SMASHING BLOW AT VERDUN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15776, 18 December 1916, Page 7

SMASHING BLOW AT VERDUN.

10,000 GERMANS CAPTURED. 81 GUNS AND MUCH MATERIAL SEIZED. I ULTIMATUM TO GREECE. SATISFACTORY MOVE IN MESOPOTAMIA. VIEWS ON THE PEACE OFFER. * (3rd YEAR—l4Oth DAY.)

THE WESTERN THEATRE. BRILLIANT SUCCESS. FRENCH STRIKE AT YERDUN. OVER 9000 PRISONERS AND 81 GUNS TAKEN. (By Cable-.—Press Aeeociation.—Copyright.) The High Commissioner reports: ■LONDON, December 16 (12.30 p.m.) A French official message says: — "The French carried the village of Bezonvaux, north-east of Verdun. "Tho total of prisoners taken is 9000 \ men with 250 officers. ' "Eighty-one guns were also captured." FULLER DETAILS. The High Commissioner reports: — - LONDON, December 15 (10.50 a.m.) A French official message stys: — "After several days of artillery fire Ire attacked north of Douaumont, between the Meuse and the Woevre, on i front of ten kilometres. "The enemy's front was broken everywhere to a depth of three kilo- ' metres. "Besides numerous trenches, we captured the villages of B&cherouville and Louvemont, also the farms at Chamhrettes and works at Haudromont and Bezonvaux. A great number were laken prisoner, and 7506 have already been counted. ' "Wo took or destroyed numerous ' heavy field and trench suns and considerable material. "Our aviators brilliantly assisted the operations. , "The success was complete, the troop*, displaying the greatest enthusiasm. Our losses were slight." THE LATEST MESSAGE. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Asscci a ti on,) i tßsuter'a Telegrams.) . (Received December 17tfi, 11.30 p.m.) ' LONDON, December 7. •. A French communique says:— '.'Following up oiir successes on the right of tho Mouse, we progressed in the Caurieres "Wood, and captured the village of Bezonvaux. "A violent Gorman attack on Poivre Sill was decisively ropulsed, and wc maintained tho wholo of our now front. "Prisoners continue to arrive, and so ' far they exceed 90(50, including 250 officers. "Eighty-ono guns ircre captured or destroyed." fIVE DIVISIONS DEFEATED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) - (Reuters Telegrams.) (Received December 17th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. 4 French communique says:— "The four French divisions which yesterday attacked between tho Meuse and tho Woevro defeated five German dirisions, of which all the regiments •were in action. Prisoners were taken from every one. ."The enemy did not counter-attack . during the night." GERMAN ADMISSIONS. [Received December 17th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. A German official messsgo .6ays: — "Strong French attacks east of tho ileuso since tho forenoon gained advantages in the direction of Louvemont and Haudromont "Fighting continues." AN EARLIER CLAIM. LONDON, December 15. . ' A German official communique k* states;— ftff "We repulsed a triple attack south;Vcast of Malanoourt. "After strong preparatory fire, extending far and near, tho French, attacked in waves at tho Coto do Poivre, • iufc failed." FRENCH JQY. lEPLY TO THE PEACE OFFER. A BRILLIANT OPERATION. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December 17th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 16. •Tho newspapers are enthusiastic over tho Verdun army's reply to the peace proposals and General Nivelle's _ V-iiint debut in the position of chief in : command. He and General Petain ' j- planned the vast operations, which

Gener&i Mangin carried out on General Nivelle's signal. At ten o'clock in the morning the {our attacking divisions dashed forward un.ior the protection of guns of all calibre-s. They immediately penetrated the enemy's trenches, whose occupants were unable to oppose them seriously. but there were numerous machine-guns at Vacherouville, where the lighting, though short, was very lively. The French, admirably led, dashed to the slopes of tbe Poivre Hill, crushing all opposition and yelling and shouting. Above the dip. watchers could clearly hear the notes of "The Marseillaise" as Vacberouviile and the Poivre Hill were captured by the onrush. The Germans, seeing that resistance was impossible, I fell back in good order. j On the Vacherauville-Beauniont road, j French contingents suddenly surged up j behind the Germans, causing thorn to panic and to abandon everything. Tho ! attackers from the Poivre Hill assisted ] the rout. «• Half an hour from the commencement of the attack the French were on top of the village of Louvemont, and speedily captured it. The Germans surrendered all along the whole line, and the victorious troops pushed on to the Chambrettes Farm, south-west'of the horn of Bois des Fosses. The French artillery fire had completely destroyed the Haudromont defences, so that it was unable to s assist the enemy, who fell back in disorder, leaving the whole wood in tho French hands. General Mangin, having gained his objective, despatched Bearch parties in all directions, who destroyed numerous guns. Tho positions captured yesterday wore those taken bv the Germans on February 25th. FRENCH POLITICS. AN IMPORTANT CHANGE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December I7th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 15. The new Government's first step has been to seek power to take all necessary war measures, excepting the voting of money by decree instead of by legislation. These measures apply to agricultural and industrial production, and to labour and the food supply. M. Briand proposes forthwith to apply the Cabinet's powers to the prohibition of liquor containing over 15 per cent, of alcohol. Tho Chamber of Deputies, after a lively debate, by 308 votes to 187, referred tho proposal to a special Commission. M. Briand explained that, he desired power to requisition men and additional supplies whenever required. ALLEGED DICTATORSHIP. (Received December 17th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 15. In tho Chamber, members vigorously attacked tho National Defence Bill on the ground that it constituted a dictatorship. "Lo Matin" explains that it gives the same powers as the British Defence of the Realm Act confers. ORGANISING e FOOD. PARIS, December 10. The "Matin" interviewed M. Herriot. Minister for Transports, who stated that the provisioning of . the army with corn, coal and potatoes will be carried out in co-operation with the revictuallinj: of civilians. M. Herriot intends to assist in the formation of a new mercantile fleet, to increase tho coal output, and in exploiting surface comestibles. NO STRIKESTN FRANCE. PARIS, DecemEer 15. The miners of Northern France have decided to work an hour longer daily. WITH THE BRITISH. AN ATTACK REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports: — IXJNDON, December 16th (1 a.m.)A British official message says: — "On Thursday night an eneAiy attack at Lesboßufs was crushed. "Enemy trenches were successfully entered south of Armentieres and east of Vierstraat. A powerful raiding party endeavoured to enter our lines south of St. Eloi. A few who reached the trenches were immediately eje c * ec *> the enemy's losss being severe."

TRENCHES BOMBARDED, (Australian and N.Z. Cab'.o Association.) (Received December 17th. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON.. December 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — ""AVo bombarded trenches northward of Hullueh and oa&tward or Xeuvc Chapelle.'' COLONEL FREYBERG, V.C. A "WELL-WON HONOUR. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Heuter'e Telegrams.) LONDON. December 15. The Victoria Cross lias been granted to Lieut.-Colonel Freyberg, the .New Zealander who commanded the Naval Brigade on tho Sommc, for conspicuous bravery and brilliant leading as battalion commander. By splendid personal gallantry he. carried the initial attack straight through the enemy's front system of trenches. Ow ing to mist and heavy fire of all descriptions, Colonel F reyberg's command was much disorganised. After the capture of the first objective, ho personally rallied and formed his men, including men of other units, who became intermixed, and inspired all with his own contempt of danger. At tho appointed time ho led tho men in a successful assault on the second objective, capturing many prisoners. During the advance lie was twice ■wounded, yet he again rallied and re-formed those with him, althoug*.unsupported, in a very advanced position. He held tho conquered ground for the remainder of the day and throughout the night, in spite of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. When reinforced in the morning he organised an attack on a strongly-fortified village, and showed a fine examplo of dash, personally leading the assault and capturing the village and 500 prisoners. In the capture of the village ho was again wounded. Later in tho .afternoon lie was again severely wounded, but refused to leave the front line until he had issued final instructions. The personality, valour, and utter contempt of danger on the part of this single officer enabled a lodgment in the most advanced objective of the corps to be permanently held, and on this point d'appui the line was eventually formed.

A message from Mr Fereival Gibbon on November 21th said: —"No account of last week's fighting can omit the Naval Division's attack. It made good the great name won at other points. The Division attacked the line between the Ancro and Beaumont-lilamel which consisted of a sprawling series of trenches, communications, and redoubts, and also tho village of Beaucourt. The first battalions, gained the first objective, and settled down to let the seoond line through. A German redoubt stood on a. steen slope containing four casements, each of which held an armed battery of machine-guns of unprecedented number. Nothing could live within range, and the attack was hungMip, but reserves arrived on the scene promptly, and eager for the' fray. The colonel of one battalion was four times wounded, but succeeded in holding the attackers together until they neared Beauconrt. Tho colonel then collected all the forces within roach and pushed on to the German position, and occupied it all, night. Meanwhile tho force held up at tho redoubt was still unsuccessful oy nightfall, as every attempt to progress had been mown down. Three tanks started out next morning. One Teached to within .ono hundred yards of the redoubt, when the crew oponed the door and emerged with a machinegun. The Germans did not wait any longer, but frantically waved a wiite rag and surrendered. "The same morning the oft-wonnded colonel led his men forward to tlie village. There was intense hand-to-hand fighting, but the sailors could not be denied."

Lieut.-Colonel Bernard C. Freyberg, D.5.0., and now V.C., was born in Wellington, where his mother still resides, and educated at Wellington College. From early boyhood he won swimming championships. * He won school and local championsluos before leaving school. In 1906 he won the 100 yards, 4-iO yards, £80 yards, and one mile championships of Now Zealand at Nelson. In 1910 he again won tho 100 yards New Zealand championship—in rocord . time. He was a prominent officer of tho Swifts Club, and a leading competitor in the Wellington Club, and then of tho Coronation Club, Levin. Ho is a dentist, and after practising in Levin he left for America to pursue his studies. The war in Mexico attracted him. and he saw much fighting there, but when this war broke out went to England and joined the West Surrey Regiment, with which ho saw service at Antwerp. Later nt Gallipoli he earned the D.S.O. for swimming inshore from a destroyer and lighting flares to draw the Turks' fire, as well as reconnoitring the Turks. He was in the water for many hours before a destroyer picked him up. His brother Oscar, a well-known New Zealand yachtsman. ' was killed while mine sweeping at tbe Dardanelles. The Hon. Colonel He-aton Rhodes, M.P.. who was in town on Saturday. was particularly pleased to hear of this fresh recognition of Colonel Freyburg's gallantry. When visiting Gallipoli on his recent mission Colonel Rhodes lunched at Holies with Colonel, then Major Froyburg. who for bis gallantry in his wonderful swim at Bulair and reconnoitring feat there 1 had already been recognised by the D.S.O. The party includcfl Mr Asquith's son. and Mr Nelson'of the Scott Expedition. There were three other members of tho Scott Expedition on Gallipoli, but Nelson was the only one Colonel Rhodes saw. Major Froyburg was then in command of the Howe Naval Brigade, men who wore to subsequently distinguish themselves with him on tho Ancre.