The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-26
DOuau mont Again.

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Fort Duuaumont, which the French
captured on Monday aud Tuesday
only tn lose it again or Wednesday.
Il about seven miles northeast Of
Verdun, and lies NJ an elevation of
100 feet on II ridge that run south
west To Froidierrc CLIO fect). two
miles north ot the city. Fort Douau-
mont first appeared in the dispatches
on the morning of Saturday, Febru-
airy ~. when it was captured by the
Twenty-f"urth ,Brandcnburg) regi-
ment. Until ia" early part Of this
week, or for nearly three months. the
Germans held Fort Douaumont. hut
could not push further toward Yer
dun IN the southwest because the
ridge Douaumont-Froidtcrre was CON-
handed bv the French Positions on
lie Mort IIommo dead Mans HID
and Hill 3O4. which, running from
north to south II mile and Il half
apart. are eight miles to the north
west of Nerdnn. For three months
the Germans have been launching
fierce assaults upon these two hills.
hut have not Vet succeeded In gain
ing their SUBMITS and driving the
French ont.
II the Germans could establish them
selves on the ridge extending south
from Fort nouaumont the capture
Of Verdun would lr imminent. Early
In the battle. which began ON Fehru-
airy -. II paper found IN the body of
n dead German officer dealt with the
s%trategical imp"rtuuc" of III" ridge,
which WAS to lac carried mo matter
what the cost" While the Germans
are back in the Fort Douaumont posi-
battered Ia pi"cc>l. the French, ac-
cOrding to n late despatch. are still
In possession of til" approaches on
the south. In regard To Hill 3O4,
which, it is said, must lac taken be-
fore Dead Mans IIill can he carried
by the Germans. II Berlin com
muniquc on May . claimed that THE
whole of Il trench system on the north
slope of Hill 3Di' was In German
hands: hut This the French have
stoutly denied. Apparently they still
hold both hills above the base, but
the fury of the cn"my's assaults in
crcuses. I.c Mort Homme and Hill
3O4 have been called the key of tho
Nerdun defence.
The capture of the village of Gu
miare>. which ia" Germans officiall!
announced on "Wednesday. j. impor
tant. t,umi1r"S * II little less thar
three miles due east of lie Mort
Meuse. The Germans had previousl.
made desperate" nnd unaNailing nt
tempts to driV" the French out 81
CumiarcS. aud since its capture TIN
French hay" mad" fu,il" assaults Il
retuke II. On March III they define,
their line in that part of the tlel'
as running from Eothincuurt, up th'
slope of lie Mort llumm", thence Il
the southern 'lg' h1 lh' Nohl "
Cumi6res and the village of tumitrcs
II the Germans can hold III" village
the renewal Of their drives" 1T L.
Mort IIommc and lIill 3uf will b
more Formidable.
While the French seem 10 he coi
fident of saving Nrriun. til" German
are ;s determined to reduce 1t Il
ever. aud their faith in the issue RI
mains mistaken. II il estimated tina
the Germans are employing eight an
n half divisions ~ the LETT bank q
the Mouse and twenty-five on tn
right bank, less the Third and Eigl
teenth army corps, which have bee
withdrawn "for repairs Owing
the rigor of this greatest Of all ha
ties only two divisions were In r.
serve recently. other divisions II
tended for the reserve having brf
drawn into the fight,
The German line extends fro
Vauqnois fifteen miles west by nor,
of Nerdun, east across the Mouse
little north of Nuux (Which Is ju
south of Douaumont), southeast ar
then south TO Il point Of the Meu'