The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-09
GERMANS R0UT
FRENCH IN FIGHT
Verdun in Greatest Peril Since
p Battle Began. "
TEUToNS TAKE HILL 265
Joftre's Troops Driven Back West Of
. the Meuse by Wall Of Liquid
s,ss Fire--kaises> Minis Cor a
beaux Woods.

London, March S-Verdun is in
greater peril than at any time in the
l6 days of fighting which have made
the battle the greatest in all history
Crushing southwark on the west
bank, Of the Mouse in the drive which
captured FORCES and adding more
than a mile to the desperate advance
made yesterday, the Germans last
night swept into the Corbeaux woods
on the line from Bethincourt, east to
the Meuse, routing the French from
strong positions and forging another
| link in the chain which is threatening
to strangle the defenders of the great
fortress and take by siege the posi-
| lions which cannot be taken by force
of artillery and men.
Paris Admits Loss.
Capture of the positions in the Cor
beaux woods is admitted in the com
| muniQue from Paris, as is the loss OF
the village of Fresnes, which was
| claimed in the official statement from
| German headquarters describing the
successful advance of the encirclint
movement on both TANKS of the front
around Verdun.
The new German gain followed the
capture of Hill 265, an important
| strategic height west of the Meuse
where 10000 Of the crown princes
| picked troops were hurled forward
against French batteries and masseC
infantry formations, routing the
| French before a wall of liquid flame
and taking the height on the thirC
charge.
infantry Fighting RACES.
Infantry fighting is violent on the
western sector of the Nerdun front
and the German advance, which i'm
perils not only the western fortified
tons but the vital supply lines of thu
| fortress, is renewing such fear il
France as was felt only in the frs
sweeping seven days drive of thu
| Teutons.
Another indication of the determine
ton of the Germans to capture Yer
\ dun at all costs is revealed in Gen
eva dispatch which announces tina
Austrian troops are being moved int
France to REINFORCE the Germans
This is the first time Austrians hav'
been used on this front.
Report From Paris.
The communique from Paris says
In the Argonne our special gun
have brought down a German aero
plane which fell within our lines il
the region of Avoeourt The two avi
ators, who were wounded, were takel
prisoners. ...>
West of the Meuse the lombard
ment with shells of large caliber cor
tinues with intensity. During the da.
the Germans multiplied their infantr
actions between Bethincourt and tn
Meuse. All these attacks were re
pulsed except in the sector of the Coz
beaux woods. where the Germans wer
able to get a footing. .+.
East of the Meuse, after yiolen
artillery battle in the region of tn
Hardumont woods. the Germans pens
trated redoubt, but were immediate
ly driven out by our counterattack
: In Woeyre, after a struggle whic
: cost them heavy losses. the German
occupied the village of Fresnes.
: In the Vosges we have bombarde
, the cantonments of Diffenbach, eas
of Muhlbach. and opposing trenche
in the region of Wattweiler."
,E Berlin Announces Gain.
81 The statement from Berlin concerl
: ing the lighting around Verdun says
In the Mouse district the artiller
: fire on the west bank was more liy'
2 ly. East of the river 1t maintaine
medium violence Apart from engag
q ments between accommodating partie
I no hand-to,hand fighting with the en-
I my took place.
!. "In the Woeyre district the yillae
of Fresnes was captured by storl
; early Tuesday morning. Howeye
el the French are still holding their ow
!. in few houses on the western on
g skirts The French lost more tina
8 300 men IN prisoners.
Vi During the night the railway st
z ton at Bar lie Due was heavily Dor
barded by one of our airships"