IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

BAtTLE OF VERDUN, THE THIRD PHASB,' ' ' . CROWN PRINCE'S OBSTINACY. * Paris, March 9. The third phase of the battle at VerBun commenced on Sunday, when a terrible artillery duel commenced west of the Meuse. Woods were levelled, and the Fergei brook ceased to run, shell bursts 'having dammed the stream in six places. The crest of Hill 213 was blown »way to a depth of 30 feet. The main French petition at Goose Hill Is still Untouched, but Germans sheltering in ravines managed to force a »ay up a narrow country lane leading to the top of the hill, jeopardising the extreme French right on Goose Hill. It i», believed that the German plans miscarried through the Crown Prince's vanity and obstinacy. It was originally planned to make three simultaneous attack*, feinting on the Woevre Plain and Making a strong attack on the west bank of the Meuse and Douaumont. The hypnotised Crown Prince had to justify his capture of Fort Douaumont, and used. a quarter of a million men there against the' advice of the generals, who favored the West bank. The latter attract has now developed. The attacked h*ve lost almost all their officers, Owipg to the Kaiser ordering his officers, to the risk Of to lead their men Into action instead of following them. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RESISTANCE. A communique says: We continued bombarding the communication lines in I we eastern Argonne. The Germans ] westward of tlte Meuse repeatedly attempted at night to repair yesterday's failures. Two attempted attacks at Bethikcourt, preceded by intense artillery preparation, were stopped by a curtmih of fire, preventing the Germans debouching. in the Crows' Wood (Wood of jjjprbeaux) Tenewed efforts failed to dislodge us from the wide area recaptured, which we are consolidating. Fighting eastward of the Meuse con-, tujued with obstinacy during the evening and night.' There were several strong attacks on the French entrenched position* between Douaumont and Vaux, but the enelny, despite the intensity of his, artillery fire and the violence of his a'Miults, was completely respulsed. Some elements .of the German infantry mopenetrated Vaux, hut were driven out by the bayonet. AX AMERICAN'S VISIT. A correspondent of the American Associated Press who lias visited Verdun »ays there is less damage than he anticipated. Xo buildings are destroyed. ' i'Jkn artillery officer stated that on the first day's, bombardment eighty thousand shells fell on a single sector 1000 metres long and 800 metres broad. ' & general officer told the correspondent that Germany has lost 80,000 killed. A number of French soldiers had been burnt alive by the Germans throwing flaming liquids. Le Matin, replying to yesterday's German claim, declares that only 700 prituners were taken. MOVTXG CP HEAVY GUNS. t ,j-. London, March 9. Ctilonel Repington says th?t the Germans at Verdun commenced moving up •J.lieir heavy pirns three miles on February 27. It is expected that it will be at lea|t ten days or a fortnight before .tiie work is completed, especially as the weather has been bad. The advance of the heavy batteries to the' line Beaumont-Ornes-Fromezey is difficult. Roads must be prepared, gunpits and magazines built, and the guns' ttriges registered. The whole artillery gIUSt also be linked up by telephones. FRENCH REPORT. FIGHTIXG AT VAUX. Received March 10, 11.40 p.m. ' Paris, March 10. A communique states: We continued our progress in Corbeaux Wood. After several fruitless attacks on the village Of Vaux, with heavy losses, the Germans launched violent massed attacks below the fort at Vaux, but were repulsed with enormous losses. A German wireless claims that they Captured both the village and the fort