The Verdun Victory.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 267, 27 October 1916, Page 5

The Verdun Victory.

Details of the Brilliant Battle.

The Poilus Given Their Head.

Joffre’s Flaming Shield of Shells [press ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.] [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] '■ (Received 27, 11.10 a.m.) London, October 26. The Germans on Friday moved two divisions, which formed a reserve on the Meuse,' to the Somme, as the Kaiser is at Bapaumc meditating an offensive. The weather was very thick after the spell of clear days wherein the French artillery battered the German trenches. During the fog the bombardment stopped, and everything seemed quiet, when four divisions of General Nivelle’s troops suddenly leapt from the trenches and attacked, crying " En avant!” The columns on the left quickly reached the BrasDouaumont road and the quarries, and also seized Thiaumont redoubt. General Mangin’s brigade on the right cleared the northeast of Fleury and Hill 320, penetrating the Cailette Wood by the famous Death Ravine on the east of ThiaumontThe batteries were captured in twenty minutes and 800 defenders killed or taken prisoner. The commander shot himself rather than surrender. So quickly did the Poilus cover theground that General Mamgin said his forces were equal to a bigger task than was originally devised, and gave the staff the necessary orders to capture Douaumont fort, and let the attackers have their head. The French reached the village and Douaumont Fort at four o’clock, the columns converging from the south and southwest. The very regiment which recaptured the fort on the 22nd of May, when it was turned out by the Bavarians, now occupied the ruins, and within an hour the smoking heap of masonry was fully occupied, and the Tri-colour planted on the topmost battlement. A flare of Bengal lights sent up at 6 o’clock announced that all objectives were taken* Trenches were rapidly re-made, blocks, bricks and stone in the village were piled up to furnish emplacements for machineguns. A third of the French force meanwhile penetrated the north ends of Chapitre and Fumin Woods, reaching the lake west of Vaux village. The success of the day’s work was the more remarkable because of the thick mist and fine rain which prevented the aeroplanes from assisting. Vaux Fort, which surrendered on the 9th of June, is within a quarter of a mile of the new French line. (Received 27, 8.55 a.m.) New York, October 26. The New York "World’s” Paris correspondent states that the French advanced behind a flaming shield of shells. Thousands of shells, weighing more than a ton each, rained on the armoured shelters of Douaumont, and drove the Germans from vaults sixty feet deep. Flocks of aeroplanes spied out the German secrets, and told the gunners minutely what they were accomplishing. When they advanced the fire screen was so efficient that an even line of projectiles exploded 100 yards ahead of the advancing infantry, and the fuses were lengthened at every step. MACHINES AND THE HUMAN ELEMENT. JOFFRE WITNESSES THE BATTLE. Paris, October 26. General Joffre was an eye-witness of the triumph at Verdun, He watched the attack from 11.30 to 6, when a rocket announced that Fort Douaumont was captured. The ground won represents the maximum of entrenched hill and vaUey which could be thoroughly smashed in a single operation, and is a perfect example of the new style of scientific and mechanical offensive supported by the best troops. It is untrue to say that Fort Douaumont was captured by a single bound- The offensive was prepared by many small advances over two and a-half months, whereof the most important was that at Fleury village on August 18th. Though the Germans had remarked heavy bombardments east of the Meuse for a week, nevertheless there was an element of surprise in the attack. A message from Rome states that the German defeat at Verdun is attributed to the transfer of troops to Rumania. FURTHER PROGRESS ACHIEVED. Paris, October 26. A communique states: We repulsed three counter-attacks at Haudromont and Douaumont. We progressed east of Fumin Wood and northward of Chenois. Our unwounded prisoners hitherto counted total 4500. (Received 27, 12.30 p.m.) • London, October 26. There have been no further counter-attacks on Verdun. THE STORY TOLD TO BERLIN. London, October 26. A German communique states: The French attack north-east of Verdun gained ground as far as the burning fortress of Douaumont. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] (Received 27, 2.15 p.m-) London, October 26. A German communique says: —The French penetrated our destroyed trenches as far as the fort and village of Douaumont. We evacuated the burning fort, and occupied prepared positions northwards. We repulsed further violent French attacks on Vaux Fort.

THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD. GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT. [high commissioner’s message.] London, October 26. General Haig reports: —There has been heavy enemy shelling of our positions between Eaucourt I’Abbaye and Les Boeufs, and also at Stuff and Zollern redoubts. Enemy trenches have been raided at Monchy, also northeast of Arras. THE GERMAN REPORT. London, October 26. (Received 27, 2.15 p.m-) A German communique says:—The English local attacks failed north of Courcelette, Le Sars, Gueudecourt and Les Bceufs. « COMRADES, HOLD ON!” A MUCH-NEEDED EXHORTATION. [REUTER’S TELEGRAM.] (Received 27, 10.45 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 26. The Raiser, after having reviewed the troops at Cambrai, said :—“ I have hurried from the East to bring you greetings and thanks from your comrades for the heroism you have shown in the greatest battle in the world’s history. The battle ot the Somme will stand for centuries as a brilliant example of the whole nation’s determination to conquer. You incarnate that determination m resistance of the French arrogance and the British obstinacy. Comrades, hold on! The Lord of Creation is with you!” ' “ LITTLE WILLIE” AT BERLIN. Amsterdam, October 26.. The Crown Prince was not present to witness the, Verdun defeat. He was visiting Berlin to celebrate the Kaiser’s birthday.