New Britain herald., 1916-03-29
GERMANS AGAIN
 DRIVE AT VERDUN
French Troops Hold-Itaians
 Defeat AuStrianS

Paris, March 29-After a six days
 Hull the Germans resumed the offen-
 sive at Nerdun yesterday with re-
 doubled violence. The better to hide their plans they had for a week been shelling the whole Verdun front inn partially, but the French staff eX- pected that the attack would come on the west of the river and made all due preparations. Their surmise was justified by the event.
 The German effort was confined to a small section, hardly more than half mile in width, between Avo- court and Malancourt. The artillery poured a hail of shells on this short line all morning in preparation for the infantry attack, which was launched at 3 o'clock in the after noon.
 French Ready for Attack.
 The attacking masses, about a di- vision strong, dashed forward over the ground which had been ploughed up by the shells of their heavy guns, apparently expecting an easy victory. They reckoned, however, without the French infantry and the light artil- &ery which had been skillfully shet- tered from the bombardment.
 Using every advantage which the ground afforded, the French infantry held off the Germans with rifle and machine gun fire while the 75'S threw curtain of shells which pre- vented reserves from approaching. Again the gray-coated waves surged forward, only to be broken against the stout resistance of the defend CTS.
 Malancourt Still Held.
 The object of the Germans was 70 force the French to evacuate the village of Malancourt, the heights surrounding which the Germans al- ready hold. They failed completely. 1t is affirmed, and the French hold the Malancourt salient as firmly as ever.
 French Hold Advance.
 Paris, March 29. 1915 D. m.- French troops made an attack last night on Avocourt wood, west of the Mouse. where the German assault was made yesterday. The official statement today says the French car ried part of the works which the Germans had constructed. The Ger mans made fierce counter attack | but were driven back with heavy | losses. They made no other effort l to recover the lost ground
 The recent German attack upon ! Malancourt was made with a fresh which was thrown back with large losses.
 The text of the communication fol- lows:
 4Ip the Argonne district our batter les have bombarded the positions of the Germans north of Haute Chev- auchee and on the southern boundary of the wood of Cheppe. A fight with hand grenades, made in conjunction with activity in the next sector. made 1t possible for us to make pro- gress, particularly in the connecting trenches of the enemy to the north of Avocourt. We also took several l prisoners.
 ITO the west of the Muese the enemy last night made no fresh effort | against our positions at Haucourt and | Malancourt. The bombardment, how aver, assumed a certain intensity along our front at Bethincourt, Le 1 Mort Homme and Cumieres.
 Gain Footing in Wood.
 ''This morning, after an intense l geparatory artillery fire our troops l delivered a spirited attack against the i German positions in the wood of l Avocourt. We occupied the south ! eastern corner of this wood for a | iepth of more than 300 yards, as well i IS an important work called the Re l, loubt of Avocourt which the Germans !! aad strongly fortified. A violent and 1 sudden counter attack delivered by i the enemy with fresh brigade which 1 had arrived on the scene but a few l