Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-08
BATTLE CLIMAX EXPECTED
BY TOMORROW OR FRIDAY
Paris. Though Anxious, Proclaims
Confidence in Outcome Of
Titanic Struggle.
FRENCH WIN IN CHAMPAGNE
War Office Announces That Trenches
Recently Taken by the Germans
Heve Been Re-
captured.

BERLIN, March :. via Lon
don, 3:I5 p.m.-The capture of
French position west of the
Meuse on both sides OF the Forges
brook below Bethincourt. six
kllometers wide and three kilo-
meters deep. was announced to-
day by German army headquar-
tiers.
1T was announced also that the
villages of Forges and Regne-
vile. the heights of Rabene and
the Cumieres woods were in Ger
man possession.
Many Prisoners Taken.
The capture of hfty-eight Off
GERS. 5,277 men and ten cannon is
OFFICIALLY reported.
In the Woevre district the
French were driven out OF the
last houses they held in the vii
lage OF Fresnes. More than 700
prisoners were made
Omcial German Report.
Todays official report of the fighting
on the western front follows:
"At 10 O'Clock in the evening the
French delivered counter attack
against the position east of the
farm of Masons de Champagne. which
he had recaptured. ON the right wing
hand grenade fighting continues.
Otherwise the attack was completely
repulsed.
ITO improve upon our new lines We
pushed forward on the right bank of
the Meuse on the southern slopes OF
the Cote de Talou and of the Cote du
Poivre and on the Douaumont posi-
tions. 49,
The enemy positions on the left
bank of the Meuse. on both sides of
Forges brook. below Bethincourt. were
over a width of six Kilometres
t3.7 miles) and q depth of more than
three kilometers u.S miles).
New Positions Occupied.
The villages of FORCES and Regns-
vile, as well as the heights of Raben
and the Cumieres woods, are in our
possession. Counter attacks by the
French against the southern boun-
daries of these woods were repulsed
with sanguinary losses. A great mum
ber of the occupants i'm the captured
positions perished. Fifty-eight Officers
and S.271 men were taken prisoner.
ten cannon and much
other war material were captured.
in the Woevre district the enemy
was driven out of the last houses in
Fresnes. The number of prisoners taken
there was increased to eleven officers
guns were captured.
Our aeroplane squadrons dropped
bombs on the villages west of Nerdun
which are occupied by the enemy"
Retake Champagne Trenches.
PARIS, March s, via London, 1 26 pm.
In the Champagne the French have
eceptured portions of the trenches
ost March 6. according to announce
nent made here today.
The situation north of Nerdun is un-
hanged. No infantry attacks were
made last night, the announcement
ays. Artillery fighting continues.
The text of the communication issued
" the French war office this afternoon
9 as follows:
Official French Statement.
'In the Champa gne district. in the re-
,ion to the east of Maisons de Cham
,agne, we launched an attack which
'laced us again in possession of the
ection of trenches occupied by the
nemy on the 9Th of March. In the
curse of this fighting we took eighty
i've prisoLers, including three officers.
nd captured a machine gun. :. counter
ttack on the part of the enemy de-
ivered little later against the posi-
ions we held was successfully re-
ulsed.
IN the Argonne our artillery has
helled the highways i'll the vicinity of
iount Faucon, over which il was re-
orted that automobile transports were
laking their way.
Fighting Around verdun.
I'm the region 10 the HOfIn OF kerdnn
q change has been reported. During
he course of the night the Germans
ontinued their bombardment of our
ront to the west of the River Mouse.
mt without putting forward their in
antry.
.Our batteries responded with energy
, the fire of our adversaries in this
sctor, as well as to the east of the
Ieuse, where the artillery bonabard
,ent has been intermittent.
.aThere has been very spirited artil-
,ry fRhting in the Woevre We havs
ombarded Blanzee. -Grimaucourt and
1e environs of Fresnes.
IAN attack by the enemy against the
abroad and the highway to Man
euiles was checked by our curtain Of