COSTLY ASSAULTS ON VERDUN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16202, 12 April 1916, Page 7

COSTLY ASSAULTS ON VERDUN.

FIGHTING IN MESOPOTAMIA. BRITISH HAMPERED BY FLOODS. RUSSIAN PROGRESS IN ARMENIA. THREE FOKKERS BROUGHT DOWN The Germans have made another attack upon the Verdun front west of the Meuse, on the same sector as on Sunday. The French line remained intact. Repeated attacks upon the French in the Caiilette Wood, near Douaumont, east of the Meuse, were repulsed. The offensive developed by the Germans at Verdun on Sunday extended over a front exceeding 13 miles. The Germans have lost three Fokker aeroplanes in the past few days. An attack was made at dawn on Sunday against the Turkish positions at Sannaiyat, on the River Tigris, about 16 miles east of Kut«el»Amara. General Lake reports that the operations were much hampered by floods, and the British failed to pierce the enemy's lines. A description of the recent operations at Umm-eMfenna and Felahieh is given. The only serious resistance met was when the strong!y»entrenched positions at Felahieh were attacked. The enemy's lines were all carried. The British casualties were not heavy.

A report from Constantinople states that the Turks have concentrated 100,000 men at Mosul, 220 miles north of Bagdad, and are feverishly preparing to meet the attacks of the British and Russian forces. '

The Russian forces in Armenia are continuing their southward advance, and numerous engagements with the enemy are reported.

Indications of an offensive by the enemy in Macedonia are reported by a correspondent in Salonika. He states that the enemy is assembling artillery near the front.

The fourth mine crater at St. Eloi, which remained in German hands, has now been captured by the British, whose line has been established in the trenches running southward from the crater.

A serious disagreement between Germany and Turkey is reported to have arisen through the recall of German officers... from Turkey and the withholding of supplies of German gold - from the Turkish banks.