New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-04
But Germans Still
Hold Village Won
in New Drive.
pREPARE ATTACK
ON VERDUN FLANK
Rr;tish Consolidate Gains
on Yser-Paris Claims
Alsace Advance.
,p, c,,l. % ne Trbu-e !

lnrIe 70 Ire AiANA"t'
Iondon. March 3.-With the re-
,owed assault on Verdun in progress
soorcelv more than twenty-four
bonrs. Paris claims tonight not only
4. repulse. but the prompt initia-
,ion of a counter attack against the
Germans.
Berlin asserts The capture OF the
,alage Of Douaumont and the exten-
SION Of the German lines to the west
and south Of the fort, still held by
the beleaguered Brandenburgers'
@On the heights east Of the
Neuse," says the German official
statement. "after a heavy artillery
bombardment. we cleared the village
~ Douaumont Of the enemy and
pushed out our line to the west and
.outh of the village, as well as O. the
arrored fort. to more favorable posi-
tions. More than 1000 prisoners and
some heavy guns were brought in"
Paris counters this claim, how
ever. with the assertion that the
highest part of the mound on the
northern slope of which Douaumont
~ situated has been retaken, and
also that in the immediate vicinity OF
the village itself ground has been re-
gained.
Bombardment Spreads Along Front.
"In the region to the north OF
verdun," says the French Official
statement, "the fighting is very spir-
tied. Near the village of Douaumont
We have occupied the highest part OF
the mound on the northern slope OF
which that village is situated. A
leayy counter attack has enabled US
to regain ground in the immediate
vicinity Of the village.
The bombardment continues very
violent 10 the west and the east OF
inc Meuse. and also in the Woevre
cur artillery has concentrated Its
FIRE on assembling points of the Ger
mans, notably in the vicinity oil
Beaumont, where a column on the
march was dispersed.
While it appears that Verdun re-
main. the principal objective Of the
Germans, their offensive is full OF
possibir,ies which will be revealed a.
the great battle progresses.
!, becomes evident that the Germans
il the battle lasting from the 2lst 70
the 2sth OF February used only part
Of their forces Although they had put
in line seven army corps, there must
have been an imperative reason for
thus dividing their forces, and 1t Is
attributed % the lack Of space, the
sector which was the scene Of the fur'-
Gus combats being extremely small
rot more than ten kilometres long
Battle May Last Month.
There ls also speculation A. 70 the
duration Of the battle. Comparison o.
the Sighting around Nerdun is beng
made with the fights onthe lsonzo and
a, Czernovi,z, each Of which lasted
about a month. The battle at Czernowit1
is considered ss particularly compar-
able with that a. Verdun, it having
been on a limited front and consisting
- serie OF extremely vigorous
frontal attacks. separated By pauses'
One Of the German general orders OF
tee day found on an officer and signed
By the chief Of the German general
s,tf requests the troops 70 conduct
themselves worthily in the battle
which will decide the f--e Of France.
Paris also bays that the German ar
tlsry bornbardment has again extend
ID - The French positions, west OF the
Neute. between Forges and Malan-
court. While in the Wocvre the concen-
rstion q Ere haa also become more
notably intense. These arc believed 20
b preparatory a. an attack on the
sznss o. the fortress in the hope, y Il
- successful. o. thus rolling up the
centre
IN the Woeyre district yesterday
evening and last night" says the
french statement. "the boInbardmen'
continued with great intensity. Checked
however, by our curtains of fire the
enemy found 10 impossible 20 come out
Little Infantry In Action.
81, To 'ae west ~ the River MeUse, IN
ne regions of MalancDurt and 81 Hau-
etlrt. ne artillery Of The enemy ha'
been active"
With the exception Of violent ns-
,s9lis On Pepper Hill aud Douagmon'
ne German infantry thus far has not
"sfn engaged. The command lad gone
tcntinosd On page !. column