Arizona republican., 1916-03-05
FRENCHMAN HAS
 | PRAISE FUR THE GERMAN ENEMY
Republican A. p. Leased WlreI

PARIS, March A captain of French chasseurs describing Ger man attack near Douamont March 2, tells the Following story:
 German forces on Thursday along a front of three miles delivered a furious attack within the village of Douamont as the principal objective. Detachments of two German divis- ions brought into the zone of fight ing threw themselves against our or ganization. This movement began at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and had been preceded by a bombardment of lindescribable intensity.
 T want to say that our antagon- ! ists showed great bravery. but not withstanding the courage of the en- emy. the French chasseurs once again i lived up to their reputation. They went into the fight and Veritable slaughter of the enemy was their re ward There were stacks of the en- emy dead right up against our barb ] ed wire entanglements. Fierce fight ing at close quarters and in some places hand to hand engagements gave us at some points the advan- tage Nevertheless the Germans came back to the charge again with fresh companies of men.
 1 "The second attack began precisely at 6 o'clock and it was as determin- ed as the first if not more SO
 I in the hand by the explosion of a shell, but in spite of this injury and before being carried away from the field of battle, I was able to take note of the good work done by my men. Their aggression throughout the days fighting had been marvel ous.
 Tt is a fact that we sustained losses during these actions, but our casualties were much under those of the enemy"
 The determination of the German attacks on the village of Douaumont are explained by the strategic ad vantage of the height to the south held by the French. barring the way to the bastion and fort. The vil- lage itself. composed of about fifty houses, now is only smoking ruins It is dominated, together with the ravines at the foot of the advanced bastions of the fort by the French batteries massed on the plateau and
 heights in the rear, so that the in- stant the Germans came to the clear ling from the woods and ravines they are immediately exposed to a galine fire
 All reports reaching Paris represent the French troops in the highest !spirts, with ample endorsements ir reserve for all eventualities. The defense lines around Verdun thus fai
 have been assured by the troops oi
 the Verdun sector without the in
 terVention of strong reserves, avail able in case of need
 The apprehension caused in Pari.
 by the ground given up to the Ger
 mans in the first battle has disap.
 peared under analysis, the public be
 ing reminded that field strategy sometimes requires that forces retir,
 in order to advance. as in the cass
 of the battle of the Marne Tn, military critics hold that with heavy loss of men the original Frencl line might have been maintained, ant
 economy in the strength O fthe de lending force, through sagicious re coil has counted heavily in the checl of the Germans after their 26 in fantry attacks. Forces so importan
 as those launched against Verdun, i
 is urged, must have lost spirit whel l stopped after so many courageou 7 assaults
 s The French public looks at the sit
 uation in this way, attributes to tha [ fact the early interruption of tn I second battle, and shows remarkabl
 confidence in the eventual outcome