The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-26
One Of the Notifications Of
Verdun is in the Hands Of
the Germans Now.
is ONE OF A CLUSTER
Capture is the Most Important
Achievement Since lnaugu-
ration of German Drive.

BERLIN. Feb. 26.--It is officially
announced that Fort Douaumont, one
of the Notifications of Verdun. was
taken by storm yesterday afternoon
and is now firmly hell 5y TIE Ger
mans.
The official statencrt is aa fellows;
4 1.-The armored fort Of Douaumont,
the northeastern corner pillar OF me
of the permanent main line fortilca-
tons OF the stronghold of Verdun,
was stormed yesterday afternoon BY
the Twenty-fourth regiment of Brad
cnburg infantry and is now hrmly IN
German hands"
Fort Douaumont lies four miles
northeast of Verdun 1t is one OF
nearly score Of forts circltng Ver-
dun and is situated just to the north
of the railroad running east from the
city of Metz.
Douaumont is one of cluster OF
seven forts protecting Verdun from
the east. Forts De Canville. De Tav-
annes and ST. Michael directly be-
tween the position conquered by the
Germans and the city Of Verdun.
The conquest of this fort was made
bv the right wing Of the huge attack
ing army, which had scored the great
es advance in the assault on the
French position. Douaumont is some
what to the east of what has hither-
to been the principle line of progress
being situated four miles east OF tie
Mouse river. Tie main fatce OF the
German attoct as Indicated oy the
,.reyious Official communicates, was
being exertei southwark along TIE
Mcuse.
The capture of Douaumont is the
most important achievement since
the Inauguration Of the German drive
at verdun, an onslaught, which tcf
fury and for weight Of men and guns
has few presidents In the war. the
French war office has expressed con-
tidence that Notwithstanding the az
mitted great strength Of the German
drive. Verdu7 arl Its protecting tort
rosses would be abtc to hold ont.
These positions form what has been
regarded as one OF the g"catest
strongholds OF Europe. 1t is the
strongest fortress of France and IS OF
particular importance from the TACT
that it offers direct communication
with Paris. which is $50 miles to
the west. Verdun marks the north
erly point of the great French de-
lenses against direct attacks from
German territory, the most souther-
lv being Belfort. as between these
two points lies the stretch of frontier
on which Germany touches France
The French forces in the Cham-
nagne have made an attack on me
German positions south of st. Marie
a-Py, The war office statement TO-
dav SAYS the French penetrated the
first German trenches over distance
OF about ESQ yards.
Another official statement says that
considerable advances have been
made east of the Meuse in the region
north of Verdun in the presence OF
Emperor William.
Resistance of the French broke
down on the Woevre plains along lbe
entire front to Marphoville, south OF
the high road from Paris to Metz;
1--WE are pursuing the retreatihg
enemy" the statement says
The war office also announced lne
capture of the hills southwest OF the
village of Louvemont, and the fortl-
fed positions to the east thereon
It was further announced by the
war office that the capture CT The VII
lage Of Champeuville in the Verdun
sector reported yesterday was Daseu
on erroneous information.