BATTLE OF VERDUN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13931, 2 March 1916, Page 3

BATTLE OF VERDUN

HOW THE GIiRaMAN ADVANCE WAS CHECKED. SEVEN ENEMY REGIMENTS SHATTERED. FRESH TROOPS SWARM OVER THE DEAD. TERRIFIC ONSLAUGHT BY THE FRENCH. ' PARIS, March 1. An infantryman in a sap before Douaumont saw the Germans advancing at the double. Suddenly from the heights and! slopes of either side, the heavy French artillery, shortening its range, ploughed the foremost rank with six-inch and eight-inch shells and then dozens of batteries of 75's came into the open and began rapid fire on the advancing battalions. These melted away. We eventually confronted tenfold our numbers and withdrew 2000 yards behind the fort in good order, our artillery and rearguard maintaining a curtain of firo to prevent the enemy coming too near. Before the enemy had time to establish himself on the crest of the plateau, we were ordered to retake it. It was like a battle of olden times. There was little shelter and no trenches. The French advanced amid an inferno of shot and shell, carrying everything before them. An officer participating in the charge had to climb a wall of Gei'man corpses. Our machine gun sections wcro moro numerous than in any previous battle. They kept pace with the infantry, and took up positions in the open regardless of the cost. When the moon roso the .inechiiTguns were still fh'ing 2CO rounds per minute, and enfilading the ravines wheve the enemy was trying to approach. These were filled up with .German dead. . Seven German regiments were thrown upon' the hill. Preparatory to advancing the' general, addressing them., urged them to fight without pity, saying : "Remember, the French shoot all prisoners,!" The seven regiments were shattered and broken by the French artillery and still fresh troops swarmed over the dead until it seemed as if the German reserves were inexhaustible. • | Describing the French counter-attack, : a wounded French colonel says : "Hardly had the command "En Avant !".been ! uttered than our men threw themselves forward. *with terrific dash !" I