A PREMATURE ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1916, Page 5

A PREMATURE ATTACK.

FRENCH LOSSES INSIGNIFICANT. INTERESTING STOR'i FROM LORD NORTHCLIFFE. Received March 6, 10.50 p.m. London, March 6. The Times publishes an interesting dispatch from Lord Northcliffe, dated: '•Before Verdun, Saturday." He says that evidence from German deserters shows that the attack was intended for a month, or two later, when the ground was dry, but a premature spring hastened the plans. The Germans have made many faults (the same as ours at Gallipoli) by closing the Swiss frontier, of which the French were fully warned. The French losses are insignificant, whereas prisoners estimate the losses of the German companies at one-third of their total effectives. All available indications suggest that the Germans In thirteen days lost at least one hundred thousand in killed, wounded and prisoners. FACE TO FACE IN THE TRENCHES. AN EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT. Received March 8, 10.55 p.m. ' Lord Northcliffe tells of an astoundingincident as the result of a sudden thaw at Verdun. The French and (lerman trenches were so olose within hearing of each other that when the thaw set in the hard-frozen parapots melted and subsided, and two long lines of men stood face to facp. There were two possibilities, either wholesale, murder or a temporary unofficial truce while a fresh parapet was being erected, OFFICERS TURN THEIR BACKS. The situation was unique in trench warfare, and the French and German officers, being unwilling to negotiate, turned their hacks in order that they might not witness the nnwarlike scene while the men rebuilt the parapets without firing a single shot. FRENCH TRANSPORT SERVICE, Lord Northcliffe says that he noticed British Red Cross ctations and ambulances assisting the French, and lie says that tlie French have reduced motor transport to a science. The French are utilising thousands of miles of poplar and roads for mechanical transport, at a speed of fifteen miles an 'hour. On one road he counted twenty motor convoys, each of a hundred waggons.

A DISCOVERY OF THE WAR. Lord NortheliflV continues: "I am certain that one of the discoveries of the war is still in his fifties, and most of his staff are much younger. He resembled Lord Roberts, though larger is build. We discussed the Australasians, Canadians, and the new British army. An inspection of German prisoners revealed them to bo of remarkably poor physique, and all declared that enthusiasm for the war had long since evaporated. "It is unlikely that Verdun will be taken,'' says Lord Northeliffe. "So far the French have suffered comparatively small losses of ground, and have warded off attacks of armies outnumbering them originally threefold." HUNS HELD IN CHECK A FRENCH STATEMENT. . Received March C, 11.50 p.m. Paris, March (!. A semi-official statement reports that the situation at V«rdun is satisfactory. The Germans continue to dispute posseslion of the village of Douaumont, without being able to dislodge us from the surroundings, which we hold solidly. The Germans submitted the sector between Houdreniont Wood and Douaumont to an intense bombardment, but were unable to make the slightest progress during the day. The enemy's inability to advance at any point since the resumed offensive gives increased justification for the belief that the French are able to hold him in check. GERMAN OPINION AT WHITE HEAT. I CROWN PRINCE'S HOPELESS ATTACKS. I Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received March fl, 5.5 p.m. I London, March 5. M. Marcel Hutin, in L 1 Echo de Paris, aays that public opinion in Germany has been at white beat since Douaumont was reached. The Crown Prince is unable to afford to disappoint the public by ordering a bait, and therefore new, merciless aiid hopeless attacks are proceeding. FRENCH LINE IMPREGNABLE. M. Clemenceau, in L' Homme Enchaine, points out that the German artillery is massed in such strength, and of all sizes and shapes, that it is unlikely to give out for many days. Although the French have inflicted incalculable losses the German forces are able to proceed on prolonged encounters, but the general tone of the Paris press is confident that the French new line is absolutely impregnable. A SINISTER BRUTAL PUPPET. Both armies have been strongly reinforced. General von Haseler has arrived, and has assumed command under the Kaiser. Le Gaulois describes General von Haseler as a sinister puppet, who is popularly called "the devil of Motz." He is brutal aiid eccentric, and only fit for laughter. He taught the Kaiser and the Crown Prince swordsmanship. German papers declare that only a great victory can prevent Roumania joining the Allies.