The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
Violent sbeIIinE Reported.

Violent SheIlinE Reported
In the region Of verdun,- ays IN.
Paris statement, there was very violent
Smelling during the whole day on u.
left bank Of the Meuss at HIu No. 40.
and at Goose Hm Ccots de L'oisO.
''on the right bank Of the Meuss q.
Germans. after an intense bombs-drpeut
directed against the forest Of Hsodrenont
least Of Pepper RidFe) launched an At
tack against our positions which was
stopped by the fire Of our raaehins runs
and musketry.
During the morning the Germans rsr.
able again TO obtain q footing n tie
village Of DOuaumont whence ws hsd
dislodged them On the previoax sw-nfnf
by oounter-stt1ck- Fighting for pos
session Of the village oonttnnss Wy
violently With alternate advances and
rctirements-
I'm the woevre plain there hiss 6ssn
ordinary activity BY the .rt5ns-y Of eotA
sides"
One thousand Preach rr1-onsr~.
The Berlin war once reports thst i.ouc
French prisoners were taken IN an IN
successful counter-sttack on DouXurnont.
After a great increase N tie voluns
Of their fire. It states. the French at
tackled the village Of DcuGunOut and cur
lines adjoining It They were repul~ed
partially in eIose-r4nge lighting and
sustained heavy loss We took LnD
prisoners"
The battle at Douaumont has been rsE-
ing for a week and has cost the lives,
it is estimated, Of more than 1900 men
Thousands more have been wounded
In the seven days Of fighting, the Ger
mans have practically been held IN check
at this point, although on other portions
Of the battle front they have smashed
in towards Verdun.
Their total gains, as reported tonight,
comprise something more than 457 squAr,
miles Of territory, 400 prisoners IlB
guns and ISL machine guns. The battle
has been raging with only one short
respite since February -, a matter Of
twelve days.
According 10 semi-of1cisl information.
the German strategy contemplstes a
systematic bombardment Of the Verdun
positions until. laid in ruins by the heavy
howitzcrs. they will be easy prey for
smashing. surEing attacks by great
masses OF infantry. The Teuton tactics
aimed. for the first time IN this war. at
the preservation OF electives, Will. Il IS
believed here, result i'm a battle which
is likely to last Tor another two weeks
or more
In pursuance Of their plan. the Ger
mans have the entire outer ring or Yer
dun forts. extending from the section
west Of the Mouse. across the northern
line. ard on the entire chain OF heights
which rise from the Mouse Plain. undc~
fire Tons OF steel arc being poured into
them at every hour OF the day and night
To Batter Down DefcuScs
The Germans arc reported today to have
renewed their assault in the region OF
NaUN. preliminary to grand attack on
Fort Vaux. Immediately south Of the
village Of the same name, which has
been reported destroyed by their gun
fire.
The village OF Dousumont. for which
thousands OF men ARE giving Up their
lives, consists Of seventy-nvc shattered
houses. Its strategic importance lies in
the fact that it Is located on an i'm
portsnt crest and is at the intersection
OF three roads
\ lively resumption OF fighting on
other sections OF the eastern part Of the
French front is reported today.
Hard on Watch Carriers.