VERDUN.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1916, Page 5

VERDUN.

THE HUNDREDTH DAY. A LULL IN THE BATTLE, Paris, May 29. 'President Poineare visited Verdun en the hundredth day of the battle. A semi-oilicial statement says that there is a lull at Verdun, which doubtless will be followed, as previously, by the resumption of the great offensive. "ONCE AND FOR ALL." THE CARNAGE AT MOM HOMME. London, May 29. The Daily News' Paris correspondent states that the Crown Prince wanted to settle Mort Homme once and for nil. Hence the importance o f an assault on Cumieres. Though the village in the valley was unimportant, an advance from it would have threatened" the eastern slopes of Mort Homme, and perhaps turned the second French line at Cliattancourt. Four divisions were employed on the west bank on Sunday. On Tuesday, simultaneously with three divisions on the right bank, columns were hurled east and west of Mort Homme one after another. All were cut up by curtain and machine-gun fire. Sixteen attacks were delivered on Monday between Avocourt Wood and the river, 50,000 assaulting Mort Homme and Hill 305, but it was useless butchery. The French never wavered. The Germans lost 15,600 men. ANOTHER OFFENSIVE EXPECTED. AN EXPERT'S OPINION Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 30, 5.5 p.m. London, May 29. There is no abatement in the fighting at Verdun, but even if the Germans make a further advance there is no reason to think that the French are likely to lose the grip of the situation, which, ,it is unanimously agreed, they have well in hand. Further terrific fighting is expected, because everything points to the fact that the German stall' will leave nothing undone to smash France. Military critics agree that the enemy knows that he must succeed in the war either this year or never. Mr. J. L. Garvin (editor of the Fortnightly Review) thinks that the Germanswill attempt to attain peace with all or some of the Allies in 1910, in order to save the War Lords' prestige before the risk of the final penalty becomes imminent. It is reported that the Germans are more and more changing their tactics, sparing men and using their heaviest guns to batter and flatten out the trenches. When they think they have succeeded they will send out parties to reconnoitre, and if the trenches are still occupied they will continue the bombardment, but if the , trenches are abandoned they will occup'y them. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Paris, May 29. Our artillery wrecked the enemy first line works in the Beauvraignes (north of Compeigne) region. The Germans on Sunday evening debouched from the Corbeaux Wood, but their attack was completely repulsed, as was also a second at midnight.