MOST TERRIFIC BATTLE OF MODERN TIMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1916, Page 5

MOST TERRIFIC BATTLE OF MODERN TIMES.

GERMAN CANNONADE OBLITERATES FRENCH TRENCHES. WHY THE ATTACK WAS ORDERED. TO DISSIPATE BAD IMPRESSION DUE TO ERZEROUM'S TALL. PARIS, February 27. The latest news shows that the battle raging near Verdun is the most terrific of modern times, although a snowstorm lasting 24 hours abated its ferocity in some sectors on Friday. Eye-witnesses narrate that the German cannonade was such that all the trenches and fortifications were completely overturned. A surgeon who was present on the 22nd narrates that he saw a whole German brigade advancing in massed columns. Suddenly it was caught by the converging fire of several French batteries, and annihilated almost to a man in a moment. Eight successive attacks at Beaumont were repulsed with enormous losses. Two Faden regiments were shattered by the fire of threa batteries of 75's, which were suddenly unmasked. The survivors, seized with mad panic, fled. Out of 2,500 men in one regiment 70 answered the roll-call. The Petrogiad newspaper "Russky Invalid" states that a war council was summoned at Berlin to discuss the best methods of dissipating tbe bad impression created by the fall of Erzeroum. The German and Bavarian Crown Princes, General Ilindenburg, and General Mackcnsen were present. The Crown Prince hotly advocated an advance on Verdun. The field marshals opposed this, urging that it would be better to develop the operations planned against Russia, where, General yon Ilindenburg said, the chances of success were greater. The Kaiser supported the Crown Prince, and orders were immediately given for the transport of reserves of men and material westward. Tho newspaper "Petit Parisien" states that the Kaiser arrived at the front on Saturday, assured himself that everything was prepared, and' ordered a general rehearsal. The reserves manoeuvred as if in tie presence of the enemy. The Kaiser personally ordered the .attack on Sunday. '