GERMANY WAGING OFFENSIVE IN EXASPERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 7

GERMANY WAGING OFFENSIVE IN EXASPERATION.

NEWSPAPERS PROCLAIMING A VICTORY AT VERDUN. KAISER HAS THE BATTLE SPECIALLY WRITTEN UP. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received March 3, 6 p.m.) London, March 2. The German press is jubilant over the Verdun battle, claiming a great and unexpected success. All assert that the German losses were not heavy. Four long-range shells, they state, , destroyed Fort Douaumont. The Lokal Anzeiger, referring to Mr. Asquith's recent statement that Britain's terms of peace were those he set out at the beginning of the war, asks: "What has Mr. Asquith to say to this?" The Cologne Gazette says: " Germany has given an answer to Mr. Asquith with surprising speed and overwhelming emphasis." The Frankfurter Zeitung says: "We are risking everything for the life or death of Germany among the world Powers. Germany's answer will be greater violence, abandoning chivalry, because we are dealing with robbers ■ and murderers." Amsterdam advices report that the Kaiser has returned to Germany. His staff enabled descriptive writers, photographers, cinematograph operators, artists, arid poets to witness the opening attacks, and their accounts were utilised in 'the press and cinematograph theatres to prepare the public for a great triumph. • The tone of German comments indicates that Germany is exasperated because her peace feelers have been rejected, therefore she is waging the most savage offensive in a desperate effort to force victory. No paper predicts that the battle of Verdun will decide the war.