Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-16
Fierce Fight in Arsonnes Forest.

Considering the comparatively linn
tied extent Of the operations, the fight
ing in the Argonnes Forest from June
20 to July IA. in which the Crown
Princes army succeeded in wrestling
from the French number of highly
important positions barring the way
to a siege of Verdun, wakes rank for
fierceness with. any battles of the
great war. Much Of the fighting was
hand-to-hand, and in the main attack,
on June 3Oth. the Germans advanced
to the charge with their rifles slung
over their shoulders, carrying grenades
in their right hands and small steel
shields in their left. And wearing
respirators to protect themselves
Even the official communique writ
er was thrilled by it. Describing one
of these charges, he wrote:
THE charge begins. Not with fixed
bayonets, as in peace-time training, do
the storming columns dash forward.
Instead almost every man has his
rife slung over his shoulder, a number
Of hand grenades in his right hand. ON
his left arm, like a German of old, a
buckler though of steel and not of
bearskin. AID over his mouth and nose
| a respirator for protection against
fumes from the French bombs"
By taking. advantage Of the charac-
| ter of the ground, the French had sue
ceeded, in September in driving a
| wedge into the German lines between
the troops at the west and those al
| the east end of the forest. The
French position occupied furthermore
a commanding ridge of forest in this
| section, making it doubly important tc
drive them back. During the winter
months no week passed without bitter
struggles. in each of which the French
were forced to give up one trench OIL
blockhouse after another. During thi!
period, however, they erected extreme.
ly strong positions in their rear. and
finally came to stand on the noun
tain ridge running from near the Bag
ateffe Pavilion westward to Servou
They also occupied three strongly for
tilted points on ridge running south
east from the first line along the val
ley Of the Charme Brook.
The German infantry and pioneer
worked forward with mines and sap
until, in the middle of June, they wer
within attacking distance. Befor
the main line could be attacked, how
ever, it was necessary TO take tn
French positions on the German RICH
flank. on the road from Blanardvill
to Vienne lie Chateau. This prelin
j mary attack was delivered on Jun
goth, after a terrific bombardment o
the French positions by the artillery
The three main lines OF Frenc
trenches were all taken A small de
tachment Of German troops reached
point so deep in the enemys lines tina
/ IT was cut off and captured. Severe
counter-attacks of the French wer
repulsed, and night came with th
I Germans IN possession Of all but
small piece of one French position
Seven French officers and 627 me
were taken prisoners. The booty In
cluded six machine-gune, fifteen mine
| throwers and more than 1000 rifles.
From June 21st to goth the Frenc
r made almost daily attempts to regal
Icial report accuses them of employin
a burning fluid. On June both the mai
q German assault set In, after terrib
: artillery bombardment. Prisoner
? taken from the trenches after Il
storm. according to the report, were
q condition bordering on insanity.
great part Of the French trenches WI
e utterly demolished by the bomhar'
e lment. The lighthouses were fllls
o with their dead. supplies of grenad
and bombs were exploded by the arti
Flery fire, and bombproofs were enasl
l. ed in on their occupants. Despi
al this, the French held their trench
wherever It was humanity possible. n
report speaks I'm high terms of the
bravery.
The attack began at s:45 o'clock
: the morning. In e. ecunt half hour Z
D trenches in the center had all be
he taken. In other sections, however, {
lie fight lasted until night. and the me
stubbornly defended trench was 81
held at nightfa1l. BY morning (
"a French thore had so fortified the pla
Ii that recourse had to be had to art
lery again before 1t was ripe for storl
D End after bitter hand, Eighth
/ a handful Of man .dafaried fi1l11eelx