Arizona republican., 1916-12-17
Thiyd Smashing
 Victory F0rFrench
 Within 2 Months
[RepubI.ean A. ?. Leased wIrel

PEPPER HILL, Verdun Front, Fri day. Dec. l5 (Nia Chentilly. Dec. l6) CFrom a staff correspondent of The Associated press)-A short. sharp battle brought to the French today their third smashing victory within two months in the vicinity Of Verdun. Every objective of the French com manders was obtained.
 Alth6u sh the Germans offered a desperate defense the attack was so powerful there was no withstandinb IL, with the result that the Germans were pushed back along the line by the French. who only ceased on or ders when the objectiNes had beer gained.
 Thousands of German prisoners poured into the French lines during the day including 200 officers and are still arriving. The total count already is s,500 one division alone captured more than l.Z00 Germans within an hour More than eighty cannon were captured or destroyed.
 The villages Of Nacherauville, Lou vermont and BesonvauX and Hardau- mont wood now are in French hands
 The front was ten kilometers long When 'he fighting ceased. owing Co tEe darkness. the French advance had exceeded an average of three kilo- meters alcng ,he whole front, al various points rUshing further out.
 The hattie began at 10 o'clock in the morning with the left flank of tho French opposite Nacherauville and the right flank on Fort NauX.
 As the church clock struck the hour. every French gun opened a storm of s.eel. placing every shot im- mediately behind .he German front Rf stat tt. Fls tfrtY made one of it's characteristic flashes and reached Vauchorauville. wherr they drove the Germans from house to house until the village was en- tireiy in their hands.
 Advancing beyond the village tho French attacked German trench known as -Bethmanns Bowl which was pierced after q hard fight and it's occupants made prisoners. Then up the slopes of Pepper Hill the in. fantry men could Oe seen making methodical progress until at exactly an hour from the start the twin crests of this height had been swept clear of Germans and the rockets an nounced the French were established there. Tn the meantime the Germans on the opposing slopes had been taken in the rear by an eXtemporized French flank movement. The surprise waf SO great that both the infantry men and the gunners attempted to flee. and French aviators turned the flight into a rout by descending to within q hundred yards of the earth and emp tying b1nc after band of machine gun cartridges into the disorderly crowd. of which those remaining alive syrrendered.
 Making their way along the valley behind Pepper Hill, the French ap- Dcared and took Louvemont with siu- liar and u1tiring brilliance. in which they were supported by another French wave that had fought it's way through the entanglements of strong ly fortifier Neid works in Caurieres wood. just abort the center of the line.
 In front of the Douamornt the ad- vance was equally rapid. but on the right flank the forward movement en- countered strong opposition in Har- daimont wood. which was no. over, come until fate in the afternoon when Besonvaux reioubt aOout five kilo- meters in advance of the original French front line, was taken from the German garrison.
 General Margin was again tho prin- cipal organizer of the victory ir which he followed his own example at Douamcunt and Fort Vaux by delivering irresistible blows at ths chief point in the German lines and hammering until his opponents were forced to give ground. -'ienerals Nj velle and Petair watched the en- gagement, n which orly four French divisions participated, although 1t Is known the Germans had five divisions engaged from every regment of which prisoners wer taken. It is reported without confirmation that several divisions which took par m the fightlne were hurried from Ru. ! mana to rejoin the crown princes army and that they were among those suffering defeat.
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