VERDUN BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 16049, 28 February 1916, Page 6

VERDUN BATTLE

STILL RACING FURIOUSLY. GERMAN ADVANCE FALTERING. FRENCH AIRCRAFT ACTIVE. PARIS, February 27. (Received February 28, at 8.5 a.m.) A communique states : —Northward of Verdun the bombardment continues without relaxation both on the east and west banks of the Meuse. The enemy's attacks at different points along the front were met by our vigorous counter-attacks. All the enemy's fresh attempts iu the region of Champ Neuvillo and against Poivre Hill, where we are solidly established, were repulsed. A desperate struggle is raging round Douaumont fort, an advanced element of Verdun's old defensive organisations. The position was captured this morning by the tTiemy after several fruitless assaults, costing them very great losses. The position wag again reached and passed by our troops, and all attempts to force us back failed. In the region of Verdun the Adjutant Navarre, a monoplane, brought down with her machine gun two German aeroplanes within our lines. Two of the aviators were killed and.two others were taken prisoner. Nine of our bombarding aeroplanes dropped 144 bombs on the. Metz-Sablon station. Another squadron bombarded an enemy establishment at Chambley, northeast of Pont-a-M6usson. PAYING THE PRICE. MOWN DOWN IN SWATHES. DEVOTED GERMAN INFANTRY. PARIS, February 27. (Received February 28, at 8.25 a.m.) A neutral just arrived from Germany declares that ho learned from tho best source that tho Germans were ready to sacrifice 200,000 men to capture Verdun. • A wounded soldier says: " The slaughter near Melancourt was pitiful. The German infantry advanced in unbelievable fashion, averaging a man to every 18 inches. They rushed forward quicker than our guns our own dead. 1 saw them falling over ! i-.ir onw dead. Shells tore through walls of flesh, but still they came on as if fascinated; but there was no shouting or singing as used to be the case earlier in the war. They came on just charging into I our ' mowing machines.' " i GERMAN ADMISSION. . i "APPALLING LOSSES." AMSTERDAM, February 27. (Received February 28, at 8.5 a.m.) The German newspapers admit appalling German losses northward of Verdun. The ' Frankfurter Zeitung ' describes the German regiments as fighting in a sea of fire. FRANCE'S CONFIDENCE. FEELING OF RELIEF OVER GERMAN ATTACK. . ENEMY DEEPLY COMMITTED. PARIS, February 27. (Received February 28, at 8.5 a.m.) 'Le Temps' states that the French took prisoner an entire German battalion. The prisoners reported that tho Imperial Guards had been supplied with two kinds of flame-throwers, the smallest hurling a Haitie a distance of 12 yards and the biggest 55 yards. The.Parisians have never been more optimistic than they are to-day. The Paris Bourse has shown a gradual rise since the beginning of the Verdun battle. Military circles are quietly confident and grimly glad that the long-threatened attack has come. They describe the German advance in different places as purely strategic, and in fact a* being advantageous to iho French, since both, sides are playing for stronger positions. According to a prominent French military critic, tho French evacuated on their left win? a height extending from the south of Champ Neuville to Beaumont, on which it would be dangerous to prolong their stay, because the Meuse would hamper the falling back of tho soldiers, and the latter would bo uneasy, knowing that the Kyax was only a short distance in rear. Accordingly all the fust line retired to the heights between Poivre hillside and Vauche Wood. The Germans are now assailing this position. The whole operation. Eays this expert, is not & siege, but a battle against one of the French armies. It must be remembered that the jjarrisrn of Verdun and its forts only figure in the combats as an element of resistance. The enemy's big guns might demolish. Fort Douaumont without destroying anything but an inert block of concrete. Operations of such magnitude as described' must be carried or. to an end despite the snow. 'Tho. Germans cannot remain long inactive, awaiting better weather; while a thaw would make their ,i«tiuation Worse still. •"

A DESPERATE CAME. FORESTALLING THE ALLIES. "NOW OR NEVER." LONDON, February 27. (P.eceived February 23, at 5.50 a.m.) There is a consensus of opinion among ■the Sunday newspapers that tho colossal onslaught northward of Verdun ia an indication that Germany is seeking a solution of the deadlock'on the western front at any cost, because she is unable to await tho Allies' higher strength and surer combination and more varied initiative. With Germany it is a case of "now or never," both by sea and land. The 'Observer' says that Hie present attempt is in order to anticipate disorganise, _ arid shatter by alternate strokes the Allies' combined offensive-to be undertaken in their own time; and secondly, by indirect means, to clear the Allies from the Balkans with a view to isolating and subduing Rumania. Th* attack demands on the part of the- Allies absolute coolness and self-control. Finding the weather still unsuitable to complete her operations on the eastern front, Germany has brought, thence every man that can be spared from the cast front in the next six weeks. Moreover, Germany has massed on the west two-thirds of her armies, with a vast proportion of her accumulated stores of shells. Could she force France and Britain into a premature offensive she would thus bo able to employ her maximum degree of strength against them, and if thev were beaten to a standstill she could transfer her troops east, and tackle Russia in her turn. The 'Observer' praises tho French soldiership displayed in the past week in making the utmost slaughter araon? the enemy while straightening the French line and economising men for the purpose of the great French offensive which is already being planned. The.'Observer' adds: "Verdun, however important, is not vital. Its fall would not be a thrust in the Allies' vital* only a dent in their armor." ' WELL-AIMED BOMB. AMSTERDAM, February 27. (Received February 28, at 9.45 a.m.) An allied airman destroyed Elevber" railway station, on the Belgo-German frontier, and damaged the tunnel. — | TIGHTENING THE BLOCKADE. BRITAIN'S TARDY ACTION. AMSTERDAM, February 27. (Received February 28, at 8.25 a.m.) The 'TelegraaP says that in tho last three months the exportation o F copra, linseed oil, and margarine to Germany has been entirely suspended. This Tesult could have been attained earlier if Britain had placed these articles on the contraband list. Since this has been done the prohibition of export has been enforced with greate istrictness by Holland. NO MORE COTTON. TEXTILE INDUSTRY HIT. London 'Times' and Sydney 'Sun' Services. LONDON, February 27. The Press announces that the German textile, manufacturers have informed Scandinavian importers that the export of cotton goods is ceasing, as tho German reserves of raw material are exhausted, and the majority of factories aie without either material or stocks. PORTUGAL AND GERMANY. SHIPPING .SEIZURES JUSTIFIED. LISBON", February 27. (Received February 2b', at 8.50 a.m.) The Premier of Portugal, in the Climber of Deputies, justified the Government in using Gorman steamers, on the ground that it was an economic necessity. Senor Do Castro added that aii infernal machine had been found in the -Norddeutscher liner Burlow's boilers, wliich would have blown up the ship the moment she left her moorings. An explosion was averted, but the vessel's machinery was ruined. Senhor Do Co.stu went on to urge the denunciation of the German-Portuguese Treaty.- adding: "We are ready for all eventualities." BRITAIN'S DETERMINATION. London 'Times' and Sydney 'Sun' Services. LONDON, February 27. A Copenhagen message states that Mr Asquith's speech at the opening of Parliament strongly impressed the German public. The ' Politiken' (Copenhagen) : " Mr Asquith has never used unconsidered words, and his speech was a proclamation of the Empire's determination to win a literally compelled victory."