THE WAR.

Patea Mail, Volume XL, 20 March 1916, Page 3

THE WAR.

..I THE VERDUN STRUGGLE

SLAUGHTER OP GERMANS,

The High Commissioner reports: London, March 17. West of the Meuse, the bombardment slackened in the course of the night in the region of Bethincourt and Oumieres,

Since the sanguinary check of their attack yesterday, the enemy has not resumed hi& attempts on Morthomme. East of the Meuse, a recrudescence of the bombardment was followed by a series of violent (offensives against the village and fort of Vaux five successive attacks with great effectiveness were thrown by the Germans without success—two on the village, two others against the crest which the fort surmounts, and lastly one attempting to debouch on the road south east of the village of Vaux. All these attacks were broken by the French curtain of lire and mitrailleuses costing the enemy im portaut sacricfies At Woevr e there has been only a reciprocal can nonade throughout the sector west of PontMoussou, and a coup-de-main on the salient of the line opposite the Bo is de Mortmait, the enemy losing prisoners and suffering other casualties.

ANXIETY IN GERMANY

Loudon, March 17

The Frankfurter Zeituug stares that convoys of wounded are coubuiually passing Frankfort, and .are arousing the greatest anxiety It is feared the Germans have suffered enormous losses at Verdun.

The Wolff Agency, however lias informed the Press that the convoys are composed of wounded and captured French.

GERMANS HURLED BACK

Paris, March 17

A communique says: After a most violent bombardment on the Bethiucourt Cumieres front, the Germans in the afternoon made a strong attack at Morthommo. They came on in waves but were unable to secure a footing at auy points, and wore compelled to fall back towards Crow’s Wood, Whore our concentrated lire, which was immediately let loose, inflicted great losses The batteries on several occasions caught the Germans marching on the right bank of the Meuse

ITALY ADVANCING

LONDON' March 17,

The Daily Mail’s Rome correspondent reports that the Italian' artillery has already obtained appreciable results in the Isouzo, the enemy being compelled to evacuate several advance positions.

YON TIRPITZ’S SUCCESSOR

Loudon, March 17

Rear Admiral von Capelie, who succeeds Admiral von Tirpitz in command of the German fleet, is GO years of age. Ho has nob been at sea since he.wus a captain, For many years he

lived in England. Under Admiral von Tirpitz his main business was to juggle with the Navy Estimates and to manage the Riechstag.

CAUSE OB 1 RETIREMENT ( * Stockholm, March 17. Yon Tirpitz’s retirement is reported to be due to dissensions with I Count von Hollweg. GERMAN ATROCITIES LONDON March 17. Professor Morgan has published a terrible record of German atrocities, based upon official investigations in Franco. He insists that the respousioiiity for the orgy of bloodshed rapine is not confined to our army, for the whole people seem to be infected with some kind of moral distemper.