Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-24

TO HAND FIGHTS
Region of Ont-Douaumont
Theatre of Most Murderous Strug.
gle in All History

Paris, May "a. Ten thousand
men have gone down to slaughter
in what is rapidly becoming the
blodiest engagement of the three
months battle of Verdun.
From Dead Mans Hill eastward
to ruins of Fort Douaumont the
most savage struggle in any theater
of war in the past two months is
being waged.
The Germans last night rolled SO,-
900 men up against the French works
on Dead Mans Hill, while two Ger
man brigadcs time and again rush
ed the French defenders of Douau-
mont.
The fighting in the ruins of the
fort attained the greatest violence
at noon yesterday. yrhe Germans
bathed French positions from Thi-
aumont to Douaumont in steady
drum-fre.
From behind great clouds of dust
thrown up by the shells the gray
columns of Germans emerged on a
mad run for the French works.
While French machine guns spray
ed the advancing lines, the charging
Germans reached the western and
northwestern edges Of Douaumont
fort and came to grips with the
French defenders.
Groups of men struggled at such
close quarters that bayonets and
grenades became useless and resort
was had to knives.
The opposing artillery. meanwhile
sent shells shrieking over the fort,
searching out enemy reserves.
Throughout yesterday afternoon
Germans columns attacked repeated
" on both sides of the fort, from
the northern fringe of Calllette
wood and from the ravinc north OF
Thiaumont farm.
At sundown last night the situa-
ton was virtually unchanged, the
French maintaining themselves in
those portions of the positions taken
on Monday.
Paris, May 24-Terrifc attacks
are being made by the Germans
against the French positions before
Verdun, according to announcements
issued by the French War Office.
Following violent assaults Mon
day night upon Hill 3O4, reported IN
an official communication, the war
Office announced last night attacks
of "extreme violence" upon the whole
French front. The War Office states
that these attacks have been repuls-
ed and that the French have retain
ed possession of the positions in Fort
Douaumont which they gained Mon
day.
The French official report says:
THE first attack, moved down by
our artillery and machine gun fire,
was repulsed with sanguinary losses
without the enemy having been able
to reach our lines.
"a second attack, likewise desper'
ate, about 7 o'clock in the evening
succeeded in gaining footing IN one
of our trenches to the west. An I'M
mediate counter-attack completely
drove out the enemy.
con the right bank, the region o.
Haudromont- -Douaumont, was all da.
the theatre of murderous struggle
The Germans multiplied their assaul
which were preceded each time b!
very powerful artillery preparations
Despite all these efforts, the posi-
tions conquered by US were man
tanned in their entirely, notably Il
Fort Douaumont. In this region NOR
than three hundred prisoners remain
ed in our hands"
; Paris, May 24-Recapture by tn
French after three months of tn
greater part of Fort Douaumont
which was taken by the Germans a
the outset of their Verdun drive,
received with great elation by tn
2 press and the public, the more so o
account of the effect it is expecte
l to have on neutral opinion.
The French success is considere