The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-04-06
FRENCH PUSH
GERMANS BACK
Grown Princes iiea Forced Out
Of Cai|Iaite wood.
STOPPED BELOW DOUAUMOaT
Teutcn Assaults Above Verdun Are
Repu!sed With Heavy Losses by
French Artillery.

London, April 6.-The French adj
vance on the Verdun front east of the
Meuse river has driven the Germans
out of their positions in Caiilette
woods, northeast Of Ferdun.
The Paris war Office, in its official
statement, announced that the French
have advanced to the German com
municating trenches north of these
woods.
The French gains in the Verdun sec
tor were secured through powerful
counter attacks which followed Ger
man assaults against the French po-
sitions south of Douaumont village.
Not only were the German attacks
unsuccessful, the Teutons losing heaV-
lily, but the crown princes forces were
compelled to fall back in the direc,
ton of Bots Chauffeur, which lies
northwest of Douaumont. AS a result
of the French gains in that region the
Germans hold on Douaumont village
is becoming precarious.
The French counter-drive was made
after a tremendous bombardment with
guns of all calibre, from 3-inch up to
15-inch. The German positions were
swept with shells. Fresh troops re
leased from other parts CT the front
by the extension OF the British line
into positions formerly held by the
French, were used against the Ger
mans
After the ground had been battered
by several hundred tons of probe titles,
a thin line of rifiemen debouched from
Chauffeur wood. The Germans adj
yanced by short bounds toward the
French trenches, situated about 800
yards south of the village. A second
and a third line followed at equal dis
tances, with small supporting and at
lacking columns in the rear. This
formation has been noticed during the
last few days, and is regarded by the
French as proof that the Germans
havebeen sorely punished in their pre-
vious assaults in serried ranks.
But the change proved ineffective.
The first line of rifemen advanced to
within fifty yards Of the French
trenches and there had to drop to the
ground under heavy blasts of shrap-
mel and sustained musketry. The sec
ond and third lines attempted to ad-
vance to the support of the first, but
were stopped far in the rear by ma
chine gun fire.
The Germans in the first line were
In critical position. Shrapnel work
ed havoc among them. To charge was
out of the question and as long as
they remained at the point to which
they had advanced they were exposed
to a decimating fire. The second and
third lines were little better off, for
they were within range of the French
three-inch guns. The entire attack
ing force finally adopted the only
move open, retreating under a raking
fire to Chauffeur wood. They left half
their number on the field. At least
three regiments $1,000 mem took part
in the attack.
Chauffeur wood proved to be an in
secure shelter, for the French artil-
lery, increasing its range, covered that
entire area. 1t demolished shelters
and piled up the German losses.
For the first time in the whole bat
tie the German check was followed
by a disorderly fight to cover, say
dispatches from the front received in
Paris.
The action is regarded by military
critics as of great significance, show
ing that the Germans, even with their
new formation, are unable to escape
the furious responses of French artil-
lery; that the French positions though
they may be vulnerable at certain and
exposed points, cannot be shaken and
that the French counter offensive is
effective