VERDUN.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1916, Page 5

VERDUN.

SPLENDID FRENCH ATTACK. IMPORTANT TORT RE-TAKEN. DOUAUMONT IN FRENCH HANDS. Paris, May 23, Le Petit Parisien states that the preliminary French bombardment on the right bank of the Meuse lasted several 'heurs. A picked corps, wliich 'had been training for months went to assault Douaumont, where the attackers arrived at mid-day with frenzied ardor. The Germans concentrated heavy fire, but the courageous French soldiers dill not waver for an instant, Ibut, using their bayonets, swarmed over the fir9t line. French reinforcements were sent-up and passed the destroyed entanglements with a dash equal to the first onslaught, to the tune of "The Marseillaise." The principal assault was on Fort Douaumont, where the attacks arrived at 5.30 o'clock, penetrating the southwestern rampart, killing all the resistors, and welcoming the relieving troops with cries of victory.' The latter firmly established themselves and awaited the desperate counter-attacks which are •sure to follow. \ 3ERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. ' , LondAi, May 23. There have been heavy movements of troops through Luxemburg for several days. Luxemburg is isolated from Belgium, the Germans forbidding entrance and communication. VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACKS. FRUSTRATED BY FRENCH ARTILLERY. FRENCH STAND FIRM. Received May 24, 8.30 p.m. Paris, May 24, A communique says: German counterattacks have assumed a violent character on the whole of the Verdun front, the effect of which it is impossible yet to estimate. Very largfe forces of effectives are participating. After a morning's bombardment on the left bank of the Meuse the Germans several times launched massed attacks on our positions east and west of Mort Horauie. Our artillery and machineguns swept away the first attack with sanguinary losses and without the enemy reaching our lines. By a second attack at 7 o'clock in the evening the Germans gained a footing in one of our western trenches, but a counter-attack completely drove them out. All day the Haudromont and Douaumont region has been the scene of a murderous struggle. The Germans multiplied their asault3, whiWi were preceded on each occasion by a powerful bombardment. Nevertheless we 'held all yesterday's positions entirely, particularly Fort Douaumont. Three enemy aeroplanes were brought down at various points on the other fronts. A RAPID ASSAULT. GERMANS QUICKLY OVERCOME. FORT TAKEN AT BAYONET POINT. Received May 24, 10.30 p.m. Paris, May 24. When the French began to assault Fort Douaumont the artilleryists lengthened their fuses and increased in density the shell curtain cutting off the German advanced lines from support. The assaulters were the pick of the Frencli army. The French lines are only 350 yards from the entrance to the fort, but, despite the fury of the preliminary bpmbardment, the German defence remained formidable and it took the Frencli an hour to cover the distance. The (Germans dug in two tleep lines of tranches before the fort itself, but the French cleaned up the first line in half ar. hour. Wave after wave streamed towards the second line and were twice driven back from the broken entanglements. Then reinforcements were ordered out, and they went at the German line with a dash and carried all before them. The troops then moved on to the fort, where an admirably co-ordinated movement from the west, east and south, converging on the eastern column, met a stronger resistance. The advance from the Cailette Wood was delayed at the looked-for time, though the whole position could be surrounded, so rapid was the French western and southern movement.' Many of the defenders were caught (between flanking and frontal' attacks before they could retire. The fort was ruined, but the garrison put up a determined defence in every corner and in the cellar. The French, with bayonets and grenades, drove back the enemy towards ; the north-eastern corner, where the Ger- ! mans made a successful stand all Mon- ' day night. The fiercest fighting has 1 since continued. ' i ' ; , A SWEEPING ATTACK. i _____ ; DASH BY FRENCH INFANTRY. ■ FORT TAKEN IN LESS THAN TWO t HOURS. : Received March 24, 8.30 p.m. Paris.' May 24. The attack on Douaumont was die- '■ tated bv the fact that General Nwell. • learned'that the enemy was withdraw- = in" troops to assist in the attack or 1 M.rt Homme. General Nivelle coneen- ' trated enormous artillery opposite Dou- • anmoiit unknown to the Germans When the bombardment ceased the French infantry dashed out, singly ' snatches of the Marseillaise. The great er part of the fort was captured witnu ninety wtoatw. after great bayonel _wr-«.'