MORE GERMAN ATTACKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 17

MORE GERMAN ATTACKS.

PARIS, April 5

A communique states : The Germans bombarded the front from Douaumont to Vaux with great violence, and the infantry strongly attacked south of Douaumont in successive waves, fol= lowed by columns. Our artillery, machine gun, and rifle fire mowed them down, causing them to retreat in disorder to the Chaffour Wood, where our artillery inflicted further considerable losses.

We further progressed north of Cail lette Wood.

GENERAL JOFFRE SATISFIED. LONDON, April 4.

The Times says that Colonel Repington has visited General Joffre, and has seen Verdun. Colonel Repington states that the situation is to General Joffre's liking. "There are," he adds, "30 German divisions in front of Verdun and 34 before the British line, showing either that the Germans intend to attack the British or expect the British to attack them. The rest of the German line is thinly held, and is destitute of reserves. It is vexatious that the British are not fighting, but later on we shall see." Colonel Repington says that the Germans expected to capture Verdun in four days. The situation was critical on February 25, when General Petain brought up his second army and took over the command from General Humbert. His

most important task was to re-establish, the French mastery of the air. the German airmen had become so emboldened that they bombed French battalions on the march 403 metres behind the front. The French aviators had restored tha balance by the second week of March, and now no German aeroplanes penetrate the French lines.

General Joffre is enthusiastic over General Petain's use of heavy artillery, which he renders so supple that medium calibre French ordnance outfights tha enemy's heaviest guns. The French artillery, as at Malancourt, exacts three German lives for one French. The Verdun front is literally carpeted with GermaS dead, and the whole German line ii. France is being drained of men and gun£ to save the Crcwn Prince from failure.

The morale of the French army wal never higher. The French trust theil chiefs, and are confident of victory. Generals Joffre and Castlenau have ampla reserves.

THE FRENCH AMBUSH. PARIS, April 4. The Petit Journal states that the French withdrawal near Forges was so skilful thai the enemy's all-day-long bombardment simply wasted thousands of shells. When the enemy's attack was launched in successive waves the French frontal fire from their new positions mowed the enemy down. The 75's also opened a terrible fire on the enemy's flank. There was a veritable carnage, whole ranks being cut down The French casualties were much less.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT

LONDON, April 4.

A German communique states: After 4 powerful artillery preparation the British recaptured the crater at St. Eloi.

We captured on Sunday, after bittsr fighting, strong French positions southward of Douaumont' and Caillette Forest. We repulsed French counter-attacks all night long, in which exceedingly strong French forces suffered heavily. They repeatedly but fruitlessly tried to storm tho lost positions.

PRISONERS AT VERDUN

LONDON, April 4.

Colonel Repington describes the German prisoners at Verdun as ignoble and unmili-tary-looking, with brutish, horrible faces —men apparently capable of any crime. Many of them are under-sized, and it seems as if anybody, trained or untrained, has been called out. GENERAL IVANOFF RETIRES. HIS HEALTH THE CAUSE. PETROGRAD, April 4. General Ivanoff has retired from th» south-western command. A Czar's rescript pays a tribute to General Ivanoff's services. General Ivanoff's labours were impaired by bad health.

FLOODS RISING

PETROGRAD, April 5

A communique states • The floods aro still rising. We fired on the Germans south of Dvinsk when evacuating their flooded trenches. We repulsed an enemyoffensive on the railway west of Tarnopol. We are advancing in a south-westGTly direction in the region of Mush-Bitlis.