The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-06
Fighting Still Continues for Possession of the Village of DOuaumont-Germans Lost Advantage
THOUSANDS OF DEAD
 ROTTING IN FIELDS | DAMPENS THE ARDOR
All Infantry Attacks of Teu-
 tons Have Ceased-BattIe
 Is Now of Artillery-Over 4,0OO,000 Shells Fired

Paris, March 5.-It is stated semi officially that the battle at Verdun con- tinued yesterday throughout the day with the same intensity and without causing any change in the respective positions of the opposing armies. Fighting continues for definite pos session of the village of Douaumont.
 The situation, as a result of this second phase of the German offensive, is re- garded as altogether different from that of the first days of the battle. The only progress made by the Germans was dur ing the first two days of the second at tack For the last 4S hours they have not advanced.
 The comparison is also in favor of the French by reason of the fact that the Germans have now lost the advantage of surprise, and also because the ground has been torn up to such an extent that it cannot be organized properly
 
 This information from semi official sources points out that it must be de- moralizing to the Germans, to see 10000 or 5o,000 corpses of their comrades lying before the French lines
 Achievements brought up by the Germans since the inauguration of the second phase of the battle Wednesday, are estimated here at 250,0OO men. raising the total forces utilized by the assaiiants to more than half million. Estimates of losses show wide variance Details Of local actions, and the size of the re- serve foi ces brought up, cause French observers to make the deduction that the Germans have paid a very heavy price for the six square miles of ground they have gained.
 In front of the village of Vaux, alone 40O0 German corpses were counted after the eighth unsuccessful attack This part of the battle, though overshadowed by the fight for Douaumont is regarded in Paris as serious check for the attack CTS. The Germans carried on the assault with great courage until the dead lay thick on the field Then the officers it is said, were compelled to urge on the troops as they clambered over the corpses of their fallen comrades for the last assaults
 COME ON TO DEATH
 The attack on Vaux began on the even- ing of March ?, after furious shelling, and continued until the following night Columns of Germans advancing simul- taneously from the north and northwest tried to envesop the village. French artil- lery immediately opened a heavy fire which separated the first wave of Ger mans from their endorsements Never theless the fresh troops came on, and observers saw plainly the tragic spec tacle of lines of men plunging into that half their strength. Some contingents lost six out of every 10 men before even having fired a shot.
 The survivors stormed the French thenches and fought hand to hand in fierce melees at the outskirts of the vil- lage. The bitterest fighting was for pos session of the road leading to Douaumont, the advantage of which was obvious The Germans charged eight times there The supreme effort was carried out by six regiments, advancing in close forma- ton.
 GRUESOME EXECUTION
 French machine guns did gruesome ex- ecution in the mass, and French infan- try, held carefully under cover until the advancing force approached the trenches leaped out to meet the onrush with cold steel. The fighting was finished m a few minutes. The Germans retired. leav- ing hundreds torn and tangled in the barbed wire defenses. and thousands laid low by machine gun shots %nd bayonets. As the battle proceeds the strategy of General Petain, French commander at verdun. is being compared more and more carefully with that of General Castelnau in the battle of Nancy-Gen- eral Castelnaus withdrawal to the plateau of .Amance, away from the heavi- est blows of the adversary to dominat- ing position from which all efforts failed to dislodge him. French officers pre- dict General Petain's strategy will have the same result. so that the Germans will be compelled to seek a decision elsewhere on the front.
 VAST EXPENDITURE French artillery officers who participat- ed in the verdun battle estimate that dur ing the first four days fighting the Ger