The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-14
GERMANS REINFORCED
100000 Additional Troops
Shifted to Take Part in
Great Attack.
KAISER AGAIN VISITS FRONT
So Tremendous Is Gunhre that Whole
Villages Have Been Wiped Out.
New Attacks Expected.
Special Cable to The Washington Herald.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
Paris, March 13-Thousands of guns to-
night are engaged on the ftty-mile driv-
ing front around Verdun in a duel so
terrific that the deep reverberations are
heard in the environs of Paris itself.
Every available German Howitzer is
being brought to bear against the great
fortress against which for twenty two
days. the Germans have been launching
the full strength Of their armies. The
French. supplied with mountains Of
shells, are replying. gun for gun.
The German emperor has returned to
the front for the final and greatest Ger
man effort against Verdun, which it is
expected will be made within the next
forty-eight hours.
100000 More Men Arrive.
It is learned tonight that 100000 addi-
tional troops, including the Imperial
Guard. the Corps d'elite OF the German
army, have arrived behind the German
front for the final terrific smash. The
last lines include new reserves OF the
class OF 1915, many Of whom are boys
Of 90
Infantry Of both armies are burrowed
deep in their shelter trenches to escape
the effects Of the mighty bOmbardment.
the transcendent artillery effort Of the
war. For miles around the ground is
ploughed and furrowed by the hurricane
OF steel. Yerdun itself is shambles Of
shattered buildings and the debris OF
homes Forests have been reduced to
splinters and hills swept away.
1t Is the belief of military critics that
the Germans are determined to blast
the French defenses with such a storm
OF steel that wide breaches will be cut
for the Infantry when the moment Of
assault comes.
Four Towns Destroyed.
-Four towns have vanished from the
map before the fire Of the German bat
teries Elk. MoulainvlIle, Damloup and
Bras. north and east of Verdun have
been scattered like chaff Not a building
stands. Hardly a stone remains upon a
stone.
The midnight war office report states
that during the day the bombardment
attained its greatest intensity in the
region west of the Meuse. where the Ger
mans are sweeping Dead Man Hill and
Hangrnans Woods CBois Bourru) with a
tornado OF shells. The French batteries
replying. are doing great execution
among the German forces assembling
between FORCES and the Corbeaux Wood.
The Germans hold on some Of their ad-
vanced positions in this region, 1t is
stated, has been weakened by the furt-
GUS French fire.
No infantry action has occurred at any
section of the front during the day, the
midnight communicate adds. although
from the sea to Alsace, there has been
Incessant artillery firing.
Fighting on 2OO-mIIe Line.
The weather is ideal for observations
and the aviators and gunners of both
armies are collaborating in a great ef-
fort. For some than 200 miles along the
winding lanes in Northern France field
guns and Howitzers are combining in a
terrific cannonade.
On the previous day the French, by
sudden attack in lie Pretre forest
pierced 200 yards Of trenches in the VI
cinity Of Croix des Charnes, but later
returned to their own lines. A German
movement in Alsace, launched with the
object OF resaining the trenches lost last
week to the French near Seppois, was
halted in its inception by the French bar
rier fire.
Military experts here express the ut
most confidence in the results at Yer
dun.
Omcial war ONCE estimates Of the Ger
man losses thus far in the Verdun fight
ing place them at not less than 10000.
The French casualties are said to be
about 1000