IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE VERDUN HOLOCAUST. MORE NEWS FROM LORD NORTHCLIFFE. FRENCH LINES UNBREAKABLE. London, March 12. Lord Northcliffe, in a message to the Weekly Dispatch, contrasts the fine physique and bearing of the German prisoners at the Marne with the undersized, hadly-drcssed prisoners at Verdun. An indelible look of fright was stamped on their faces and it was difficult to believe that these were labelled "corps d'elite." How they would fare in a hand-to-hand encounter with the British need not be speculated. Only the ether with which they were drugged and the cover of 2000 giant guns enabled them to survive the terror of the French resistance. No word has been hinted in Germany of the horible slaughter of Germans this week. The Allied wall across France is impregnable against the attempt to secure a definite military position. The German line may be also impegnable, but the difference is that Germany is besieged, as even the feeble blockade has deprived German troops of proper clothes. An officer who fought at Verdun says: "For over seventeen days the Geri mans hurled masses against the un- [ shakeable wall. Their aircraft reminded one of a flight of ravens. Notwithstanding the intense bombardment our supply [of ammunition is still enormous and rei iDforcements are arriving from all parts ready to meet the new German troops | which are constantly appearing. Nobody in the French Army fears that the Germans will succeed in breaking .through to Paris." German aviator claims are officially denied. The French actually lost g«t aeroplanes in February. Four fell owing to motor faults, and two in combat. The French brought down eleven German aeroplanes, six within the French lines. REASON FOR FRENCH SUCCESS. Lord Northcliffe continues: It is difficult to guess Germany"s reason for flashing astounding falsehoods round the world. The Crown Prince is gambling with human life to an extent unprecedented even in this war . The French success in mowing down tlfe enemy was due to their great courage in keeping hidden machine-guns near the German positions, indeed, often in the front amidst the French barbed wire entanglements. FRENCH ARTILLERY SUPERIOR. The Germans have no weapon equal to the French seventy-five, nor are their gunners in any way comparable to the Frenchman. The modern artilleryman requires a supply of shells, necessitating hundreds of miles of light railways to bring them up in proximity to the guns. THE REAL HEROES.

I At Verdun the bravery of the enginedrivers of these little trains was wonderful. Sucli non-combatants, along with the surgeons and stretcher-bearers are among the real heroes of the war, and like our mercantile maine, minelayers and sweepers tiiey do not receive the recognition they should. TYPICAL HUNNISH ACT. There was a typical German act this week. After a French gunner had located and destroyed a hidden battery ( within an hour, obviously after consultation "with a high authority, two hundred shells were dropped into 'a distant inoffensive village, destroying many homes, and killing children who were playing in the streets. It was a revelation of callous and non-sporting side of the detestable character of the Hun. GERMAN PLANS UPSET, FRENCH RESISTANCE A SURPRISE. Paris, March 12. A German artillery officer, who was made a prisoner, states that the Germans brbught into the battle hundreds of heavy guns, which they advanced in a solid block, intending to blast a way through the French lines. They had mountains of shells in order to fire unceasingly until the gunners were exhausted, but the French artillery rained shells upon the German batteries and forced them to disperse. The German supplies were disorganised and the infantry met with resistance, the desperate nature of which astonished the German commanders. Thus the whole initial plan was upset and the Germans forced to resort to isolated attacks.

ATTACK ON VAUX. MORE HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS Paris, March 12. A communique states:—Active artillery fighting occurred at Bois-des-3utie3. There was an intense bombardment at Betliincourt, also east of Douaumont fort, in the region of the Vaux fort. The enemy has been attempting since Friday to reach the Vaux fort plateau. GERMAN BRAVERY. Paris, March 12. A French officer says it is impossible not to admire the German bravery in the attacks on Fort Vaux, which they tried to capture, regardless of the fusils de, with desperate courage, helping one another up the steep slopes until they fell. SILLY USELESS INTRIGUE. London, March 12. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent sayß that secret German organisations are attempting to establish a sort of provisional Belgian Government in Brussels, pre-arranged for the purpose of making a treaty of peace. Several newspapers in German pay are endeavouring to persuade the outside world that the Belgians accept the German occupation. COCOA SEIZED IN HOLLAND. ——i_i 4Qf ■ Rotterdam, March 12. The police hav e seized 10,000 kilogrammes of cocoa at Maas station. It was originally purchased at 21d, then augmented by the addition of onefourth of cocoa skins and finally sold to « Ginuaa *«? Md per kilegr&mme, ;. --„