New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-29
FRENCH REPULSE
HAUCOURT DRIVE
Assaults on Heights West
of Meuse Repulsed with
Heavy Losses.
r. C,hls I, IN, rrlhun. J


London, March 28.-After nearly a
weeks quiet, broken only by the con-
slant pounding Of artillery, the Ger
mans launched another heavy attack
west Of the Meuse to-day. But instead
Of seeking 10 push their fanking move
closer to Esnes, thus cutting on the
French positions at lie Mort Homme
and Hill 304. the Germans attacked
about Haucourt, where the last gain
was made week ago.
But this time the French were pre-
pared. Although wave after wave OF
German infantry was launched at the
position, Paris declares that each vas
shattered by artillery fre. As in the
attempts to leave the shelter OF the
Avocourt wood. the German losses
we're terrific, great heaps OF dead being
left on the open ground. Tho Pans
statement says tonight:
"West OF the Meuse the lombard
rnent was resumed with violence IN the
course Of the day against our positions
extending from Ayocourt 10 bethin-
court. About o'clock the Germsns
launched a powerful attack against our
Uaucourt- -Malancourt front. The sue
cessive waves Of the assault were all
repulsed. with heavy losses, by our
curtain Of fire and the fire OF the IN
fsntry.
"Our second lines east of the Meuse
have been bombarded."
Paris Watches Russian Drive.
German assaults about Verdun have
almost ceased 10 interest the French.
The fate of the battle is already de-
clared 10 have been decided, and no
amount Of German activity will avail
10 obscure that fact. The f'anklng at
tack west of the Meuse, which, like the
initial drive AZ Douaumont, won some
success at its outset. is now set down
as a failure. The new attack at Hsu-
court is held TO be confirmation OF
that fact.
Instead Of verdun, II is she rapidly
developing Russian offensive about
Uvinsk and the Allied conference.
which began yesterday in Paris, tnat
hold French attention. Paris observers
are watching closely for the first sign
az tho transfer Of German troops from
Verdun 10 the east front.
When that takes place IL Will be
confession by the German Genetai
STAFF. il is pointed out, that Ieuton
numbers in the East are insufficient 70
cone with the Russians. The Nerdun
attack. with its unprecedented massing
OF men and guns, has shown the Ger
ran weakness in the west. with us
failure passes the last Ieuton chance
of enforcing a decision there.
Thus. with the Germans no longer
eoual in the west or the east. observ-
ers say that the hour for the grand
Allied offensive will have struck. The
Kaiser's most effective weapon-the
ability always 20 concentrate man and
gun superiority at a given polnt-wi III
have been taken from him, and the
issue will be completely with the Allies.
II their offensive is 10 begin in May,
a has been predicted. II is pointed out
that il is the Germans themselves who
have elected the time.
Fighting Continues Near ipres.
A continuation Of the fighting at 81.
Eloi. south OF Ypres, is recorded in
to-day's statemen. from Berlin. Strug-
giles for the possession OF mine crater
are going on at close range, but Berlin
gives no intimation OF their results
The statement says:
South Of 81. Eloi there were liyely
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