Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-06
vERDUN TIDE
NOW TURNING
FOR FRENCH
General Petain's Strategy, Based
upon Cleverness of Castelnau,
Beginning to Tell Against the
Germans

Paris, March Sit is stated semi-official-
ly that the battle at Verdun continued
yesterday throughout the day with the
same intensity and without causing any
change in the respective positions of the
opposing armies. Fighting is still going
on for definite possession of the village
of Douaumont.
AS the battle proceeds the strategy of
Gen. Petain. French commander at Yer
dun, is being compared more and more
carefully with that of Gen. Castelnau in
the battle of Nancy. General Petain's
withdrawal to the Douaumont plateau
was lige Gen. Casternau's withdrawal to
the plateau of Amance away from the
heaviest blows of the adversary to a dom
mating position whence he could not be
dislodged. French officers predict that
Gen. Petain's strategy will have the same
result, so that the Germans will be COM
PEELED to seek decision elsewhere on
the front.
The situation as a result of this second
phase of the German offensive is regarded
as altogether different from that of the
first days of the battle. The only pro-
the first two days of the second attack
For the last As hours they have not adj
vanced.
In Favor Of French
The comparison also is in favor of the
French because the Germans have, now
lost the advantage of surprise. and also
because the ground has been SO torn up
81 -, 10
This information from semi-official
sources points out that it must be demon
alzing TO the Germans to see 10000 to So
600 corpses of their comrades lying be
fore the French lines.
Reinforcements brought up by the Ger
mans since the inauguration of the second
phase of the battle on Wednesday are es-
timated here at 100000. raising the total
forces utilized by the asaaiants to more
than half a million. and estimates OF
losses show wide variations. From details
of local actions and the size of the re-
serve forces brought up. French observ-
ers reduce 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 Naux alone
1000 German corpses We're counted aft
er the eighth unsuccessful attack. This
part of the battle, though overshadow-
ed by the fight for Douaumont, is re-
gardcd in Paris as serious check for
the attackers. The Germans carried on
the assault with great courage until
the dead lay thick on the field Then
the officers. it is said, We're compelled
to urge on the troops as they clambered
over the corpses of their fallen COM
rades for the last assaults.
Terrible Slaughter
The attack on VauX began on the
evening of March ., after furious
Smelling. and continued until the fol-
lowing night. Columns of Germans
advancing simultaneously from the
north and northwest. tried to envelop
the village French artillery immedi-
ately opened a heavy fire. which sepa-
rated the Germans from their rein
forcements. Nevertheless. the Ger
man troops came on and observers saw
plainly the tragic spectacle of lines of
men plunging into that storm Of steel
and emerging thinned to half their
strength. Some contingents lost six
out Of every ten men before firing a
shot.
The survivors. undaunted, resolute-
ly stormed the French trenches and
fought hand to hand in fierce melees
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