The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-24
Attempt of the German Forces
in General is Reported by
Paris as Unsuccessful.
ENTER PART OF VILLAGE
Tide of War Ebbs and Flows
with an Appalling Loss of
Men of Both Sides.

PARIS, May PA powerful Often
sive was undertaken by the Germans
last night to the east of Dead Man
hill on the Verdun front. The at
tempt in general was unsuccessful,
the war Office report OF today says,
but after fierce hand to hand strug-
gle the attacking forces made their
way into portion of the village of
Cumieres.
The battle around Verdun contin-
ues to rage with violence unex-
ampled even in this region. The
Germans are striving with every re-
source in their power to capture hill
No. 304 and Dead Man hill on the
left bank Of the Meuse and to win
back the famous fort Of Douaumont
on the right bank, which was wrest-
ed from them by General Nivelle's
brilliantly planned and executed Of
fensive.
Can Not Get Nearer.
Without full possession Of the line
from Pepper hill to Vaux fort the
Germans cannot hope to get any
nearer to the capture of Verdun.
Even II they succeeded In taking this
line they could not hold it unless
they were also In possession of hill
No. 304 and Dead Man hill, which
outfiank the line.
Driven to desperation by seeing
SO much Of its work undone the Ger
man command has hurled attack af-
ter attack against Fort Douaumont.
At the same time 1t has kept up its
onslaught on the left bank OF the
river to prevent the French trans
ferring any forces to the main scene
of attack.
Tide Ebbs and Flows.
All day Tuesday the tide of war
ebbed and flowed. inches OF ground
being won and lost at an appalling
cost in men. As one French officer
said:
Pilots Of land come high here"
So Again and again after reducing
trenches to a crumbling heap OF ruins
by a deluge of shells, the German
infantry dashed forward only to be
caught and swept away by hurri-
cane of curtain FIRE from the French
batteries and machine suns.
French Are Stole.
The conditions of the present war
have transformed the traditional fur
ious courage Of the French soldiers
into an immovable stoicism. Men
have stood their ground manfully
in situation which II seems beyond
human nature to support. When
night fell last night the positions on
both sides were unchanged. The
French held firmly all their gains
while the Germans incurred fearful
losses without getting near to any de-
cision. Describing the battle around
Fort Douaumont one combatant said:
For four miles beyond us there
was not a trench .or communication
nothing but shell holes one within
another. Every inch OF the ground
was ploughed up by an expenditure
of ammunition which Is inconceiva-
BILE. In holes made by fifteen-inch
shells you could stable fifteen horses
easily. The
Few Trees Still Standing
have been stripped Of their branches
and look like telegraph poles. 1t is
the abomination OF desolation. Not
for a second do the guns cease roar
ing or the men cease falling. AS
soon as trench Is made the shells
begin to drop and the survivors have
70 begin all over again. Attacks have
become almost impossible because in
the terrific tornado Of artillery fire
the infantry on either side are unable
alike to advance or retreat. verdun
will certainly not be taken from this
point.
II cannot understand how our
men are able to keep 1t up. You are
exterminated in your boots without
seeing the enemy. The terrific noise
leaves US half stunned. Men look
at each other with bewildered eyes.
It requires strong effort of the will
to speak to comrade."