GERMAN CONFESSION OF FAILURE AT VERDUN

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 71, 23 March 1916, Page 5

GERMAN CONFESSION OF FAILURE AT VERDUN

\ ATTACKS~O„f~OTHER PARTS OF WEST FRONT.

FRENCH RETIREMENT FROM AVOCOURT WOOD.

LONDON, March 22. The-Earis correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" states that the fact ot Sthe Germans attacking elsewhere on the West front is a confession of failure -'•tTerdnn. Thronghont Monday morning heavy German batteries at Mount Faucon : <«hel!edL ay point-sonthward of JHalanconrt, which is the meefang-place of the Axgonne and Verdun, armies. A drviskat of German reserve troops in the afternoon launched an attack .: -eastward of Malancourt. Although broken and. suffering heavy losses, the , enemy obtained a footing in. a section of the French trenches, with the idea ■ of breaking through and fhen.tnrning and- storming the ramparts of Hill 304 . and Dead Man's HilL The attack was renewed, in tie erening under cover of a continuous bombardment, which lasted throngh. the night, with some success. The French retired step by step, drMng back successive charges. They abandoned Avocourt wood, retaining the village. Preceding the German-infantry, a body of pioneers advanced, every fourth -TnaTi carrying a huge cylinder, the others manipulating long tubes each of Which threw-a jet of flame 40 yards ahead. Black smoke was also emitted, smelling strongly of tar. The German gain of a few hundred yards was not important.