The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-04-21
verdun Still Holds Off Teuton-
ic H0rdes
"WAR MUST END AT VERDUN'
"Hsve Courage. We Will Get Theml"
Are Words Of Commander Pc
tain Addressed to Soldiers
4; of Republic.

without precedent. The enormous
scale of the German preparations and
execution OF the attack. the unparal-
leled concentration of artillery ana
the sustained ferocity OF the fighting
mark the battle as one OF the great
efforts of the war.
Verdun has been rated as one OF the
strongest fortresses OF Europe, a cor
nerstone of the French defences
against Germany The evolution OF
military tactics during the war, how
ever, the violation OF Luxemburgs
neutrality by the Germans and the
employment by the Germans Of long
range howitzers capable of reducing
the greatest forts, have done much
TO change the character OF the Verdun
campaign, as compared with the ear
lier conceptions Of what such strug-
gle might be- Before the battle open
ed the French partly dismantled their
forts around Verdun, and here, as
elsewhere on the various fronts, chief
reliance was placed on an elaborate
system of trenches.
In no previous battle were the loss
es so high as those which have been
estimated In the fighting around Yer
dun. These estimates, however, can
not be regarded as conclusive evil
dence, for neither Germany nor
France has announced its own casu
alities. The French war office has de-
clared the Germans have lost 100000
in killed, wounded and captured. The
Germans state semi officially that the
French casualties number 10000
killed and wounded and that $4,000
unwounded French prisoners have
been taken. II these estimates are
approximately correct, nearly 100000
men have been eliminated as fighting
units.
The ground occupied by the Ger
mans after Sc days OF offensive oper-
ations may be roughly calculated as
100 square miles They have forced
back the French from their outlying
positions to their definite line OF re-
sistance along the semi-circular front
from the edge of the Argonne east
ward across the Meuse and southwark
to the Woevre. For the most part.
this line has withstood the shock OF
successive attacks. The Germans
captured Fort Douaumont early In the
campaign and have bitten into French
defences-tit Dead Mans Hill and else
where, but at no point have they sue
ceeded in breaking through.
The Verdun drive was begun on
Feb. q by the German army under
Crown Prince Frederick William. The
Germans are reported to have brought
up seven army corps, or about 100000
men, to re-enforce the troops which
had been In service there, and subse-
quently. according to French accounts.
other large bodies OF reserves were
called In. After an unparalleled artil-
lery bombardment by way of prepara-
ton the infantry attack was launched.
An unofficial French estimate placed
the number OF attacking Germans in
some sectors at 1900 men to the lin
ear mile.
Fighting continued Internationally
northeast of Verdun during the third
week. centreing in the struggle for
the possession of Fort Vaux. In this
week the Germans captured Fresnes,
IL miles southeast OF Verdun making
three mile advance in this section.
Meanwhile q new phase OF the bat
tie had developed west OF the Meus
With batteries spaced, according TO
German correspondents. scarcely 100
yards apart, violent artillery attacks
were made against Dead Mans Hill,
preceding the long expected offensive
from the northwest Forges, near Dead
Mans Hill, was captured early in the
third week. after an infantry assault
along q front less than three miles
long. Positions south OF FORCES
changed hands frequently during the
following days.
On March 81, the capture Of Malan-
court was accomplished after fierce
night attacks. The Germans now had
occupied all the French positions north
OF Forges Brook, between Harcourt
and Bethincourt, and had materially
advanced and strengthened their bat
tie line in the northwest. New bat
teries were moved up and the in
fantry was rested and reorganized
for the next attack.
On the 46th day OF the battle the
Germans announced the capture OF
Haucourt. about three miles north
west Of Dead Mans hill. which form
ed a supporting point OF the French
left wing From Il large section Cf
the French line and Notifications could
be taken under German fire, including
Bethincourt. This village then be-
came the objective point. The French
admitted the evacuation of the Beth
incourt salient two days later, stat
ing II was premeditated move. de-
signed TO straighten out the battle
line.
On Sunday OF last week, the Ger
mans undertook a general onslaught
along a 13-mile front. from both west
and east OF the Meuse, from the Hau
court -Bethincourt sector to Douau-
mont