Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
GERMAN|C ARMIES
GRADUALLY CLOSE
- IN UPON VERDUN
Gain Vaux. But Are Checked
Between That Point and
Douaumont.
FURTHER MALANC0URT
ATTACKS EXPECTED
Teutons Continue Their Tremendous
Bombardment in This
Region.
FRENCH IN BRAVE FIGHT
single battalion Holds Back Twenty
Times Its Number, Then With
draws-Crown Prince Gains
Vast Booty.

LONDON. April LII he Ier-
mans gradually are closing IN on
Nerdun. drawing their lines a
little closer northeast of the
fortress, where by massed at
tacks from two directions they
have secured footing in the
village of Naux. -.
The Germans carried out a
heavy bombardrnent; to the east
of the Meuse. This was fol-
lowed by a German attack be-
tween Douaumont and Vaux,
which, according to the COM
munication of the French war
Office, was completely checked.
Further Attacks Expected.
The German infantry has not moved
from its trenches west Of the Meuse
since the capture of Malancourt viii
laRe. followed shortly by the unsuc-
cessful drive at the French positions
northeast or Hill No. 2s5 in the region
of Dead Mans hill The artillery. how
ever, conttauss active IN the Malan-
court tss1os. and further attempts by
sthe Gzsyaaas TO continue their drive on
the FrSAcH aleKt hank are considered
1880 10, occur Without much dela1.
s4hs G1rrsAn oGetal statement refsrc
ONLY Incidentally TO tie fighting about
Verdun, mentioning only artillery duels
there and in the Argonne. with other
activity by the big guna on the Aisne
front and further north on the line A
British hand grenade attack near st.
Eloi, where the Germans recently lost
some ground, was repulsed.
Nranco-Belgian front have been busy.
Four French machines fell victims to
German battle aircraft in various en-
gagements.
French Statement.
The text of tonight's French official
statement reads:
In Belgium our artillery bombarded
the enemy cantonments at Langemarck.
northeast of Ypres.
In the Argonne our batteries were
active against the German organiza-
ions north of La Harazee and La File
Mort and against the enemy camps in
the northern part of the Cheppy wood
West of the Meuse the lombard
aaent has been intense against our po-
sitIons between Avocourt and Malan-
ourt.
To the east of the Meuse a quite
iolent bombardment was followed in
he course of the German attack on the
rsvIne between Fort Douaumont and
he village of Vaux. The attack was
completely stopped by our curtain of
FIRE.
In the woevre the artillery activity
i,as been less marked. On the rest of
The front there is nothing to report"
The Belgian official communication
r,ds: ARTILLERY action on both sides
nave occurred in the Pervyse and Co.'S
takerke districts and south of Dix
Nude.'
German omcial Report.
The oficial German statement of to-
day from general headquarters is as
follows:
Near ST. Eloi an attack with hand
1renades by the British was repulsed.
There was fighting with mines be-
tween La Bassee canal and Neuville.
Northeast Of Roye the fire of the
German artillery effectively shelled po-
sitions of the enemy on the Aisne
front.
There were violent artillery duels in
the Argonne and in the sector of the
Meuse.
German battle air craft shot down
four French aeroplanes- OF these one
fell within our lines near Laon and
another near MoKeville. in the woevre.
Two fell behind the enemy's lines one
near ville-Aux-Bois and the other
south of HaucoIrt The French aero
drome at Rosnay. west of Rheims, was
attacked with many bombs"
French Greatly outnumbered.
A single battalion of French infantry
held the salient comprising the village
of MaIancourt in the Verdun region
west of the Meuse against forces TWEEN
ty times their number in the attack of
Thursday night until. surrounded on
three sides. they were compelled to
choose between retirement and capture
Three German brigades attacked just
after dark. The column attacking in
front met witn such sustained Are that
II was thrown back before reaching a
house of the village The assaults
were renewed repeatedly at intervals
of few minutes. the German ranks
growing thinner with each rush.
At about IL o'clock the Germans
brought up fresh brigade and at.
tackled furiously on all sides, but were
sgain thrown back by rifle nre and
bayonets.
Another Charge Made.
Al o'clock another charge was made
It was directed principally against the
flank. and the column operating on the
left, after being repulsed several times
succeeded in making a breach in the
defensive line Of the French. BEING
reinforced with more fresh troops the
Germans were able to hold the ground
The French battalion still held ou,
and fought from house to house until
dawn. Then the ever-increAsing Ger.