South Bend news-times., 1915-04-12
] Berlin Statement DWeIIS on
Heavy Losses Sustained by
French Between MeuSe and
MoSeiIe Rivers.
BATTLE IS AMONG THE
p FIERCEST OF THE WAR
Seven French Attacks Directed
Against Both German Wings
Followed by Assault on Gen.
ter Are RepuISed.

BERLIN. April u. - Complete
; successes for the Germans all along
the battle front in the Woevre district
is claimed in a detailed statement
from great headquarters. This infor-
/ nation which was issued today, dwells
upon the exceptionally heavy losses
suffered by the French in the fighting
+ between the Meuse and MOselle rivers
and denies the claim Of the French
war office that Gen. JOffre's forces
stOrmed Combres heights. This en-
engagement which will probably go
down in the history Of the war as "the
battle Of the Woevre." has proved one
Of the most fiercely contested since
hOstilities began.
The statement in full follows:
Seven French attacks were exclu-
sively directed against both German
wings
(Note.-These wings stretch from
point north OF Verdun in an irregular
line 20 he forests of lie Pretre (Priest
Waldo, thence 10 st. MihieL)
Attack Center OF Line.
subsequently the French opened
attacks against the center OF the Ger
man line. After assembling fresh
forces near St Nihiel. Con the Meuse
river). late on the seventh. the first
attack against the German center was
made from SeiOuise wood. five miles
north of st. Mihiel against our posi-
tions at Seuzey and I4amOrville. The
enemy was repulsed, leaving many
dead and wounded upon the field and
I'm addition we took two officers and
so privates prisoners. During the
night of April rs there were artillery
duels at several points, particularly
at COmbres heights and also between
Regnieville and Fay -En-Haye; in ad-
ditiOn infantry attacks were delivered.
haF Ir Oh. \,
east OF NeTdun. near MaTcheville,
broke down 100 yards in front Of our
lines
In the forest of ALLEY. the French
succeeded in reCapturing part Of the
trenches they had lost the day before.
An attack delivered at dawn In the
forest of Brule and three night attacks
on the western edge OF the forest OF
lie Pretre were repulsed.
In the afternoon and evening of
April the enemy was active at sew
eral points on our front. He attempt
ID TO advance from Selouise forest but
failed. Severe fighting ragged for some
time in the forest of Mort Marie. the
gIrench being repulsed with the bay
ionet
Again the French attacked in the
forest OF lie Pretre and other attacks
were made near Regnieville and south
iOf the Orne, but all were repulsed.
During the night of April So heavy
fighting took place on Combres
Heights. the French using reserves.
The following morning, they succeed
ed in occupying some trenches we had
evacuated. owing TO the severe artil-
'1ery fire directed against them. How
lever. these works were not taken with
cut a hot contest. During the day we
succeeded in driving the French from
part OF the trenches and we main
tained our principal positions I'm their
entirety \ fresh French attack with
superior forces obliged us 10 evacuate
part OF our entertainments again
During the night OF April So the
remainder Of the WOevre front was
general quiet with the exception Of the
forest at Mort Marie where French
delivered some unsuccessful attacks
They were chased back into their po-
SitiOns by the Germans. who CAPTURED
two machine guns on the following
day the French again attacked In that
region. but he attacks broke down
with extraordinarily heavy losses.
con April 9 the French renewed
their assaults against our northern
wing. between the Orne river and
COmbres heights In the vicinity OF
Parfindrupt and harcheville. Betweer
noon and midnight four attacks were
made upon a front Of six kilOmeters
but all were repulsed with severe
lOSStS.
Mine ThrOWCrs Active.
Ion the night OF April $40 French
mine thowers and howitzers We're ac-
tive In the afternoon of the 10th the
French advanced on the whole line
against our position on COmbre:
heights. breaking through at enc
point and reaching the foot OF the
slope before the attack broke dOwT
under the fire OF our second line
troops. Our troops maintained pos
session of Combres heights
Part OF our advanced position wa.
regained through n counter attack.
second French attack was effectively
stopped by our artillery fire. During
the night the enemy bOmharded tht
village on Combres heights.
ITO go back 20 April 9. on the line
between Spada and Seuzey. a series oi
unsuccessful attacks were made b1
the French We took II prisoners
Minor attacks at ALLY failed. French
attacks on the Regnieville-Fay En-
Have line wer Tepulsed with eXtraord
lnary losses AT one point north ol