THE ATTACK ON VERDUN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12822, 14 April 1916, Page 5

THE ATTACK ON VERDUN.

I Received April 11, in 'J.IO p.m. I ' Paris. April l;i. A communique -ay- that a calm niglit was experienced at Verdun. Received April l-'t. at H.'2o p.m. London. April 13. Mr Warner Allen authoritatively de- . nies that the Australian artillery arc fighting round Verdun. Received ApriM3, at 11.55 p.m. Paris. April 13. Violent continuous bombardment is maintained at Hill 304, Esnes, _ and Mort -Homine, and moderate artillery firiiijiyCast of the Meuse. MISSINC AIRMEN. Received April 14, at 0.10 p.m. London, ApriL 13. letters from airmen missing since the raid on 2oth March show that the. seaplanes had already completed their work over the air sheds, and were steering.homewards in a heavy snowstorm. _ * Lieut. Reid saw Licut ; Hay struggling in the water beside liis machine. Lieut. Reid planed .down and hauled Lieut. Hay on. board with terrible difficulty owing to a heavy sea and the fact that he was numbed by cold, and all the time under fire. Then his machine refused to leave the water and an enemy war,ship came up. The -aviators then surrendered. BURIALS AT LEMNOS. INFORMATION SOUGHT. London, April 13. Iu reply to inquiry, the Minister of Defence has received a letter from Rrigadier-Gcncral Clearv. General Headquarters Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, stating that he has instructed the New Zealand Records Office there to furnish the Hon. James Allen as early as possible with all the particulars available regarding burials at Lemnos. REPATRIATION FUND. Received April 14, at 10.25 a.m. 3lelbourne, April 14. Mr Pearce has announced that'the 'Cabinet have decided to ask Parliament to sanction a grant of a quarter of a million as a Commonwealth con- ■ tribution to the Repatriation Fund. CONSCRIPTION FOR AUSTRALIA.

Received April 14, at 10.25 .1.111. Adelaide, April 14. Tlie Premier considers that if the required number of .recruits throughout Australia are not forthcoming with, out some form of conscription for eligible singles, it would be ' unfair to those who gone but liave been sent back while single men stay behind to enjoy the comforts for which the lads in the trenches are fighting. AUSTRALIAN PATRIOTIC FUNDS, Received April ]4. at 10.25 a.m. Melbourne, April 14. A deputation representing the Trades Hall Council asked Mr Pearse to place the patriotic funds under Go. verniucnt control. The Minister agreed that it was necessary, but suggested that uniform, legislation should bo adopted by the States. THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES. Kcceived-April 14. at 10.25 a.in. Melbourne, April 14. To the end of March 169,066 Commonwealth soldiers have embarked, and there were 61,633 still in the various camps. £