WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE VERDUN BATTLE. A GPiAPHIC DESCRIPTION'. London, December 17c A ' correspondent, who witnessed the Verdun battle, states that it was on a clear morning, but the whole battlefield soaked bv many weeks' rain and was most exhausting to the, infantry. The front we attacked was a long whale-backed line on 'Pepper Hill, and K metres to th& right of this was the flat, battered crest of Douaumont. Between Pepper Hill and Foide Tcrro Eidge, of which Douaumont is the highest point, stood out the ridge of Louvemont, which none expected would be captured that day. The attack on Pepper Hill was conducted with the chronometric precision characteristic of the new French battle tactics. The infantry rushed forward with absolute confidence, advancing to the very edge of their artillery haKrage in an unbroken line, while milky smoke bursts were marking lhe a grenade barrage with which the infantry smother the enemy's resistance before they leap upon them. They \noved steadily up the great shoulder of. the hill, and in an hour the German barrage retreated to the far side of the creit; ill less than two hours the whole position was captured.. • Already - other lines of smoke 'had been launched from Douaumont and Foide Terrc and reinforcements Were climbing the face of Louvemont. A similar swoop on the right seized the Bezonvaux work.

It was a glorious day for tlie aviators, who were flying low over the advancing lines and returning with exact information, and pursuing and firing machine-guns at the fleeing Bosches. The German air service was apparently paralysed, for (luring four hours the writer saw not a single enemy machine. The victory is strategically important, depriving the enemy of most valu- 1 able observation posts.

A GREAT FRENCH TRIUMPH. '•THERE NEVER WAS SUCH MAGNIFICENT SOLDIERS!" ENEMY BEATEN FROM THE START. Received Dec. 18, 7.V5 p.m. Loudon, Dec. 17. : Mr, Warner Allen, wiring from the French headquarters, says the victory at Verdun was a triumph for the new French tactics. "We assaulted with four divisions, against five German divisions. We swept over twenty square miles of enemy ground as though on parade. When the moment of assault arrived, the French shalls fell faster and thicker, until they formed an impenetrable line of smoke. The lire -.vas drawn with mathematic straightness across the line of attack.

The Germans sent up showers of rockets, announcing the , attack was I)-ginning. The German barrage saved them. They dreaded bayonet fighting. The Frenchmen, with hand grenades, rifle grenades, and automatic rifles, followed a few yards behind the barrage up the slopes of Pepper Hill, as if glued to the barrage.climes Service.) London, Dec: 17. *

ITeadqufirters' correspondents' version of the Verdun victory show that the French advanced in seas of mud and in pools of water, singing the "Marseillaise." There was never such magnificent soldiers. They over-ran everything like international Rugbyites, making mincemeat of the village. The team carried the first system ,of tlvroe (reaches', and then the network beyond with consummate ease. The enemy was beaten from the start. After the buttle there was not a kick left. They never allowed the patrols' to destroy the Cierman guns, which lay beyond the ground occupied by the French.

Though the Germans spent nine months making Pepper (iFoivre) Hill impregnable, it was captured in less than two hours. The attacks at Yacherauville were of a different character, many machine-gun posts being hidden in tire cellars and ruins of houses, so that the artillery was unable to give the same assistance as in the open ground at Pepper Hill, The French poured a continuous curtain of hand-grenades, whu-h the first line of infantry lnlrled, while the second line used their rifles and grenades. The curtain moved forward smoothly and steadily, the onlookers being spellbound, yet able to watch the progress of the attack, the curtain of white smoke passing over the village until the last resistance was overcome.

The Germans now feared that the French oil the summit of Pepper Hill would try to descend the slopes tolanjs the river, and take the garrison at Vacherauvilie in the rear. The Germans opened a terrific barrage from their six and eight-inch guns on the further slopes of Pepper Ilill, and continued until a volley of rockets showed ibey were bombarding;, their own men. When the barrage ceased the French on •t'eppei Hill dashed forward and captured 01-1 killed the ' remaining Germans. They also caught the garrison, which, while retreating from Yacberau> ville, was taken oh the llank and in the rear. The defenders of Vacherauvilie, being seized with panic, threw away their weapons and took to- flight.

The French centre, advancing from Thiaiimont and the Douaumpnt ridge, adopted similar tactics, and tfy 1 o'clock a complete French victory was certain. Tlie„,o!erman guns no longer attempted to 'bombard the rear of Uie French lines to prevent reserves of ammunition coming up, all ellorts being foncentrated 011 saving the remnants oT the advanced batteries. FRENCH GAINS BOMBARDED. Received Dec. IS, 5.5 p,m. Paris, Dee. IT. Official.—On tile right of the .Mouse, on our new lines from Vacherauville to liezonvanx, particularly the Clsambrettes Farm sector, was bombarded. We replied.

SUCCESSFUL. BRITISH RAID. Received Dec. 18, S p.m. London, Dec. 17. general Sir Douglas Haig states: — We successfully raided the trenches at . Hensart, inflicting Casualties and bombing dug-outs. We entered the trenches south-west of Mytscliap, and destroyed a machine-gun emplacement The enemy blew ud Camsufiet, eastwards of Varei,