INDESCRIBABLE VIOLENCE OF THE ATTACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 5

INDESCRIBABLE VIOLENCE OF THE ATTACKS.

m APPRECIABLE EFFECT ON FRENCH POSITIONS. LINE STBENGTHENED BY THE WITHDRAWALS. CROWN PRINCE BATTERING HIS HEAD AGAINST A WALL. LONDON, February 25. The offensive at Verdun eclipses all other topics. France is watching events with unconquerable confidence, though there are three-qnarters of a million men under the Crown Prince, mostly picked troops. Thero are evident risks in attempting an offensive before the end of the winter, but the General Staff at Berlin is under such pressure of economic and dynastic considerations that it is unable to choose its time. In order to prevent a repetition of the Crown Prince's blunders the Kaiser sent the veteran yon Haeseler, formerly in command at Metz, who knows the terrain of the present attack and will assist. The Crown Prince is adopting yon Hindenburg's plan of attack. The Germans massed 200,000 men en a front of seven miles, being 1G men per yard. The Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph" writes:—"One Of the fiercest battles of the war is raging north of Verdun, but military chiefs view the position with perfect confidence. The withdrawals at certain parts of the line strengthen the new French positions. For instance, Beaumont, five miles east of Brabant, which is strong strategically, has been held against the German attacks, while Caures Wood is half French and half German. The onslaught has now lasted three days, and has not produced appreciable effect on the French positions, yet the violence of the attacks is indescribable. The Crown Prince is battering his head against a wall. There is not the remotest chance of Verdun being taken, or even approached." ENEMY'S CASUALTIES ESTIMATED AT ZOfiOO. A Paris report states that the German casualties on the western front during the past three days are estimated at 20,000. A French communique states:—"The fighting north of Verdun has continued with the same intensity throughout the night from the right bank of the Meuse to southward of Ornes. "Owing to the violence of the bombardment of the advanced position of Brabant-sur-Meuse, we evacuated the village -during the . night. Thia operation was protected by flank fire from the left bank of the Meuse. An attack against Eamogneux was repulsed. Another strong attack, by at least a brigade, against the Caures Wood, enabled the enemy to recapture part of the wood, of which we at present hold the southern salient. RETIREMENT TO AVOID NEEDLESS LOSSES. "All offensives against our positions at Beaumont, east of Brabant, failed. East of this front we dominate the ravine southward of Herbe B Ol s. The rearing movement we ordered to avoid needless losses was" earned out m perfect order. It will have the effect of preventing the enemy advancing except wit!, difficulty and at the price of heavy losses. The enemy were unable to break our front at any point." , A German communique claims the capture of the, villages of Brabant, Haumont, Samogneux, and the wooded district of Vicanty.