THE LURE OF VERDUN

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4275, 26 June 1916, Page 5

THE LURE OF VERDUN

GERMAN GENERAL-STAFF’S

GREAT GAMBLE.

“ANOTHER GRAND ATTACK AT

ALL COSTS.

FRENCH PRESS NOT DOWN-

HEARTED

(Received June 25, 5 p.m.) VERDUN, June 25. Verdun is still the German Generalstaff’s great gamble. Yesterday’s attack was followed today by a Council of War, attended by the Kaiser, the Crown Prince, and Generals Falkenhayn, Hindenburg, and others. 1 The “Daily Mail” describes the Kaiser as depressed, and that lie allowed himself to be persuaded by his technical advisers to make another great attack at any cost. _ . The French newspapers are optimistic regarding the ultimate result. ROME, June 25. It is semi-official,ly and persistently rumored in neutral countries that both General Falkenhayn and General Conrad have bee i removed from their posts as chiefs of the General Staff, also Schach. the Gor man Commander at Verdun.

A 24-HOUR HUN BOMBARD-

MENT.

KALSER PAYS A VISIT TO LIEGE

FINAL EFFORTS BEFORE FREEING TROOPS FOR THE EAST.

HUNS AIM AT CAPTURING TWO

IMPORTANT FORTS

AMSTERDAM, June 24

The Kaiser, with a largo suite, visited Liege and carefully inspected the Pontiesse fort, which General Leman’s defence made famous. The population of Liege was unaware of liis identity. . The Germans renewed their big offensive, uninterruptedly bombarding all positions on both banks of the Mouse. There was a twcnty-foui hours’ bombardment on the right bank. ... This is interpreted as striving to capture Forts Souville and Tavanncs, to spare reinforcements for other fronts. A communiuqe states: Our artillery wrecked enemy organisations on Belgian dunes. Thrco German attacks between Maissonde, Champagne, and Mont-t-etu, and several north-east of Butte-de-Mesnil and against. Hill <lO4, on tho left hank of the Meuse, all failed. THE HAGUE, June 24. One liundred troop trains have passed Aix la Cbapelle, travelling eastwards. The Liege garrison has been ordered to follow. FRENCH OFFICEAL REPORT GREAT MASSES OF HUES SUCCEED EACH OTHER. r# — -. EXTREME DESPERATION LEADS TO ENORMOUS LOSSES. HUNS CLAIM TO HAVE PROGRESSED. i (Received June 25, 5.5 p.m. PARIS, June 24. \ comm unique states that the bombardment of Hill 304, Mort Homme, and tiie second lines at Chattau Court continues in a series of offensive actions of great extent on a five kilometres front. On .Friday morning on Hill 321, to the east of Damloup, there were battery attacks. Gieat masses succeeded each other in extreme desperation, notwithstanding the enormous losses inflicted by our curtain of machine guns. The fire of the enemy between Hills 32] and 320 is very severe. After several fruitless assaults they succeeded in carrying our first line of trenches at Thiaumont works. A powerful German attack reached the village of Floury but was driven back Our fire shattered attacks against Vaux, Cbapipo AVood, bamm and Chenois Woods, and at Damloup a battery was destroyed PARIS, June 25. A communique states: Wc_ repulsed a hand grenade attack at Hill 30L There was a desperate all night battle on tho western section of the ngi« bank anc! a vigorous counter offensive in the region of Hill 321. Hill 320 has been restored to us and a large part of the lost ground the Suomy Ls Mom Jock *o «f----liroa olios of tlio llnaniont vrorks, which he still occupies. . , The struggle is particularly violent in the neighborhood of Ji IWrecovered in the vimmty of luirnm and Chenois Woods a trench lost on tho night of tho 21st. The latest information is that upwards of six divisions participated i Friday’s offensive on the right bank. AMSTERDAM, June 20. A German, communique says an assault on Thiamont fortificaGons was headed by the Tenth Bavarian Infantry Guard Regiment. Me captured o-reatcr part of Floury and piogressed southward towards Vaux Jort Wo prisonerod sixty .officers and 267* Lin singer pushed the a ttaoh across the Zubilno-Zwimacs* lmo. Sore were severer counter-attack, ivhich failed. .

BRITISH AND GERMAN COMMUNIQUES. BRITISH AND GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. iUNS use GAS near MESS’! NES.

CLAIM TO HAVE FRUSTRATED BRITISH ATTACK.

(Received June 25, 5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2d. Sir Douglas Haig reports that tor twenty minutes the Germans on Liwusday night attempted gassing on a small front south and west of Mcs,sines. There was no infantry attack Wo exploded a mine at midnight at Haines and occupied the tip of a crater and isla-ted unimportant parties, artillery engagements took place throughout the day. We silenced a battery westward of Lens. A German communique says: We frustrated' an attempted British- attack eastward of Yprcs and repulsed three assaults. , -... A . Our forces captured positions westward of Vaux Fort. .. . Airmen bombarded Karlsruhe, Muelheim and Treves. There aver© .a nunibov of civilian victims and inconside*. able military damage. , ... Our air squadrons attacked the nnu-

tary works at St. Pol camps and dugouts westward and southward of Verdun. LATEST NEWS. STRUGGLE AT~FLEURY CONTINUED. FURTHER FIGHTING ON BOTH BANKS OF THE MEUSE. (Received June 25, 11.5 p.m.) PARIS, June 25. A communique says there was a relatively quiet day west of the Mouse except a continuous enemy bombardment of Hill 304, and an intense enemy bombardment of our lines on the east bank. The struggle on the outskirts at Floury continued. The enemy occupied sorno houses.