel bombarded the station cf Vigneilles. There were two outbreaks of fire. Several trains were struck and a locomotive hurst. There is great artillery in the Seppois sector. A French air squadron dropped fortyfour bombs and greatly damaged the Chambley station. Aeroplanes also dropped forty bombs on Bensdorff station and nine projectiles on an enemy establishment at Avercourt.

CROWN PRINCE'S ASSURANCE TO REVIEW TROOPS IN VERDUN. Received March 3, 9.50 ».». Paris, March 2. The Echo de Paris says that the Crown Prince, on February 16, issued an army order demanding the troops to make a new and decisive effort, assuring them that he expected to review them in Verdun at the end of February, and that this blow would compel the French to agree to peace. TRENCHES RECAPTURED. Received March 3, 9.50 p.m. London, March 2. General Haig reports: This morning wc attacked and recaptured the trenches at Ypres and the Commines Canal that we lost on the 14th, and also captured a small salient in the original German lines. Wo repulsed the enemy's counterattack that was launched some hours later, and we destroyed German mine galleries in the captured trenches. We took 189 prisoners. "AWAY WITH CHIVALRY." DEMENTED GERMAN PAPERS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received March 3, 6 p.m. London, March 2. The German press is jubilant over the Verdun battle, claiming it as a great unexpected success. All the papers are asserting that the German losses were not heavy. They state that four longrange shells destroyed the Douaumont fsrt. The Lokal Anzeiger asks: "What has Mr. Asquith to say to this?" The Cologne Gazette says: "Germany has »ivcn the answer to Mr. Asquith's surprising speech with overwhelming emphasis." The Frankfurter Zeitung says: "We are risking everything for thc life or decth ef Germany among the world fowers. The whole of us have applauded Germany's answer that there will be greater violence, abandoning chivalry, becr.use we are dealing with .robbers and murderer:;." The tone of the German comments indicates that Germany is exasperated because her pace feelers have been rejected. Thiefcre she is urging the most savage offcr.r.ivc in her desperate efforts to force a victory, but no paper predicts that the struggle at Verdun will decide the war. The "Cologne Gazette lugubriously comments on Mr. Asquith's and M. Sazaneff's speeches, and complains that they used the language of conquerors dictating terms of peace to a defeated enemy. The paper says Germany must realise that the British and Russian Parliaments will support their leaders, because their speech** vyc* yo/Jfsreualv *nnlmul«i - " '