NO RESPITE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1916, Page 2

NO RESPITE.

A GERMAN CONFESSION,

The .correspondent of the Frankfurter Zeitung, in a despatch from headquarters dated May 2ndi says:— Although, since April 18th, it has only been a matter, in the battle before. Verdun, of local fights west and east, it would be a great error to suppose that now a time of less exertion has arrived for our heroes, and that they can rest ■ upon their Quite the contrary. The battle mils on. No day passes, on which the French are not active against our new positions south of Haudromont, in the Avocourt Wood, and especially at the Mort Homme. No day, no night, passes without unceasing attempts at surprises by our enemy. When they noticed that at Cailette Wood ■ their attempts were vain they tried the Caurettes Woods and, with quite extraordinary obstinacy, they are fighting around Mort Homme.

It is quite undeniable that the Finch » in the last fighting have developed before Verdun an activity they had. not attained hitherto to such a degree. The demands which these unceasing attacks make upon our troops’ nerve force and the watchfulness required of them, are still tremendous. The French batteries in the territory around the fortress- fire off quite fantastic amounts of ammunition. On one of these last days, when our report was so laconic, the drumfire in the northern sector rose to such intensity as scarcely ever befole. Whilst Fort Vaux, Bourrus, and Marre are silent the batteries which have been brought up to the new French field positions in the hills around the fortress are speaking more loudly than ever before. The heaviest naval guns, English and French, are almost wastefully active against any roads along which they suppose troops are b& , irig moved. ’■ Also, on the English sections of the front, the attacks of the enemy are increasing.. First here and then there they attempt to find out the weak places by springing mines, by surprises, by night, attacks, by attempts .to cut off our advance positions. South of La Bassee, near Vermeiles and Givenchy, at the old point of attack at St. Eloi, and also south of the Somme, the enemy are on the offensive. - Hdwever, it is still merely a ' matter of feeling their way, and we must wait to see what will come' of it. Of any advantage up till now the enemy cannot boast.