New Britain herald., 1916-04-01
LANCOURT FIGHT DESPERATELY WAGED
Prescription Of Battle From French
 and German Sources

Paris. April 1, 11:30 a. m.-A sin
 gle battalion of French infantry held the salient comprising the village of Malancourt in the Verdun region < west of the Mouse, against forces Twenty times their number in the at tack of Thursday night until, sur rounded on three sides, they were compelled to choose between retire. ment and capture.
 Three German brigades attacked just after dark. The column attack ing in front met with such sustained fire that 1t was thrown back before reaching a house of the village. The aAaults were renewed repeatedly at Intervals of a few minutes, the Ger man ranks growing thinner with e1ch , rush.
 At about Il o'clock the Germans brought up a fresh brigade and at 1 tackled furiously on all sides, but again were thrown back by rifle fire and bayonets . Germans Hold Ground. I~t At i o'clock another charge vas made. It was directed principally against the Hanks, and the column operating on the left, after being re- pulsed several times. succeeded in making 8 breach in the defensive Inc of the French. Being reinforced with more fresh troops the Germans were able to hold the ground.
 The French battalion still held put and fought from house to house until dawn. Then the increasing German endorsements overwh eInted what remained of the defending force. By that time nothing was left of the village but 8 pile of smoking ruins.
 Counter Attacks Effective.
 The Germans remained quiet along that part of the line during the day, but made heavy attacks against the aP9vanced French positions in the re- Zion of Dead Mans Hill. After preparation with a veritable storm Of shells. German infantry attacked in n1assed formation and penetrated the first line of the French trenches at some points. French infantry counter attacked with the bayonet and drove back the Germans in disorder. y Berlin via Copenhagen, to London. April 1, 8:05 a. m.-The main head quarters correspondent of the vos- sische zeitung sends the following re- port on the advance of the Germans at Malancourt:
 4 Tt'The thunderous work or the arttl- , Ilery again furnished the prelude to a successful resumption of infantry &C., tivity west of the Mouse Continu- ousj artillery fire suddenly increased fo- gigantic violence and like an inn mense thunderstorm the explosions rattled unceasing1y across the rolling country side. They sounded as if huge depot of ammunition had ex- ploded detonating thousands of shells in apparently endless series After several hours the terrible melody sud denly ceased and the assault was made successfully but with slight loss to the Germans. The German position west of Verdun was improved by this advance at Malancourt The, Ger mans were able to press into the vil- 1age itself and to reach the first row of houses on the northern side which were the ost strongly fortified. Booty Taken. v T had an opportunity today to irf- spect the booty so far taken in the l Verdun battle. The quantities of weapons. munitions, uniforms and | supplies of all sorts which are ac- cun1uiating here are incalculable.
 Slightly wounded men who had been fighting west of the Mouse de- clare that the struggle was severe They seemed surprisingly fresh and were in jocular humor, although they showed plain traces of the extreme exertions through which they had just passed"