IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE ATTACK AT VERDUN, INTERESTING CRITICISM. VIEWS OF EXPERTa Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 16, 5.25 p.m.

London, May 15. The critical period of military operations is arriving. The German plans for the year are still obscure. Their renewed great attacks at Verdun surprised most critics, who are unable to divine the object, and two distinct schools of opinion have been formed. Britain and France first consider that Germany, finding the Verdun offensive was fruitful because the bleeding of France, was preventing ihe Allies to take the offensive arid concealing the plans for a German offensive elsewhere. These point out that flermnny had been economical of life at Vtvdiin, h'aVing coordinated her artillery preparation and infantry advances with extreme cleverness. The French admit heavy losses, and that Germany's have not been excessive. If th? Germans shortly taffe the offensive at Riga or in South Russia it will indicate that thtv have not yet reached th» limit of their strength.

The other school claims that the Verdun offensive was political, and all political battles are cost'.y mistakes. M. Marcel Hutin, ir. the Echn de Paris, says that at the beginning of February the Germans prepared four big offensives. They surprised us at Vt'dun, where the preliminary successes wore easy, and the entry to Douaumont For! convinced the enemy that the fortress was within their gra3p. The Crowr. Prince brought up all his reserves and material from other sectors the offensives had been prepared for, but the restoration of our front by Generals Castlenau and Petain upset the enemy's colossal plan. We continue to take a heavy toll of Germany's finest legions. 1 An eminent Russian critic, Colonel Choumsky, writing to the Paris Journal, expressing the Russian view, states that Germany did not hope to break through the West front, but expected to throttle the Allies' Western offensive while General Hindenburg lunged against Russia, the result heir.* exactl.7 the opposite. Germany is so entangled on the West front that she is unab'e to despatch a reinforcement for the realisation of her grand projects against Russia and the Balkans. The Verdun failure has dislocated German strategy, and has been equally important as the fighting at the Afarne.

RAIDERS EXPELLED. BRITISH COMMANDER'S REPORT. Received May 16, 9.50 p.m. London, May 15. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was considerable activity during the night between Loo's and La Bassee Canal. Raideis entered our trenches but were speedily expelled. They also exploded a"mine and seized the crater, but after a short boirbardment by trench mortars we attacked and secured the lip of the crater. A GERMAN REPORT. riceeived May 16, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, May 15. A German communique says: The enemy's attempt to recapture their trenches at Hullucli collapsed under arI tillery fire.