IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE AVOCOURT BATTLE. HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING;. ' MEN MOWN DOWN Paris, April 11. The moment the Germans on Sunday leapt from the trendies rushing against the Arocourt-Bethincourt sector, the French artillery opened a furious fire against the dense formation. The enemy came through the woods over the plateaux and along the ravines, dropping in hundreds, but immediately reformed and, returning to the charge, were three times repulsed and three times returned. The only results were futile carnage.

Even more violent was the simultaneous struggle around the village of Bethincourt. It was the evident resolve of the Crown Prince to carry Mort Homme at any cost. His 30,000 men here were divided into two sections, the stronger attacking frontally and the remainder trying to force a passage between Cuißiieres and the Meuse.

Both attacks developed into a desperio hand-to-hand contest, both sides fighting like madmen. The Frenchmen again proved their superiority, and when the conflict subsided the Germnas yielded, while the battalions attempting the fjank movement by Cumieres were practically wiped out

General Petain's strategical withdrawal from Bethincourt heightened the enemy's hopes of finding a vulnerable point. The enemy was so,confident that lie reverted to the attack in close formation in broad daylight, and gave the French artillery a splendid opportunity to break the advance before it became dangerous. The French artillery in their new positions covered the ground whenever the enemy advanced and three attacks, each one on a grand scale, failed. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Paris, April 11. A communique says: The Germans, using liquid fire, attacked Mort Homme from Crows' wood, but were repulsed, except on the east, where they gained a footing in a small portion of our trenches. The German attempt to retake the trenches recently lost south of Douauniont village was also accompanied by liquid fire, and resulted in a bloody defeat for the enemy, ENEMY LOSSES AT VERDUN. A 50 PER CENT. AVERAGE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, April 11. It is authoritatively stated that the losses of the German units at Verdun from February 20 till April 1 averaged 50 per cent. For example, the 3rd and 18th Army Corps withdrew from the i lines after losing respectively 22,000 and 17,000. At Vaux Fort over half the.7th and 60th regiments were mown down by the French machine-guns. During an attack on Vaux village, on March 9, the 19th Regiment lost 60 per cent., and one company was annihilated in the house-to-house fighting. During attacks on Malancourt and Avocourt woods, on March 20-22, three regiments of the 11th Bavarian and four regiments of the 2nd Landwehr Divisions lost half their effectives.

Referring to the strength of the Germans, the same source says that between February 21 and April 1 239 infantry and 23 engineer battalions were engaged at Verdun, totalling 1145 companies, averaging 260 men. Thus 208,000 infantry alone were in action, and they were reinforced by 80 battalions, the total infantry faced by the French being 450,000.

COMPUTED AT OVER 200,000. i .Received April 13, 1.20 a.m. Rome, April 12. Including reinforcements, it is estimated that there were 450,000 Germans before Verdun on the first of April. It is computed that 200,000 hundred thousand have been killed and wounded between February 21 and April 1. ANOTHER PROBABLE ATTACK. SAYS COLOXEL REPINGTON. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received April 12, 5.5 p.m. London, April 11. Discussing the general situation in France and Flanders, Colonel Repington says that we must suppose the Germans aggregate eight hundred thousand against the British on the northern front, and therefore it is not impossible that we will be attacked, while before we can successfully attack such numbers we must have full effectives and more divisions. Considering Germany's absolute necessity to aim a blow at Britain, it cannot be said that the risk of attack is removed.

GERMANY IN A FIX.

DESPERATE REMEDY NEEDED. London, April 11. Colonel Rcpington says that the Germans have not had tho rrit to make the most of their successes in order to secure a favorable peace. Military pride was the obstacle. Now they are unable to deliver 4a successful general offensive on the west, nor can they recommence operations against Russia without unduly weakening the forces on the British and Italian fronts. The German situation needs a desperate remedy, which may either be sought by an attack in Flanders or an attempted invasion of Britain. KAISER'S NARROW ESCAPE. Rome, April 11. Advices from Switzerland state that the Kaiser had a narrow escape at Verdun, a French shell exploding near by and killing several of his staff and destroying a motor. The official bulletin said he was not hurt, but he unexpectedly went to IPotsdam, and it is believed he was struck by a fragment or severely «hake»

GERMANS CONTINUE THE OFFENSIVE.; FRENCH HOLD THEIR GROUND. Received April 12, 9.50 p.m. > Paris, 'April 12. A communique reports: North of the Aisne our artillery caught a strong German column that was marching to Cliemin tics Dames, inflicting serious losses. There was a somewhat intense bombardment of our Mort HommeCiimieres front, but no infantry action. After violent artillery preparation, accompanied by an intense discharge of "tear" shells, the Germans, at 4 o'clock ii>. the afternoon, strongly attacked between Douaumont and Vaux, and gained a footing, but the advanced elements were quickly driven out. Our air squadron bombed Nantillois and Brieulles stations, and also a longrange gun emplacement. GENERAL HAIG'S REPORT. AERIAL FIGHTS. Received April 12, 9.50 p.m. London, April 12. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that grenade fighting in the craters east of St. Eloi continues with varying fortunes. We hold three craters, but lost the other two. During eight aerial fights we drove down an enemy machine, and lost one of our machines by gunfire.

GERMAN REPORT. THE USUAL SUCCESSES Received April 12, 9.40 p.m. Amsterdam, April 11. A German communique says: The British made a strong bombing attack on the crater south of St. Eloi, but failed, and the entire position remained in our hands. A French counter-attack on the Hau-court-Bethincourt line collapsed, With great enemy losses. We captured a blockhouse s outh of Crows' wood, and also further defensive works south-east of Douaumont. Anti-aircraft guns downed two aeroplanes south-east of Ypres. ALLIES' CO-OPERATION TO ENSURE VICTORY. A highly important statement concerning the working arrangements between the Allies was made by the French Minister of Munitions, M. Albert Thomas, a few weeks ago, in the course of an interview given to the Paris correspondent of the Seccolo. The Minister was about to start for Rome, and there seem to have been rumors in circulation as to the object of his visit. In the circumstances, he considered it wise to set all doubts at rest by a frank statement, and he proceeded to explain that there was an intimate association between France and Italy in the support of equipment and munitions. Incidentally, the interview explains a rather obscure cable message received In New Zealand some little time ago, to the effect that Italy was lending a large number of skilled munition workers to France.

"The cause .of the Allies," he said, "would be compromised if each went its own way and worked on its own account. France now aims at establishing a similar intimate contact with Italy in the production and exchange of warfare to that which, thanks to Mr. Lloyd George, already exists between France and England. In my last meeting with the British Minister of Munitions we calculated together what, in virtue of a united effort and reciprocal assistance, our stocks of munitions would amount to in this coming spring. The late Anglo-French assaults in Artois and Champagne revealed, even more than the battle of the Marne, the oolos sal and stupefying nature of the consumption, convincing us that no possible limit can be safely placed upon the fever of production so long as ilio war lasts. Seven hundred and fifty thousand employees, including 120,000 women, are/ actually working on war material at our French factories, and the English, who had the advantage over us of being able to count upon 'ts entire unmobilised industrial workers, are now striving to reach the highest possible output, which will double the amount of ours.

"The purpose of my journey to Italy is to create between Italy and France a like cordiale entente," M. Thomas continued. "Italy has already at Paris, and we at Rome, military commissions for war material, Italy supplying France with motor transports, while France, having arrived at unity in calibre, is furnishing Italy with projectiles. We Allies further need to increase our moral munitions, through a mutual exchange of faith and hope, so that the union to-day, in the struggle for independence against German military hegemony, may prepare the way for to-mor-row's economic liberation. To-day in France the war has created great metallurgical and powerful chemical industries, in which we were formerly dependent upon Germany. Perhaps when the war is over, Instead of inveighing against the vanquished Emperor, France might rear him a monument with the inscription: 'To William, Restorer of French industry.'"