Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-08
Intensity of Verdun Battle
Grows as Germans Rush
the Strongholds.
LOSSES ARE GREAT
Teuton Forces Charge Forts
in Masses Without Count
ing Cost of Life.

D. m.D-The capture of French po-
sition west of the Meuse on both sides
Of the FORCES brook below Bethin-
court, six kilometres wide and three
kilometres deep was announced today
BY German army headquarters.
1t was also announced that the vii
lagos of FORCES and Regneville, the
heights of Raben and the Cumieres
woods were in German possession
The capture of IS officers, 3,277 men
and 10 canon is officially reported. In
the Woevre district the French were
driven out of the last houses they
held in the village Of Fresnes. More
than 700 prisoners were made.
German aeroplane squadrons drop
ped bombs on the villages west of YER
dun which are occupied by the enemy.
Russian local attacks were repulSed
at several points in the eastern zone
In the Balkan zone there was moth
Ing to report
Paris, March s, (via London, 1926
2. BIN the Champagne the French
have recaptured portions of the
trenches lost on March 6 according to
semi-official announcement made here
today.
The situation north Of Verdun is
unchanged. No infantry attacks were
made last night, the announcement
says. Artillery fighting continues.
French Report.
The communication issued by the
French war Office this afternoon says:
In the Champagne district we
launched an attack which placed us
again in possession of trenches occu-
pied by the enemy March 6. We took
S. prisoners, including three officers
and captured a machine gun.
In the Argonne our artillerymen
shelled the highways in the vicinity
Of Mount Faucon over which it was
reported that automobile transports
we're making their way.
In the region north OF Verdun No
change has been reported.
There has been spirited artillery
fighting in the Woeyre. We have BON
barded Blanzee, Grimaucourt and the
environs Of Fresnes."
Fighting is Intense.
The battle of Verdun developed both
in intensity and in extent all day yes
terday and is now raging along the
line from Cheppy in the Argonne to
Fresnes in the Woevre, showing that
the second attack for the stronghold
is TO be made on a larger scale than
the first. So far, according to the re-
ports received here, the Germans, by
employing masses of men withou,
counting cost, obtained some slight
gains both to the west of the Meuse
and in the WOeyre. where they carried
fresnes after fierce struggle.
Desperate fighting is again going on
on the left bank of the river. Follow
ing up the advantage of yesterday, the
Germans, going around the foot of the
slope, which served them as mask, fol-
lowed the railroad and entered Reg
melville. From there they launched
$4,000 men against hill No. 265, to the
east Of Cote de L'Oie, and carried it
Thus they control the loop of the
Mouse within which Regnieville is To-
Gated. The French withdrew their
rlght from within the loop and 1t now
rests on the Meuse above Cumieres
This withdrawal from an advanced
position on the left bank became nee
essary according to the military ex-
perts in order 10 maintain alignment
with the positions on the right bank
ana 1t would have been difficult tC
hold the advanced point which the
Germans could at the same time attack
In front and on the flank.
Rush Tactics Employed.
Having thus obtained command ot
the slopes leading to the principa
French positions which run from
Bethincourt TO Cote de L'Oie, by the
northeastern spur of lie Morte Hommt
and the woods OF Corbeaux and Cum
ieres, the Germans without losing {
moments time hurled masses of In
iantry against these positions. They
gained d footing in the Corbeaux wood
but elsewhere their attacks were re
pulsed with heavy losses. In this dis
trict centers at present the chief in
terest of the battle and the supreme
effort OF the German troops is awaited
ny the French with confidence, as the,
rely on the strength Of their defensive
Preparations.