The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-03
ADVANCE A NOTCH
Germans Renew Terrific Smash
on Verdun Forts.
Capture Douaumont Village and
1000 French Prisoners.
BY CHARLES P. STEWART.

BY CHARLES p. STEWART.
London, March 3.-German troops
have captured the village of Douau-
mont, four miles northeast of Vcrdun
and just outside Fort Douaumont aft
ef a fierce struggle, taking 1000 pri5-
oners and a number of guns, the Ger
man war office reported this after
noon.
Renewing their offensive nth
heavy blows, the Germans are driving
toward Verdun from the southwest,
Berlin reported. German fliers have
bombarded the city and German in
fantry is attempting to cut off Frenrh
forces holding Pepper Heights to the
north.
The French war office admitted
that the Teutons have penetrated the
French line at Douaumont after suf-
fering cruel losses but declared the
struggle for possession of the village
is continuing.
RcpuIsed at Vaux.
Paris also claimed the repulse of at
tacks east of the village of Vaux, out
side Fort De Vaux, southeast of Fort
Douaumont. The Germans are bonn
harding French positions east and
southeast of Verdun with the greatest
intensity. The French are pouring
steady sheets of fire across the Woevre
plains and the German infantry has
been unable to advance. German
guns suddenly became very active last
night on the front west of the Meuse,
Paris also reported. Near Malancourt
and Haucourt, nine miles northwest
of Verdun, the bombardment was par
ticularly violent.
The German war office admitted
the loss of positions to the British
around Ypres but gave no intimation
as to the extent of the British opera
tionS.
Close fighting developed south of
the La Bassee canal in the region Of
Ypres and the English now hold part
of a German bastion," read the Ber-
lin statement.
Drops Ninth Aeroplane.
Berlin reported the repulse of a
French attack in the Bolonite woods
in the Argonne.
The official Berlin statement relates
that German airmen dropped bombs
in the vicinity of the main Verlnn
fort and that to the east of Douaui
British biplane, the ninth aeroplane
accounted for by him.
According to one unconfirmed re-
port from Stockholm today, Field
Marshal Won Mackensen, hero of the
German Galicia and Balkan cam
paigns has Joined the kaiser and
crown prince and is directing the Yer
dun operations.
The Teutons are using shells lavish
ly in a furious cannonade The
French position on Pepper Heights
and westward across the Meuse are
under terrific bombardment Infan-
try fighting has begun southeast of
Verdun, indicating a renewal of the
attempt to ring the fortress from the
south.
British Take Trenches.
At the same time, the sudden thrust
by the British on the Ypres front has
attracted the attention of military
critics. After artillery preparation.
British troops captured the 500 yards
of international trenches" along the
Ypres-C Confines canal, lost to the Teu-
tons February IA, and took another
small position.
The latest official dispatches from
Berlin reported heavy ombardment
of the German position around Ypres
by the British. 1t is thought pos
sible the British attack on this sector
marks the beginning of a counter Of
fensive.
Berlin edvices today admitted that
the soggy Woevre plain east and
south OF Verdun has proved a great
hinderance to the movement of the
heavy guns, thus explaining the lull
in the battle.
But our troops are gong forward
again. said a DELAYED Berlin dispatch