New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-25
ThiaumOnt Work and
HaudrOmOnt Fall
$500 Captured
SHELLS SKATER
GERMAN LINES
Nivelle Easily CarriesP Posi-
tionS Which Cost Crown
Prince Vast Forces

the German Crown Prince sacrificed
half a million men in vain, is now
the scene of powerful French Of
fensive.
Smashing through front of four
miles, Nivelle's troops have captured
positions on the right bank of the
Meuse for depth of two miles. The
village and fort of Douaumont,
which have changed hands many
times since the German drive began
in February; the Thiaumont work
and farm, strongholds Of the Teuton
advanced line; and the Haudromont
quarries, north of Thiaumont, have
fallen before the French onslaught.
$500 Captives Taken
More than $500 prisoners have al
ready been passed back by the
French troops, and the action is still
in progress. Large quantities Of
supplies were captured in the charge.
for the suddenness with which it was
carried through gave the Germans
little time TO withdraw their guns
and material to the rear.
The French victory, won on ter
rain that has seen some of the blood
lest fighting Of the war and won de-
spite the maze Of fortifcations that
covers the Verdun front, is a well
come antidote to the Teutonic vic
tories against the Rumanians. II is
evidence that Mackensen and Fal-
kenhayn cannot draw troops from
other fronts to battle for Bucharest.
1t Is an omen Of renewed Allied
pressure against the Kaiser's lines in
the West.
With daybreak the French guns be-
gan to bathe the German trenches with
she'll. Recent visitors to General Nivel-
les headquarters at Verdun quoted
him as saying that the French artillery
on this front was firing fifty shots to
one for the Germans and soon would be
firing 100 to I. The execution the bonn.
bardment did in the enemy's line tends
to prove that statement.
Reach Outskirts Of yaux
Soon before noon the poilus sprang to
the attack. Then began a series Of as
saults that swpet through the first Ger
man line and beyond into the fort of
Douaumont and the village. Meanwhile
the right wing was moving toward
Vaux, q position as much disputed as
Douaumont. Here they reached the out
skirts Of the village.
On the left wing, nearer the river, the
rush was irresistible. IL swept through
the Thiaumont work and farm, lying
in low land, dominated by ridges to the
north, into and beyond the Haudromont
quarries, which had been converted into
veritable fortress, and sstride the
road from Douaumont to Bras.
Thus, in few hours, the French re-
gained positions that it took the Ger
mans months to win. The resistance
they met was comparatively weak. This
may have been due to the fact that the
Kaiser's generals have withdrawn
troops to the Somme front, or 1t may
have been due to the efficiency Of the
artillery preparation. At any rate, the
last fragment Of the Crown Princes
dream has been crumbled.
May Drive Toward Metz
The purpose the Verdun offensive
serves is twofold. 1t puts increased
pressure on the German forces to Offset
the drive in Rumania, and so makes the
task on other fronts easier. The sec
ond end it may ultimately serve Is In
preparing the way for q new drive
for Metz.
The German line in this sector IL .
very sharp salient, with its tip at st.
Mhiel. Until this wedge is wiped ous
French push eastward is almost i'm
possible. BY breaking through the
German line north Of Verdun the
French can flank the cnemy's position
at St. Mihiel. and SO force its evacua-
tion.
But the immediate effect OF the at
tack on the Meuse will be on the
Somme operations. With the Balkan
movement in full swing, il seems hardly
likely that the Kaisers generals can
muster enough men to withstand two
great offensives on the Western front:
When the thrusts for Peronne and
Bapaume are resumed, this pressure
will be at a maximum.
Planned Counter Offensive
The resumption of the somme onsn-
sive cannot long be delayed u Is pc
lieved here. To offset this the "e'