South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-27

corps. and Gen. Mansin, who re-
entered Douaumont on May p. but
was unable then 10 maintain his
position because the conquest form
cd a salient in the enemy line, the
Germans maintaining "a hold on the
fort from below. Immediately coun-
ter-attacking with heavy reserve
forces.
con the Saturday the day dawued
clear. favoring observations by air
men and captive balloons. our
artillery began its preparation by
heavily jrenching the enemy
trenches with a hail of metal taking
REVENGE for the days of last Feb
ruary
Cannons Roar Three Days.
For three full days the cannons
urst of flames could he observed
i'm Fort Douaumont. following the
explosion of huge shell from a
16-inch gun. Gradually the outer
works of Haudremont were smash
&c and the same treatment was ac-
corded the Damloup battery. keep
ing the enemy uncertain at which
point the attack would be deliver
ed
Monday evening "a captured Ger
man carrier pigeon revealed the
complete smashing of the enemy's
first line, where the commandments
rs ere demanding instant relief. A
hundred Germans surrendered. one
officer declared. Wen never take
Nerdun any more than you viii re-
take Douaumont.
A passing in the army order is
sued Tuesday evening, before the
attack. read.
Ion our left the inustrious Mo-
Ioccan division goes into action 20
dispute the honor OF retaking Dou-
gumont fort Let these brave COM
rades know that they can count on
Us. TO support them i'm the open door
of the fort and share the glory.
Comrades. with the first blow YOU
viii increase your reuown and the
country will bless YOU"
Attack j. Ordered.
Tuesday morning thick fog
covered the Meuse valley. but be-
lieving the artillery preparations
sufficient. the commander ordered
the attack 10 begin at 11:4O.
Aerial observation was difficult.
but our aviators flew low So as to
follow the operations The tele-
D hone wires We're cut every other
minute. but communications
through couriers, carrier pigeons
and Photograph worked admirably
Suddenly the fog lifted and our
observers saw magical spectacle.
cur soldiers were climbing the
slopes of the Douaumont ridge. APP
preaching the fort on every side.
They could be seen 10 enter the
fort and to come out leading pri-
soners Then the enemy began TO
shell his lost positions.
we had never imagined we
could possibly progress SO far and
had 10 hold of our fire until we
had ascerJained the new positions
At the same time our aerial squad
ron took "a flight furnishing precise
Information as 10 the extent of the
French progress.
Victorious on All Sides
The news of victory now came
from AN sides Not only had all
Cbjectives been reached. but con-
siderable progress had been made
hey ond them.
The victory was complete within
"a few hours. In addition to material
that has not yet been counted. we
took $500 prisoners including 100
officers.
The InterUinable procession Of
these prisoners towards Nerduu
vas am ironical revenge for the
events of the end of last February.
The men We're mostly very young
or very Old
"Our losses on oct. "a in the
" hole area of operation were not
half the total of German prisoners.
Gen. Jofre watched the battle
together with Gen Petain Tie eN-
PRESSED his qualification over the
ma-uidceut results.