THE WEST FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16663, 7 April 1916, Page 93

THE WEST FRONT

SITUATION AT VERDUN. FRENCH PROGRESS CONTINUES. PARIS, April 5. A communique states: We made progress along the ■- communication trenches northward of Caillette Wood (south-east of Douaumont). v ENEMY EFFORTS FRUSTRATED.

CALLOUS GERMAN METHODS.

PARIS, April 5. A semi-official statement, describing the attack preceding the flight of the German remnant to Chauffour Wood, says :■ "The enemy's object was to turn our positions on Douaumont plateau, but the majority of the attackers were annihilated before reaching our lines. "It is noteworthy that troops of inferior quality advanced Shoulder to shoulder in the foremost ranks, and were sacrificed to facilitate the advance of the second masses, which were composed of better fighters. These brutal and futile tactics show a disregard for human material, contrasting with the French methods of sparing their men. ' "The enemy's losses were never so terrible as during their recent repulses at Avocourt, Douaumont, and Vaux."

COLONEL REPINGTON'S SUMMARY.

GERMAN POSITION BAD. CROWN PRINCE CAUSTICALLY i CRITICISED. .

(Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, April 5. Colonel Repington, 'in The Times, says that Verdun is the chief feature of fighting on the western front. Here the main masses of the German artillery are posted at Septsarges and Beaumont. The northern flank positions are Avocourt and Malancourt, and the, eastern flank is at Vaux, which is being utilised to aid the northern attack. The German position in the Woevre Plain is bad.

Since the great attack on Vaux failed the Crown Prince has resorted to his favourite method of disconnected partial attacks, as he did in the Argonne, where he once attacked with 26 battalions belonging to 21 different regiments. Similar attacks are now being delivered against Verdun, the enemy using up divisions one by one. In the Argonne the Crown Prince received all the men he needed, and "he was hoping to connect his name with victory. Now the entire German line has been drained to prevent his failure, and but for his birth he would have been relieved of his command long since.