SECOND EDITION GERMAN OFFENSIVE AT VERDUN

Nelson Evening Mail, 30 March 1916, Page 1

SECOND EDITION GERMAN OFFENSIVE AT VERDUN

RESUMED "WITH REDOUBLED VIOLENCE. ALL. ATTACKS REPULSED; : FRIGHTFUL. ENEMY LOSSES., (Press. Association Ooeybioht.) (Rec. March. 30, 2.10 p.m.) -PARIS, March 29. , A semi-official review states that the German offensive, .which/ has been, bus* «j pended since - the 22nd, was. resumed "on Tuesday with redoubled violence. • The enemy, in order to conceal Ilia designs, deluged the entire Verdun \front- withi , shell Are for fiix days without interrup- : ! tion. The weight of the infantry onslaught was delivered on a front• hard? ' ly a kilometre in extent, between Ayo-, court and KTalancourt. German masses, a division strong, leaped, to the assault.over ground plough- ■ ed up by their own heavy shells. They, thought this could be easily crossed* ibut they reckoned without our infantry and light artillery, which the orgy *of .< steel had not destroypd, and which were lying flat. . ... ■ ■■ Our infantry poured in a terrific fire, ; while the field pieces cufc down swathes . ■ of men\ - # The pnemyJs line was again, and'again broken. ; - ' The Germans , failed-to drive us'out of ■ the village of Malancourt, where 'they, w , already occupied the' surrounding hilltj.^ The German fosses ., the German comjnanders at nightfolli-tfeV" ' ? cognised the futility of ■ the"attacks,'atl&'i >..■ retired, leaving, about? a quarter -■ of ■; their effectives dead Or' wounded"!on. th®'\ field. 9 ' - - ' \ The (German tactics of butting- for-. : ward in fits and starts show .that, theT;'. enemy i& weakening, either from lack 1 of,, will or lack of means. - " If Tie proposes to march' towards Veiv 1 . dun via Malancourt he must cover 12 . kilometres.