The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-03-10
Germans Gain Much Ground
West of River Meuse
SEIZURE OF The VILLAGES
More Than Four thousand
Prisoners Taken; Munitions
Are Gathered
lAssociated Fre.. n,spatch

DSIllll, MAUI o ne Capture VI
the French positions west OF the
MeuSe river on both sides or FORCES
Brook below Bethincourt, six kilo-
meters wide, and three kiiometers
deep, was announced by the German
army headquarters today. 1t also an
ncunced that the villages of Formes
and Remenville, the Heights of Radt;
also Cumieres woods are in the hands
of the Germans. The capture OF fif-
ty-eight officers and 4277 men and
ten cannons is officially reported In
the Wovre district the French were
driven out of the last houses they
held in the village of Fresnes. More
than 700 prisoners were taken there.
French Make Some Recaptures
TAssOciated Press Oispatch.l
Paris, March SIN the Champagne
district the French have recaptured
portions of the trenches lost March
6, according to a semi official an
nouncement made here. The situa-
ton north of Verdun is unchanged.
No infantry attacks were mace last
night. Artillery fighting continues.
France awaits anxiously Dui conf
IDENTIFY the issue Of today's battle. The
Germans thus far at the cost of large
losses, have obtained command of the
approaches to the main Frenc; po-
sitions beyond the west bank of the
Mouse river. The real struggle will
begin when the German masses hurl
themselves again on the four miles of
heights extending from Bethincourt
to Cumieres. Yesterdays attacks left
the battle unchanged. 1t is known
here that the Germans have set aside
100000 men to capture Verdun. Only
100000 having been employed up to
yesterday. 1t is a question whether the
remaining 100000 will be used to
make sudden descent on some other
part of the French line in develop
ing an offensive. against the fortress.
Heavy Artillery Fiuhtinu.
limited Press Dispatch.l
Paris, France, March S.--Heavy ar
tillery fighting is still proceeding In
the efforts of the Germans to gain
possession of Verdun. The general
situation is unchanged. The Germans
are very active along the west bank
of the Meuse and seem to be direct
ing special efforts TO gain possession
of Goose hill and Dead Mans hill.
London. Eng, March S.-The giant
German "nutcrackers," which are clos
ing in on Verdun, are now nearer to
the city than ever before. Regneville
village, seven miles northwest of
Verdun, has fallen. The Germans are
also in possession of the village of
FORCES, one mile from Regneville. The
forces of the crown prince are now
storming Bethincourt knoll. The Ger
man war office claims substantial
gains on the right wing. Violent fight
ing is reported in the Woevre region.
Capture Russian Trenches.
United Press Dispatch.l
Vienna, Austria, March S.-The
capture of quite a stretch of Russian
trenches northwest of the city of
Tarnopoli by the Austrians was Of
ficially announced today.
London, March Striving naro
against the French line northwest and
southwest of Verdun the Germans have
been enabled to make additional gains
toward Verdun, but with extremely
heavy casualties, according to Paris
Hill No. 265, to the southeast, and a
portion of Corbeau wood, directly
south of FORCES, have been occupied
by the Germans.
The town of Fresnes in the Woevre
also has been captured.
The German attack was over the en-.
tire front west of the Meuse, extend.
ing from Bethincourt to the river, but
except in the Corbeaux wood and at
Hill go the French held back the at
tackers at all points.
Thus the French still occupy the i'm
portant strategic position on the
heights of the Cote de rOie, for the
possession of which numerous san.
culinary engagements have been
fought
The occupation of a portion of the
Corbeaux wood would indicate that
the Germans have advanced more than
three miles since they took the town
of FORCES.
The Germans succeeded in penetrat.
ing French redoubt in the region of
Douaumont, but were thrown out i'm.
mediately in a counter attack.
The recapture by the Germans of a
position from the French in Cham.
payne, the pushing of the German line
farther forward in the Argonne forest
and the expulsion of small British de.
tachments from captured German
trenches northeast Of Vermelles are
related in the latest German official
report.
The British are defending the ia.
nous Hohenzollern redoubt. position
| against German bombing attacks.
Life on Ocean Wave.
limited Press DiSl,atch