IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

i j ON THE VERDUN FRONT, BUTCHERY OF FRENCH PRISONERS. Amsterdam, April 10. Two German deserters informed a Dutch correspondent that they were glad to escape the hell on the Verdun front. They witnessed the Termiten fight. According to tiie German report a French detachment surrendered, but they resumed their arms and attacked the Germans in the rear, necessitating drastic measures. In reality the French were cut off, but refused to surrender, and indicted ter rible losses on the Germans who had passed on. Eventually the French, finding it impossible to cut their way through, surrendered, whereupon the Germans, after the men had been disarmed, commenced a wholesale slaughter. Many Germans were disgusted at the butchery, A FRENCH DEFENSIVE. GERMAN FICTION EXPOSED. Paris, April 10. It is semi-ofiieially pointed out that German communiques persistently allege that General IPetain is counterattacking, of course unsuccessfully, but sufficiently violently to explain the protracted operations. In reality General Pc-tain is still on the defensive and will remain so as long as he thinks fit.

NEAR THE MEUSE. FRENCH GAIN GROUND. Paris, April 16. A 'communique says: A vigorous attack on the positions southward of Douaumont on Saturday night enable 1 us to occupy some elements of the enemy trenches. A GERMAN REPORT. Received April 17, 5.5 p.m. , London, April 16. A German communique states: There is violent mine firing and artillery action on both banks of the La Bassee canal. Our mines destroyed sixty yards of the British positions at Vermilles. Violent fighting developed eastward of the Meuse on Saturday evening, on the front between the fortress of Douaumont and the ravine of \'aux. The French, after strong artillery preparation, attacked m considerable force, but were repulsed with heavy losses. '

MORE HUN STATEMENTS. ABANDONMENT OF OFFENSIVE • HINTED AT. Received April 17. 5.5 p.m Amsterdam, April 16. German newspapers hint at the abandonment of the attempts at Verdun, declaring that the German move was in' tended merely to forestall a tremendous French offensive against Metz, that was planned for yesterday. The French calculation of the German losses is absurd. The papers do not give the correct figures, but state that ninety per cent, of the Germans who were wounded at Verdun are able to return to the front. A DAY OF GLORY. GENERAL IPETAIN TO HIS TROOPS. Received 4pril 17, 6 p.m, Paris, April 16. General Petain, after the action on April !). issued the following Order: "This has been a day of glory for our arms. Our infantry, artillery, tngineers, and aviators rivalled each other in heroism, everywhere breaking the Crown Prince's soldiers' furious assaults. They doubtless will attack again, and iheiefore we will wor>: and watch ro achieve the same success, and by courage we shall beat them." A VERDUN HERO. ALONE ON THE CREST. ROUTS A GERMAN ATTACK. Received April 17, 9.15 p.m. IParis, April 17. Lieut. Famous, of the African Corps, lift's been awarded the Legion of Honor and the War Cross vur a wonderful feat at Verdun. A battery of seventyfives was stationed on a crest flanking Douaumont, when an Austrian battery, in a blizzard, found the exact range, and at daybreak rained shells of 130 calibre for half-an-liour, wounding the captain of the battery and putting most of the guns out of action. Tiie lieutenant, in desperation, pushed the rest of the guns to the crater and recommenced firing, himself serving one. By eight o'clock only four gunners were left, and by nine o'clock only two. Half-an-liour later the lieutenant alone remained. He watched the Germans preparing to storm the crest with the bayonet, and waited until they were within 400 yards. Then he worked the gun at top speed. The shells tore through German masses, ploughing furrows in the whole ranks. The Germans wavered and fled in, disorder, never believing that tl-ev were facing one man. The lieutenant then spiked two guns, harnessed three mules to a couple of cannon that were almost intact, and brought them to the main position along with his wounded captain. THE WITTENBURG CAMP. ' BRITISH PRISONER'S REPORT. London, April 16. A British prisoner, Cassol, in a letter describes the condition of prisoners, recalling that the Wittenburg Camp was overcrowded, and none weiv able to wash for five months. The sanitary arrangements were horrible, and typhus broke out among the Russian prisoners. The authorities deliberately mixed up the Russians and British in order to infect the latter. Many deaths occurred daily, and it waa only the efforts of two English doctors which prevented the disease from wiping out the camp»