IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

AT VERDUN CERTAIN OF SUCCESS, Paris, March 15, A Parliamentary delegation lias returned from Verdun impressed with the difference between the French and German transport systems. The Germans during the last few months have built eleven strategic railways behind the Verdun front. The French relied on a single railway, but engross the motor transport, which has worked faultlessly and proved vastly superior owing to its flexibility. The delegates were profoundly impressed by tilie defenders' confidence that they would keep the enemy at bay, General Petain's last words were: "The load is off my mind, and I am certain of final success."

. THE FINAL ..CT. THE EFFORT AT MORT HOMME. Paris, March 15. A semi-official message says: The third act at Verdun is beginning. The enemy's whole, effort is directed against the section fronting Mort Homme, the pillar of our resistance in this region. Hhe conquest of this singularly obstructive position tempted German ambition, but they will not succeed. A French communique says: The enemy made no fresh attempt west of the Meuse. Our counter-attacks at Betliincourt and Cumieres recaptured a portion of a trench. We hold Betliincourt, Mort Homme, and the southern edge of Cumieres village.

FRENCH LOSSES. AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT. Received March 10, r 5.5 p.m. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 15. There is the best authority for stating that tlie total French losses at Verdun were less than twelve thousand, while only eighty-four pieces of artillery were abandoned, after being rendered useless. ON YPRES COMINES CANAL - FIGHT FOR THE TRENCHES. Paris, Marcn li>. A semi-official account of the British recapture of trenches on the YpresC'omines Canal on March 2 states that tlio British did not attach importance to the loss, but refused to ignore it and methodically prepared for a counterattack. They kept the captured lines under artillery fire for a fortnight, preventing their consolidation. An intense bombardment all day long on March 1 caused the Germans to expect an immediate attack, but it was not delivered until 4.30 o'clock on the morning of M-'-.-'.i a fc the moment the Germans i - i ."/i'Vin-v. t] lc trench parties. , v.i-mat :„ rs suddenly dashed for\v:i, . the defenders with bomb;, ami t'he trenches were retaken in a few minutes. Fifty-one German batteries at mid-day opened a bombardment, and assaulting columns advanced at 4 o'clock. The British noticed that the enemy flung their bombs far beyond the trenches and rushed forward with their hands up. The German artillery shelled their own infantry, and many were killed. The survivors flung themselves on tlie ground and crept into the trenches and surrendered. All were youths belonging to a regiment previously distinguished for 1 bravery. The British losses were extremely light.

A GERMAN REPORT, Received March 10, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, March 15. A Berlin communique says: We blew up advanced British positions at Neuve C'impelle. Silesian troops, with a strong swinging onslaught, pushed forward our lines west of Crows' Wood, and four French counter-attacks proved unsuccessful, with very considerable losses. A SUCCESSFUL RAID. AERIAL ACTIVITY. Received March 10, 10.50 p.m. London, March 16. Si.' Douglas Haig reports having carried out a" small raid south of Verlorenhoek with satisfactory results. Considerable aerial activity has been exhibited, many combats taking place. FRENCH WAR COSTS. Received March 10, 5.5 p.m. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 15. The French Budget shows that the military expenditure since the beginning of the war is:—Army, .35,000,000,000 francs; navy, 1,400,000,000 francs. France is spending daily 87,000,000 francs,