Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
Ground strewn With Bodies.

Each time remnants of regiments al
ready cut to pieces were pushed aheao
by other bodies of troops surglng on
the field of battle until the ground was
strewn with bodies. Eyewitnesses as
sert that nothing at Charleroi, on the
Marne along the User. or in the Chain- :
payne equaled the sacrifices which the
troops of the German crown prince al
ready have made for the village OF
Douaumont alone in the battle of Ver-
dun. The attack is no longer the BUD
ject of speculation whether 1t is intend
ed for rectification of the German
front or perhaps as demonstration Tor
the sake of the moral effect upon the
neonle of Germany and neutrals.
II is the opinion in all quarters that
the crown prince has determined TO
nav the price necessary to capture Yer
dun, if possible. drive the French from
the right bank of the Meuse and estap-
lish a front along that river if he is
unable to pierce the lines and open up
the way to Chalons and Paris.
Ultimate Cost Problematical.
All information thus far received in
dicates that the Germans already have
paid a very heavy price and that Ver-
dun itself has not yet been shaken.
The ultimate cost of the drive is prob
lematical Paris remains confident that
the Germans will find it impossible to
achieve eventual success. This feeling
has been made still more pronounced by
the recitals of the wounded and of
French infantry is disputing every inch
of the ground with persistent courage
and last night once more compelled their
adyersaries to suspend efforts. leaving
artillery alone to keep up the pressure
on the fortress. Whenever the German
assault on the French line reached the
danger point the blue-clad troops leaped
forward with fixed bayonets to the
strains of the national battle hymn. Ac-
counts of this fighting from French
sources say that on each occasion the
soldiers of the republic got the petter
of their opponents, pushing back Ger
mans who did not fall under the coid
steel.
Strategic Advantage.
The determination of the German at
tacks on the village Of Douaumont are
explained by the strategic advantage OF
the height to the south held by the
French barring the way to the bastion
and fort. The village itself, composed
of about fifty houses, now is only smok-
inc ruins. II is dominated. together with
the rayines at the foot of the advanced
ba stions of the fort, by the French pat
teries massed on the plateau and heights
i'm the rear, SO that the instant the Ger
mans come to the clearing from the
woods and ravines they are Immediate
" exposed to a Calling fire.
There is no official news TINS afternoon
regarding the issue of the struggle for
the village; but there are indications
that the French have it under control.
It is explained that after the furious on
sIaupht of two days, the attacks of the
German infantry were suspended during
the night, the possession of the village
itself being of no advantage without oc-
cupation of the heights to the south,
which command it and make it unten-
able for hostile forces.
r.. Plateau Is Essential.
Possession of the plateau of Douau-
mont is essential to the Germans in
view of operations seemingly projected
in the region of Vaux, but it is pointed
out that even with the line from Pep
per Hill Cote du Poivre) to Douau-
mont in their hands, the Germans
would again find the French solidly
fortified from Froide Terre to Souville
and Vaux. where sacrifices equal to
aumont would be necessary to gain
the slightest ADVANTAGE