Evening star., 1916-03-04
REPULSE FOR FRENCH
CLAIMED BY BERLIN
Violent Bombardment Continues
From West of Meuse to
Woevre Region.
ADVANCES ON ALLIED FLANKs
Teutonic Thrusts at Vital Points
Expected-Present Conflict May
Have Far-Reaching Effect
on Neutrals.

on Neutrals
LONDON, March After
the desperate battling on the
Douaumont plateau in the re-
newal OF the German drive for
Nerdun. there has come a second
halt i'll the intense struggle.
Paris today announces that there
has been a cessation of infantry
attacks bv the crown princes
troops, although his artillery is
still keeping up a heavy lombard
ment.
The enemy was repulsed in an
effort to retake Douaumont.' the
Berlin war Office announced to-
day, but this attack evidently re-
fers to the fighting OF yesterday,
in which the French claim to
have occupied the highest part OF
the mound on the northern slope
of which the village of Douau
mont is situated. Paris also
claims that in counter attacks
against the Germans the French
regained ground in the immediate
vicinity of Douaumont.
Bombardment Violent.
The bombardment continues very vio-
lent along the entire front from the
west of the Meuse to the Woevre
region.
The continuation of artillery activity
may indicate speedy renewal of the
action on the important front north
east of the fortress where the French
lines form a salient. The Importance
of the German activities in other sec
tors is not overlooked. however. There
have been advances on both the French
fianks. and indications are furnished Of
contemplated thrusts at vital points in
the lines about the curving font, such
IS on the northwest line. where the
has been under the fire of German
heavy guns for some days.
Satisfied With Situation.
Gen. Gailieni. French minister of war.
has told the commission on military
afS!ls of the chamber of deputies that
he is satisfied with the situation at
N"rIun. He gave details of the re-
serves of men and stocks of ammuni-
tIpn now available.
Military writers say that it was in
keeping with all the precedents that
the Germans should attempt to reduce
the salient of Douaumont plateau, for
this key position must be taken before
solid progress could be made elsewhere
The attack began after a long pre1imi-
nary bomba ardment Wednesday. Ger
man columns started to deploy from
Hardauamont wood. the right and
at the same time division advanced
on the village of Vaux The latter at
tack failed. with heavy losses to the
Germans.
Bring Up Reserves.
The French artillery fire was so
fierce that evening that the Germans
were unable to push attack on any
point of the Douaumont plateau. They
prohted Of the night, however, to
bring up masses of reserves, and the
fighting began with renewed fury
Thursday. During the morning and
tho afternoon three desperate on
sIaughts were made by Pomeranian
and Brandenburg regiments.
In the first and second attacks the
assailants. who fought with great
bravery, reached the French barbed
wire. but so fierce was the hail of bull
that the gray-coated legions melted
away. The offcers rallied them again
and again until no more were left to
rally. The third attack began about 3
o'clock in the afternoon. 1t was even
more violent than those which have
preceded. For more than an hour III.
Germans came In serried ranks
hurting themselves, regardless of cost
against the ridges held by the French
men. AT last the defenders line way-
cred at two points. but only momen-
tarily, and the counter attack. driven
home with the bayonet drove the Ger.
mans back to the shelter Of the cham
brettes OF the Hardaumont ravines
Fourth Advance After Dusk.
The Germans then resumed the bonn
bardment, plowing up the ground
and pulverizing the rocks with hun
dreds OF big shells. The fourth ad-
vance was made after dusk by fresh
Frussian brigades who had rep,a-,
the troops engaged in the morning and
afternoon attacks. After desperate
fighting they managed to get footing
on the extreme edge of the plateau
whence they pushed forward into the
houses on the north side os the village
The Germans now hold Douaumon,
village. but the French dominate them
from commanding heights. As both sides
there are fairly evenly matched il is
likely that the village will change
hands more than once before the battle
ends. The experts say that German
possession of IL is only temporary, and
that the technical advantage remains
with the French. whose lines continue
unbroken.
Towns Are Huge Hospitals.
Advices received in Geneva from
Karlsruhe. Mannheim. Stuttgart ane
Coblenz are that those towns have been
CONTINUED on Second Pase)