Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-26
Claims Repulse of French.
Story of the Terrific Blow
Dealt to Germans at verdun
by French Surprise Attack

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY AT
vERDuN, October "a, by a Staff Cor
respondent of the Associated Press
(delayed) The French today recap
tured from the German crown prince
in six hours and twenty minutes ter
ritory northeast of Verdun which it
had cost the Germans five months of
the hardest lighting and half million
men to take earlier this year.
The effect of the victory was to give
the French freedom of movement
around Verdun, permitting them to
prepare for further advance when
the opportunity is ripe, at the same
time dealing a stunning blow when the
Germans thought the French striking
force was entirely assembled in the
Somme region. The victory also leaves
Fort VauX, now in German hands, per-
ilously open to attack.
Surprised by Success.
Such a brilliant success in so short
time was not expected even by the
most optimistic, when the order for
the offensive was given at II 80 o'clock
this marning. For a couple of days
the artillery preparations by the
French batteries had been of the most
extreme severity. Monday the Ger
mans opened with every available bat
terry, believing a French attack was
about to be delivered. Not a single
Frenchman stirred.
Tuesday at dawn a fresh tornado of
fire by the French brought only a feeble
reply. the Germans apparently regard
ing the bombardment as mere demon
stration. The French infantry mean
while stood at arms, awaiting the order
to spring forward. Many of them had
participated in the defense of Verdun
attack in February. All of them were
most cheerful at the prospect of giving
blow instead of continually receiving
one.
First Germans Surrender.
Early in the day evidence came of the
awfulness of the French artillery fire
including two officers. who. unable to
stand the torrents of shells, walked
out and surrendered before the in
fantry struggle began.
The Associated Press correspondent
watched the progress of the fight from
a position commanding a panoramic
view of the whole battlefield. Sudden
ly. about II 80 o'clock. the curtain Of
French shells which had pounded the
ed slightly and dropped again with the
utmost precision just behind the Ger
man line. Officers waited, watches in
hand, for the chosen moment. Then the
French infantry, covered with mud and
sand and soaked to the skin. went over
the top of their positions. Despite the
coZiness of the uneven ground they
rapidly gained the German lines. where
they found amid killed and wounded
hundreds of Germans who, half dazed,
surrendered after slight resist
ance.
Thiaumont Falls Early.
The first work thus taken was the
'quarries. from which the
French were able to push onward with
an unexpected sweep. Thiaumont fell
early, and the Faussecote ravines were
taken. Then the attacking waves
rolled. irresistibly forward and round |
the village and fort of Douaumont. |
which were encircled just as dusk fell,
at 6 o'clock in the evening, and their |
garrisons were taken prisoner.
Nightfau brought only, a slight ces-
sation from the artillery, whose flashes i
lighted UP the now clear sky. Along |
he field tracks. pitted with shell holes. |
grim patches of prisoners were es.
eorted to. the rear. Constant additions
are being made hourly to the total of |
captured. which Comprises a hundred |
ofiicers Many were found covering
in shell holes until .detachments of the /
French cleared up the battlefield
Gen. Joffre witnessed the opening of |
the attack. but as soon al he saw