THE ZEEBRUGGE RAID

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1916, Page 5

THE ZEEBRUGGE RAID

DSi THE WEST. SMASHED! , THE VERDUN ATTACK, ,- Keecived March 22, 6.5 p.& - Paris, March 21. 'AH newspapers declare that a formal Assurance has been given by France that she has now broken Germany's offensive at Verdun. ENEMY TRY ANOTHER POINT; A FRENCH RETIREMENT. ..- Received March 22, 9.15 p.m. London, March 21. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that the German attack at a point on the left of the Meuse front is a confession of failure at Verdun. Throughout Monday morning heavy batteries on, Mount Faucan shelled the trenches southward of Malancourt, which is the meeting point of the French Argonne and Verdun armies. A division of reserve itroops in the afternoon launched an attack eastward of Malancourt, and »Ithough broken by heavy losses they 'obtained a footing in a section of the .French .trenches, with the idea of breaking through and then turning on the strong ramparts of Hill 304 and Mort Homme, ( . The attack was renewed in the evening, under cover of a continuous bombardment. This continued all night long, with some success, the French retiring Btep by step, but driving back successive charges. The French abandonee Avocourt Wood, remaining in the village. Preceding the infantry a body of pioneers advanced, every fourth man carrying a hugo cylinder, with others manipulating a long tube of "flamminderfer," throwing a jet of flame for forty yards, iwith black smoke smelling like strong tar. The German gain of a few hundred was unimportant.

THE STRUGGLE AT VERDUN. HOT YET ABANDONED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 21. The Times' correspondent says that the lull at Verdun is not accepted as indicative that the Germans have abandoned the thrust. Concentration movements of troops show that further assaults are contemplated. A GUARANTEE TO BELGIUM. FBOM THE ALLIES. London, March 21. •Sir E. Grey, in the House of Commons, stated that Britain, France and Russia during the past few weeks had given a guarantee to Belgium that she should fiartieipatc in the peace conference, also that hostilities should not cease until Bplgium is politically and economically reinstated and largely indemnified for Her wrongs. TRASE WITH HOLLAND. THE ECONOMIC WAR, The Hague correspondent of the Daily Graphic emphasises that the Germans are preparing for ruthless post-war commercial warfare in Holland. Most of their travellers speak Dutch, and of the local agents appointed the majority are Germans long- resident in Holland. On the other hand, English firms rely on the English language, money, weights 'and measures, and interviews intended to result in transactions are often lost. Just now Germans are making superhuman efforts to secure tlm exclusive jervioes of Dutch agents hitherto representing only English firms. They are also active in inquiring into every detail of English trade with Holland.

<> CERMAN GAIN IN THE WEST > ' ' St. RUSSIANS DOING WELL S-. : > By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.