ALLIES CHEERED BY NEWS OF SUCCESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 29 February 1916, Page 5

ALLIES CHEERED BY NEWS OF SUCCESS.

, BELIEVE THAT JOFFRE HAS SITUATION IN HAND. HOT NECESSARY TO APPLY A COUNTER-IRRITANT. INTENSE BOMBARDMENT NORTH OF VERDUN CONTINUES! v[Beceived 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, February 28. Little news is available concerning Verdun except the communiques, though the public of Britain and Trance was jdelighted by M. Briand'e glowing story of the recapture of Doua-umont and by other hopeful signs. The Germans have not issued further special headquarter statements announcing successes since Saturday. The belief that General Joffre has the situation well in hand is confirmed by the fact that it has not been found necessary to apply a counter-irritant clsovbere. It is understood that yon Beseler, victor of Antwerp, is directing the 'German heavy artillery at Verdun. The Germans yesterday made several attempts to carry the village of Douaumont, but their efforte broke against the resistance of our troops, which were unshaken by the most furious assaults. The situation is unchanged at Fort Douaumont, which remains closely Burrounded. Fighting is less furious on the plateau northward of Vaux, due east of Douaumont. The enemy in the Woevre assumed a more active attitude, and the railway. Station at Eix was taken and retaken. It now remains in our possession. All the German efforts to capture Hill 255, south-east of Eix, failed. A German attack on Manheulles failed completely. - The latest French communique states that the enemy in the Champagne, in the region of Navarin Farm, northward of Souain, by a coup de main succeeded in penetrating some elements of our advanced line and support trenches. An intense bombardment continues northward of Verdun, especially in the ' central sector, and on the right. No fresh attempt against Poivre Hill has been ! made. ■ ■ ' " ■ ■■-■-■