New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-29
CROWN PRINCE
LOSES HEAVILY
In VAIN ATTACK
Paris Puts Total German
Casualties in ArgOnne .
at 100000 Men.
FRENCH ANTICIPATE
NEW COUNTER DRIVE
Greater Struggle TO Come When
Storming of Second Trench
Line Is Attempted.

Paris. Sept. p. -lnteliiGence from
the Champagne front beyond Chalons
which reached Paris to-day shows that
IL was the right OF the German Crown
Princes army which was shattered IN
the attacks OF Friday and Saturday.
The Crown Princes centre made furi-
Gus efforts 70 counter in the Argonne,
with the result that all railway lines
TO the east and north, according to
French information. are engaged in car
rying away German wounded
French officers reckon that the Crown
Princes army lost 100000 men in this
attack and the previous assaults dur
ing the summer
The plan Of attack Of this army has
been 10 send masses Of two divisions
or about 900 men, at time against
French works. These engagements
each one equal in importance to some
of the great battles Of history have
been dismissed hitherto with brief rel
erences in the French Official communi-
cations because the results were mega
tive. Germans captured recently tesu-
fv that the resistance of the French
has been as destructive as their OIL
fensive, and that their artillery hre' OF
deadly effect a year ago, has now at
tsined such intensity as 20 work demon
alization among their opponents.
Renewed Assault Three Times.
In Yesterdays attack the Germans
sent two divisions against the French
lines after q preparatory bombardment.
The artillery fire did not demoralize
the French line, which held every
where wher the German infantry
charged. The two German divisions
broke. leaving the ground dotted with
their dead.
Three times the Germans renewed
their assault, making the attacks with
extreme courage Each time they re
tired. leaving more dead Many OF
their wounded are still lying between
the lines.
Although the attacks Of the Crown
ganized. French officers say that the
drive against Verdun is being trans
formed gradually into a defence OF
Metz. for the French are creeping slow
" and steadily closer TO the Lorraine
stronghold.
Infantry attacks began at noon on
Saturday" said a soldier wounded in
the Champagne fighting, describing the
operations which resulted in an I'M
portant gain for the French. my regi-
ment was acting as a support. For
three DAYS our artillery had been max
ing an appalling din by day and night.
Big guns hurled shells without respite.
Yelled Like Men Possessed.
= 1--WE infantrymen, waiting for the
end of il, began TO get impatient. Sat
urdav we ate heartily at II o'clock. and
then looked over our arms. Finally az
noon, our chiefs shouted, Forward.
We began to yell like men possessed:
With a single bound we were out OF
the trenches. 1t was pretty not IN
front of US.
"The boys who had gone ahead were
doing good work and were already be
vond the German trenches. We reached
them in our turn at the double. The
trenches were filled up to the brim
with German bodies. Further on we
saw enormous craters in which many
Germans had been buried by falling
earth. Here and there boot protruded,
and we tugged at them 10 see II any
were living, but there were not. We
didn't stop long but pushed on.
"To our right we saw strong enemy
contingent sheltered in pit with ma
chine guns. They didn't last long, for
we fel' on them with the bayonet. II
was a pretty stiff bit of fencing. See
ing themselves done for the survivors
held up their hands Some, however,
although prisoners, still fired at US.
NV left hand was pierced by revolver
bullet fred point blank by an artillery
man. Ny captain knocked him down
and sa. on his chest"
New Helmets Saved Many.
All OF the wounded who have ar
rived here were covered from head TO
foot with chalky mud Most of them
were wearing the new light steel he'll
NETS. which they declared had saved
thousands Of lives. One who had no
helmet and whose head was cut by a
glancing machine gun bullet said:
ain the thickest Of the infantry at
tack arrived with my company at the
German artillery positions Gunners.
mixed up with infantrymen, huddled
around the pieces. All Of them sur
rendered. Our artillery had completely
stupefed them
The people OF Paris show no signs
Of becoming unduly optimistic as fresh
details reveal the full measure Of sue
cess Of the operations at Arras and in
Champagne. The pupIic realizes fully
that it is only the beginning, but they
believe il justihes great hopes for the
future. Although the attempt of the
Crown Prince at a diversion in the Ar
gonne has failed, 1t is expected this was
only the first OF the EFFORTS ne VIII
make 70 regain the ground lost,
Germans Caught Unawares.
Military writer's point out the stra.
tegic importance Of the section OF
Champagne singled out by General
roFro for tho snashinp blow which