Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-08
PARIS REPORT ADMITS
SOME ENEMY GAINS
Success Achieved in Grenade At
tacks on Other Side of Sail
ent, It Says.
TEUToN CASUALTIES HUGE
Two Hundred Thousand Men Have
Been Sacrificed in Verdun
Drive, Allied Capitals
Hear.

LONDON, April 8.-The
salient in the French lines west
of the Meuse, with the village of
Bethincourt at its sharp angle, is
being pounded on both sides by
the crown princes troops, which
in their latest drive succeeded in
making a new dent in the line
southwest of Bethincourt.
The success was achieved near
Haucourt village, the important
position lost by the French on
Wednesday, the Germans gaining
a footing in two small field works
between Haucourt and hill No.
287, which lies two-thirds of
mile to the south of the village.
On the other side of the salient
there also has been sharp fight
ing, but according to Paris today
the advantage here was with the
French, who bested their adver-
saries in grenade combats be-
tween Bethincourt and Chattan-
court.
The German war office an
nounced today the capture OF
French positions more than two
kilometers wide west of the
Meuse.
French Gain in Attack.
The French in a grenade attack yes
terday retook portions of the trenches
captured from them by the Germans
between Bethincourt and Hill 265. and
made progress in communicating
trenches in the same region, accord
ing to the French official communica-
ton issued last night.
There has been little fighting else
where in the Verdun region. Ger
man grenade attack near Fort Vaux
was repulsed by the French, whose po-
sitions east of the Meuse have been
subjected to intermittent lombard
ment
French Statement.
The French official statement of to-
day says:
I'm the Argonne district there has
been fighting at File Morte. where we
exploded two small mines with sue
cess At Hill No. 2S5 we have occupied
the southern side of the mine crater
created by the explosion of German
mine.
Germans last night renewed their at
tacks against our positions south and
east of Haucourt. At this latter point,
in spite of repeated efforts, the enemy
found it impossible to dislodee us from
our lines. We poured out upon him a
murderous fire. which caused him heavy
losses.
south of Haucourt the Germans sue
ceeded in winning footing in two
small works, between Haucourt and
Hill No. 287, which we had occupied.
Some Advantage Claimed.
Southeast of Bethincourt there has
| been continuation Of the fighting with
hand grenades in the communicating
trenches on the road between Bethin-
| court and Chattancourt. which resulted
| in some advantages to ourselves.
East Of the River Meuse there has
been an intermittent bombardment Of
our positions. An attack made by the
enemy with hand grenades against one
of our trenches north of the Vaux fort
| was repulsed by the French fire.
Isrt- Jof fhA trrhA
passed quietly.
I'm the Vosges a reconnaissance on
| the part of the enemy in an endeavor
| to occupy one of our small posts at
| Langenfeldkopf, to the south OF SOM
dernach, was dispersed by our artil-
| lery."
Losses Placed at 100000.
The German losses before verdun up
to the present time have reached the
huge total of 100000 men-one of the
range of warfare. according to esti-
| mates made public in Paris from a
semi Official source-''the result of
| careful inquiry made in the highest
quarters. in which the figures have
been vigorously checked and verified"
documentary and verbal testimony
gathered and authenticated permit the
giving of precise details concerning
| the losses suffered by the Germans and
| by US on the Verdun 'front.'" says the
semi -official communication given to
the Associated Press. During the
period from February 81. when the
, battle began. to April 1 it is known
| that two army corps-namely. the third
| and the eighteenth-have been with
| drawn from the front. having lost in
| the first attacks at least one-third of
| their force. They have reappeared
| since and have again suffered like
| losses.
| Reinforcements Used Up.
The German reinforcements are
| practically used up, as fast as they are
put in line. The total electives Of
J the 18th Corps have in this way lost