IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE STRIFE AT VERDUN. GERM AX TROOPS SLAUGHTERED. London, March 7. An officer who was wounded on Sunday at Vachcrauvillc, states that the men of the Pomeranian regiment fighting there were mostly very young, dress ed in new uniforms and unused to battle. There was a veritable panic when our batteries opened fire, which lasted until a Brandenburg regiment and Landwehr brigade reinforced them. The heaps of German dead at several points reached to th t . height of the French barbed wire. A crack rifleman was awarded the Croix-de-guerre for killing sixty Bosclies. When the enemy was advancing lie stepped outside the trenches and fired while his comrades handed up loaded rifles. Thougli standing amid a storm of .shot and shell the rifleman was unhurt. WEST OF THE MEUSE, A SLIGHT GERMAN GAIN, Pari:!, March 7. It is sesii-offieially stated that the situation at Verdun has considerably changed, and that the struggle is extending to the left bank of the Meuse. Forges constituted a slient in our line. The enemy's gain represents at the utmost 150 metres. We remain solidly established in a dominating potion on Goose Hill. The incident at l-orges is without definite influence on Verdun. AT A NEW POiNT. BELFORT LINE THREATENED. London, March 7. Big German preparations are reported which indicate an early attack on the Verdun-Belfort line. [Verdun is 125 miles from Belfort in a. direct line, or nearer 200 miles on the wavy line held by the French.] CREEPING UP. GERMANS PRESSING ON THE MEUSE. Paris. March 7. A semi-ofiicial message states that the Germans, by means of an intense bombardment, progressed westward of the Meuse along a railway in the neighbourhood of Regniville, while simultaneously a German division, notwithstanding hea.vy losses, captured Hill 2(15. The French hold the. village of Bethin Court and the clumps of trees eistward of Corbeaux and Cumieres Wc.cd, also the upper part of Goose Hill.

BEGINNING OF LARGER MOVEMENTS. COLONEL REPIXGTOX'S VIEWS. THE CORRECT GAME. London, March 7. Colonel Repington believes that the Germans owe most of their success at Verdun to heavy artillery. When the hurricane of fire overwhelmed the advanced French positions it became necessary to move the guns forward. This accounts for the slackening of the attack, and we must expect a. gradual closing in of the attack and an extension along the whole front from the Verdun bridgehead eastward to the Meuse, and from Poivre Hill to St. Mihiel, with special attention to Douaumont. It is probable that the Verdun attack is only the beginning, and that there will he larger movements. The French, Belgian and British staff should give General Joffre all the troops that can be spared, and there is hope thut General Sarra.il will return with his army in time to give the finishing blow. The doleful tone of the German press is due to the realisation of the terrible and costly operations. The German /plan aims at influencing opinion by means of the old guard of heavy guns. Wc should not be influenced by the loss of men, guns and ground, but realise that General Joffi'c is playing the correct game and that the troops are displaying the highest qualities of a soldier. The only thing that counts is the final result. RET[CIE.N'T BUT HOPEFUL. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 7. The German newspapers of Thursday and Friday show an increasing reticence about Verdun. Several give greater prominence to other news. Special correspondents' telegram* show severe censorship. The general tone of the comments on the western activity shows a renewed optimism and faith in the ulti- | mate fall of Paris and cutting off of the British armies. Herr Harden, writing in Die Zukunft, claims this is a. greater possibility than the miracle of the Allies driving back to the Rhine proved warriors equipped with the most modern weapons. A GERMAN REPORT. CAPTURE OF FRESNES. Received March 8, 5.0 p.m. London, March 7. A German wireless claims: We stormed and captured Fresnes this morning. The French are holding out in a few houses on the western side of the village. A Zeppelin bombed the railway establishments at Barleduc. CORPSES STOP GUN FIRE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 7. A French gunner at Verdun writes: — "We sometimes had to withdraw the machine-guns thirty yards because the Bosches' corpses prevented our firing. As the Germans jumped over the dead we killed them "

INTENSE SHELLFIRE. j A RAIN" OF STEEL. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received March 8, 5.J p.m. London, March 7. Mr. Warner Allen, describing: the intensity of the (iftmin shellfire at Verdun, says that thirty large shells were ■fired on one outer gate in the wall in live minutes, and all over Verdun there was an incessant steel rain, splinters falling 011 roofs and roads. Soldiers coming into the firing line revealed the terrific nature nf the onslaughts and the magnitude of the German losses. The t'oops who retired grimly from Ilaumout Wood, Bois de Scaures, and Horbcbois to the present line fought to gain time, gladly giving up their lives. Two divisions held lip two German army corps. The troops still retained their dash and unshakeahle morale. "We will stay there till we are killed." said one, "so as to he sure our reserves will he able to get up," Another wounded man who had lost his right hand cheerfully said that he had offered his life to France, but she had taken one hand only. RIPE PLUMS. FOR fIUXS TO PICK. 'Received March 8. 12.55 a.m. Paris, March 7. The French retreat west of the Meuse was necessary in consequence of the previous withdrawal, and was the only method of avoiding a flank fire. The German success at Forges and Regneville is not. surprising, these places were merely ripe plums awaiting the picking. '