Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-03-06
EYE WITNESS TELLS
OF YERDUN ATTACK
French Observer Describes Massacre
Of Germans, Who Are Killed
as Fast az Are Seen.
vERITABLE SLAUGHTER

PARIS, March b.-The French Of
ficial eye witness gives the following
description OF the defense, of the
Herbebois, three miles to the north
Of Fort Douaumont, where the great
battle Of verdun began twelve days
ago:
1T was on February 81, at 1870
o'clock in the morning that the Ger
mans began the preparation for their
attack. They unloosed formidable
artillery fire on the positions which
they wished 10 capture and shells of
all caiibres fell like hail from those
cf $50 millimeters TO shells OF sos
millimeters.
at was a veritable drum fire OF
an intensity unknown till now. and
this drumfire played by series on
objective points selected for attacks.
A zone 500 meters broad and q kilo-
meter deep for example. was pounded
in such fashion that the earth was
plowed up on the entire superficial
extent in mathematical fashion.
Lacrymosal shells and suffocating
gas shells were also employed by the
enemy 20 accentuate the moral eff
feet.
Penetrate First Line.
However, despite this formidable rain
OF projectiies the Germans on the first
day succeeded only in entering our first
limo Of defence at Herbehois and taking
n small supporting work OF the line. II
was a miserable result compared with the
mechanical effort and the human effort
which they had put forth against our ad-
vaDced line OF resistance. II was then
that my regiment was called upon to-
counter attack. and 20 try 90 recapture the
first line lost. when say line. It must
be understood that there were only some
chaotic elements Of trenches and fur
rows torn up with shell holes.
AT midnight accordingly. on the inst,
tho mon were in position and were rather
happy at having at the first moment OF
our appearance on the ground. taken six
ty-three prisoners. who seemed 20 be very
glad not 70 have 20 measure themselves
against us any further They rubbed their
hands and seemed quite gay at the
thought Of having ended their share in
the war. Among these priaoners was an
officer who. having tried 60 escape, was
killed by the sentry who was charged
with guarding them.
Boehes Attack Asain.
'Our center attack took place on Feb
ruary p at tsso o'clock IN the morning.
Then the boches attacked again. No one
had the advantage IN this affair. Then
during the day there was on both sides.
an unceasing strvggle with hand grenades
while some OF our men strained every
effort, under the protection Of the grenade
throwern, 60 consolidate our pcaitlons At
this moment, we no longer had any nat
ural shelter. Herbebois IL covered with
tree stumps. among which some large
trees stand up.
''on a depth OF three 20 four hundred
meters behind IL ordinary underground.
but the Germans had opened upon Il a
terrible outpourlng OF projectiles and the
wood at certain places was transformed
into clearing. II was necessary there
fore to naneuyer through this confusion
BY the climbing and crawling and to work
and raise barrioades and 70 FIJI the shell
holes. Il was showing and leave you to
Imagine the endurance which our nson
showed IN the circumstances
Renew TAsar Offensive.
During the course Of the night OF Feb
fuaty q the Germans renewed theig Of
fensive- A bombardment Of amazing vio-
lence and OF mortal precision did not
permit them. however. 10 advance an
inch. When their infantry In turn at
tempted to strike. our men made them
suffer sanguinary Losses. II was suI
worse during the day Of the aSd. After
having once more copiousiy rained
shells on our lines. the Germans sent
against us NJ least the equivalent OF a
battalion. This attack In a body exeited
20 the highest degree the vaior OF our
men. They sighted tho Germans At fifty
meters ana under melhodIo volleys the
latter fell. bowling in terrible fashion. II
was a veritahie massacre.
Our 7b-millInietrc guns on their side
had executed curtain fire. preventing
the enemy from retiring and very few
Of the nssaiiants succeeded IN getting 10
the rear Almost all were left on tho field
Of battle. That did not prevent the Ger
mans from attacking us once moro dur
ina the day. but without any better suo-
cees.
XIII Them ~ Fast ~ They Come.
-Four Of our grenadiers posted at the
entrance Of Communication trench
which united our old Trims trench now
occupied BY the Germans with a sup
NoItlnA french WHICH Ne still nelo. Killed
groups OF the enemy as fast a. they pre-
scented themselves.
They carried on this work for more
than twenty hours. During these fights
was revealed once more tho wariike
ardor OF the French. Despite the Losses in
CURED (aimost all exclusively from artii-
larry fire. tor IN the infantry engagements
We had constantly the upDer hand) their
morale did not waver for moment Our
troopers Unanswered as during field prac-
dee. They saw without a murmur their
comrades fan around them and they con-
timed their work a. quietly as at exer-
tiae. One has reason TO be proud OF com.
riaandiuE srch men
IN AT ais o'clock IN the afternoon OF
february =. while we had not retired a
siF5ie foot. order was given us 20 with
draw,- carefully for the Wavrii.e wood
haviBs hoen taken. ws ran the risk OF
being surrounded, We waited for the
sight 90 come. Some OF the men. when
they learned that they we're 20 leave Her
be-boSs. stopped. asked that they be al