Evening journal., 1916-02-29
ALL GERMAN ATTACKS
ON VERDUN REPULSED
CONTINUED From Page Il

CONTINUED From Page u
watched for six hours the bloody
struggle for possession Of the fort.
according to German prisoners whose
stories were telegraphed here. A raw
wind blew sheets OF rain and snow
across the eminence and stan officers
urged the emperor, on account Of his
recent illness, not TO expose himself.
Despite their entreaties he held tc
his post, field glass in hand and pro-
tected by great storm proof coat
until the Brandenburgers charged
into the French positions.
The Douaumont guns did friyhtfuI
execution before they were silenced
by German howitzers. Battalion after
battalion OF German troops almost dis
appeared from sight as big shells tore
their fronts.
In the village OF Douaumont and on
the plain outside the fort, French ant
Germans are now struggling In fierce
hand to hand combats over piles o.
dead bodies. Craters blown by the
great German shells are filled Will
corpses. The men have been crushed
down and smothered under the weight
OF cadavers. German and French deaC
are mingled in piles, mantled by thS
latest snowfall.
The slaughter north OF Peppel
Heights equals that around Douau.
mont. Every foot Of fiat approaching the
ridge is commanded by French guns
Steady sheets of shrapnel and she'll.
are breaking over this plain. Ne
even by defending themselves behinC
parapets Of dead bodies could tn,
Germans hope TO advance through in
fantry actions. They are bringing NJ
new guns. planning to silence thu
French artillery.
The number OF prisoners taken by
the French has been comparativel,
small, it was stated here today. Tn,
shell fire on both sides has been Sc
fierce, it was stated, that groups o
soldiers cut off and surrounded, hav,
been cut to pieces before they coulC
make their way to the enemy's lines
with offers OF surrender.
Il al - 10 NOOll9 llldl Ntl
dun will never fall by a frontal at
tack over the strongly-fortifed Pep
/ per Heights. French war Office OIL
cials believe the Kaiser alread,
despairs of victory in front Of VerduI
and either is searching out a new
road to Paris through the Cham
pagne, or will renew the attacl
through Fresnes, aimed at squeez
ing the French out Of Verdun.
Though recounting the rejoicing
over the checking Of the Verdu
drive, the government gave warnini
that the Grown Prince is about 4
renew the attack with all the artiller.
and infantry at his command. 5u
Paris believes that the tide of battl
is about TO turn I'm favor of France
Berlin dispatches received her
early today were non-commital. The
carried dispatches of correspondent
with the Crown Princes army. regarl
ing the carly days of the fighting, bl
carried no comment on the prospect
OF German success.
Three-quarters Of a million Ge
mans are now taking part IN the o
: slaught on Verdun. the Nails Par
T. correspondent wired today. confirmir
r also, the report that the Pepp'
) Heights positions and the distri'
around Douaumont is now the scene
the heaviest fighting.
"The great majority Of the Germa
troops is now massed on the bottl
neck ridge OF the Meuse Height
three miles across" the dispatche
said. "On this narrow ledge is col
centrated the fire of LOO guns and
the last two days this has been th
theatre Of the bloodiest fighting {
the war.
During Friday and Saturday III
Crown Prince swept with 200 battoi
les OF heavy guns the Cote de POivI
Popper Heights) and Fort Douar
lmont. The possession OF these pos
tions would have given him the MAJ
terry Of the two main roads leadin
to Verdun from Sedan and Ornes.
again and again, the flower of Il
Kaiser's troops rushed to attack Fo
DOuaumont. They carried Bezonvar
on Friday and established themselv'
on the Vauche ridge only a few hui
dred yards from the fort. Early 81
urday morning they again attacke
iThey were repulsed time after tim
but before noon the famous Brande
burger corps stormed the position
+, and took il.
They had been sent with orders
take Douaumont. no matter what Il
cost Their losses we're greater tbs
lin August. 1914. when the Germal
threw themselves against the forts
, Liege."