IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE BATTLE AT VERDUN. BOMBAKD-MEXT COXTIXUESj. " Paris, March !5. A Pari* communique says: The struggle, which was localised in the village of Douaumant, lias extended. The enemy at 0 o'clock on Saturday evening, after a violent bombardment, vigorously attacked our lines from the Bois d'Haurliomont to Port Douaumont, but were repulsed by a curtain of artillery and infantry fire. The bombardment continued at night with the same intensity on the whole front eastward of the Ifeuse and westward of Mort Homrue and Goose Hill. ■ 4 REVIEW OF LATEST FIGHTING. DEVILISH ATTACKS REPELLED. Paris, March 5. A review of the recent fighting states that the Verdun battle continued oh Saturday with undiminished intensity, and the day closed with the position unchanged. The enemy's greatest efforts were again directed against the village of Douaumont. where botti sides were fighting desperately, but neither was able to occupy it definitely. The German attacks were riiost furious and every devilish expedient was used in the endeavor to break the French resistance, but nothing could overcome the stubborn endurance of the French troops. The number of French wounded was small, but the enemy's losses were -very great. The French supply system was equal to all demands. All the services, including railway and motor transport, have been strongly reinforced; thus the situation in the second phase of the German offensive is totally different from what it was a week ago, and they have not made the slightest advance. A further difference is the impossibility of surprise. Also the ground is so torn up by the bombardment that it cannot be scientifically organised. The men who took part in the first attacks are worn out and the fresh troops are demoralised by the sight of the mounds of German corpses. It is estimated that 50.000 bodies are still cumbering the ground before the French lines. For these reasons the issue of the battle is still awaited in Paris without anxiety. Other reports from eastern France estimate the German losses in killed and wounded at 200,000. FRENCH SOLDIER'S STORY.

YPRES A BRAWL, FEARFUL SLAUGHTER OF GERMANS London, March 5. Marcel Jaures, a relative of M. Jean Jaures, the Socialist leader who was assassinated in 1914, was wounded at Verdun. He relates: "I fought at Ypres a year'ago, but it was a mere brawl compared with Verdun. Only a fiend or the Kaiser could have sacrificed German lives with such prodigality. The assault was crushed under the enormous weight of metal. Half the force was wiped out and the remainder fled for shelter to a wood, but sallied out strongly reinforced and kept steadily on, though rapidly thinning.

"When seven hundred yards away our machine-guns and rifles started, and the carnage was frightful. The remnants struggled on a few yards and fled in wild panic to the wood, pursued by screaming shells. Our artillery concentrated on the wood, which was soon ablaze from end to end. "Our infantry advanced to harass the enemy as they quitted the wood. We were exposed to a murderous fire, and sheltered in shell holes for half an hour, but reached the objective despite heavy losses. The Germans attacked us singing and cheering. My impression is that they were drunk. Our machine-guns mowed lanes in their ranks, and the survivors lay down behind breastworks of their fallen comrades, fired unitl their ammunition was exhausted, and then charged with the bayonet. We volleyed point blank, and all fell or fled except a handful who were ba'yonetted or taken prisoner, some refusing quarter. "A second attack was prepared in a ,snoiv-storm. They came on to the fight with a terrific onslaught and we were almost swept off our feet. No quarter was given or taken. The battle swayed to and fro in the slushy ground. Hundreds found it most difficult to keep a foothold, and many slipped and paid the penalty with their lives. Our slender line seemed snapping, but a miracle happened. We held on and felt the enemv weakening. By midnight he was in full flight." A GERMAN CLAIM. OF TERRITORY GAINED. London, March !i. The Lokal Anzcigcr declares that since February 21 the Germans have gained 170 square miles, quadruple what Sir John French gained in September. The paper adds that the losses have been relatively small. On the other hand 1700 Germans wer e buried at Beaumont yesterday and eight long trains reached Cologne carrying guns disabled at Verdun. Four German army corps have been withdrawn from Russia to replace the gaps at Verdun. MAXIMUM OF SACRIFICE. NEW OFFENSIVE ANTICIPATED. IN THE RHINE DISTRICT. Received March (i, 11.50 p.m. Milan, March 6. Reports from various sources state that the Germans consider that they have made the maximum sacrifices at Verdun, and are preparing for an offensive elsewhere. Th c Crown Prince has transferred his headquarters to Mulhanaen. There is an uninterrupted movement of troop trains from the Rhine southward. Amsterdam, March 6. German newspapers announce an extraordinary lieavy cannonade at Mannheim, and especially severe firing has been heard is. tie Black Fores*