SITUATION AT VERDUN.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 81, 5 April 1916, Page 5

SITUATION AT VERDUN.

GENERAL JOFFRE SATISFIED

FRONT CARPETED WITH

GERMAN DEAD

FRENCH EX .\ CT THREE LIVES -■FOR ONE. (Received Anril n, 8.25 a.m.) LONDON. April 4. Th.? Times «=nvs that Colonel Ropington visited General Joffre. who has been •to Verdun. OoloneJ Repineton statep that the situation as ir> General Tnffre's liking. "Th(Avp nriv thirt-y '.iPKnan divisions round Verdun and thirty-four before

tins British, (showing that mo Germans intend to attack the British or •lhaJ, obey •e-xj^cb the British to •attack them. The rest'of ide Geriimn line is thinly held and is <]e.stiinte of -reserves. It is vexatious that- the British are not fighting, but •inter we shaft see." ■Colonel R«pington sas\s that the Germans expected to ea.pt.ure Verdun in four days* The situation critical on February -iJ.'rth,, when Petain brought up his i>erond iuwy and took over the ■■command. "An important task was to reestablish tho mastery o-f the air.. The ;»C*erman*. were so embeldenc^l that tkey bombed French battalions, on nn liie mitHch to the foortt at 460 metres. The Rrench aviators restored the i-aJancta of power iluring tIK? second week in March, and now no 'German aeroplanes win pondtrate the French lines." , "General Joffre iis 'enthusiastic'over Gene* al Petnin's • lisa of the heavy aitiliory, which Tans been rendered so suppW that fnertittm iFreneh ordnance outfight, 4he> eneniy's he«i.vie.st guns. The Fr«fHch artillery-fight day and night andl hold every road, rapine, wood, stmel caritonmeiit fjnder tire- No Gecmans within five miles can be certain -or a moment's rest. ; -'"If General 7Petam gives groutul, as at Malanotvurt, ".lie oxacts tliree lives for one Tlte Verdun treat is carpeted witJh <German <lead. The -uiiole line is being •drained of n en -.and gnus t© save 1 the'CrcfWJi Prince SJrotn failure. ; ' ! "The .morite 'di 'the -.French army 'waR never laighi>T. Th© French trust ito their chief's :vnd are confident o •victory. G enoral7J6ffre and General iCastlenau have "ample reserves. '