SLAUGHTER OF THE HUNS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13973, 20 April 1916, Page 3

SLAUGHTER OF THE HUNS.

IN THE OPEN AT VEHDUN. BETWEEN TWO PIREW.. ' VANCOUVER, April 12. Messages from Paris state that it is not known why the Germans have adopted./ new attacking formations around Verdun j unless it is that their reserves are- decreasing too fast and their losses' too heavy m the massed attacks.,' - A French officer describes hpw, on the afternoon of. Tuesday' last, a thin, line of Germans <iebouclie<l like skirmisl-ers from the Chauffour" Wood, advancing by means of short rushes. . "We held our fire," he goes on, "and two more lines followed the first, and after the last came the supporting columns. 'The' whole force was now m the open, and we had ample time to study the enemy's formation before opening fire.

"Tliere appeared to bu a total •of three regiments m the attack, and the task they had set themselves was to storm our trenches. For this purpose they were provided with trench-ladders and small foot-bridges, some carried dynamite petards with which to blow up the barbed wire entanglements, while otltera had picks and shovels.

"But all this deliberate organisation proved useless. They never got near. We waited with calm confidence until the last German line was only 50 yards off, and then the machine 'guns and rifles began. If they had come out m the usual massed formation we should have commenced eai'lier. Under the new plan it was perfectly safe to Jet them, come closer* and then trap them. "Our fire dropped the first and second lino and the supports rushed forward to fill the gaps. It was then that the 75's opened fire; spreading a shower of shells 300 yards m. front of our trenches, and trapping the Huns between the fire of our mitrailleuses and rifles and the artillery curtain. The machine guns worked pitilessly. The Germans wavered- The officers rallied them. Our leaders were alert, and directed the men to fire carefully.

"A second time the foo hesitated, then seemed to rally, find ' then fled through the zone, of shells to the shelter of the wood. Increasing the trajectory of the 75'a, the wood was raked, and many dashed out again into t,he open, only to meet death there."