Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-08
FIGHT FOR TRENCHES
TAKEN BY GERMANS
French Correspondent Tells of
Desperate Efforts to Re-
gain Positions.
BATTLE NIGHT AND DAY
IN A TERRIFIC STORM
Struggle Finally Ends, With Bodies
of 5000 Germans Littering
Scene of Desoiation.

FAIRS. March S-The manner III
which a furious German attack at
Notre Dame dc Lorette was trans
formed into a defeat in which 1900
Germans fell is described in the Petit
Parisien by one of the combatants.
The Germans blew in by mines our
first line of trenches" says the story
Before the echoes of the explosion
had died away an avalanche of Ger
mans poured down and forced the
French into the second line of
trenches after fierce o-hand
struggle. The Germans suddenly raked
the trenches with two machine guns.
forcing the defenders into the third
line, from which they were forced to
retire on an easily defensible position
in the rear after another bayonet bat
tie with superior numbers.
French Not Demoralized,
In no way demoralized our men
spent the night preparing to win back
the lost position which the Germa ms
strengthened with sand bags. Our ar
t1llery was placed in position ready to
hre AS soon as dawn broke the
three -inchers' opened with salvos.
The shells burst in our old trenches,
peppering the Germans nuethodically.
Then the heavy artillery joined in de-
moralizing them. Their artillery tried
to reply and it's shells exploded with
awe inspiring noise, but did no harm,
THE din became appalling Our
pieces. fired: as rapidly as they could be
loaded. After hours of this the guns
stopped firing and our infantry bound
ed forward crouching on their hands
and knees The Germans fired volley
after volley. working their quick tirers
fsVeTshly. but our men would not be
denied They took the third line, but
could go no farther. The second line
with Germans. Our artillery then be-
gan again to drop shells on the Ger
mans with mathematical precision
Fifty yards from us we could see them
blown into the air.
Rain Fell in Torrents.
The second night fell aud VIC could
see nothing, for the sky was covered
with heavy clouds, from which rain
poured In torrents. In spite of all this
our infantry resumed the attack aud
in splendid charge reached the second
line. 1t was fearful struggle in the
dark. Shaken by our impetuouS
charge, the Germans who had not been
killed or wounded fed toward the
holes which had been made by their
mines. to which they clung i'll the in
describable uproar.
The tireless French again dashed
forward on the enemy. In the dark
ness the Germans struck frantically
around them, killing their men, whom
they were unable to recognize After
d few minutes carnage the Germans
fled for their own positions, leaving
the ground covered with dead and
wounded. An impressive silence fell
over the battlefield, while $50 haggard
prisoners were led to the rear
Dawn revealed a terrifying sight
Everywhere the Germans lay, MANY
falling with rifles clasped in their
stiffened hands. as if about to fire
again. They paid dearly for their at
tack, for 5000 of them fell under our
fire. Their losses were three times
greater than ours. although we had to
deliver three counter-attacks.