The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-21
WORKED TO FABRICATION

WORKED TO PERFECTION
 The reinforcing of the troops on the right bank of the Mouse before Verdun with new contingents numbering 25O, 900 and the bringing up of all needed supplies and ammunition had been provided for in every detail early in February, and it worked out to perfection as the battle developed; but at the moment the Ger man guns, massed in unprecedented num- bers. opened fire on the morning of Feb ruary 21 the French lines there were held only by the covering troops stationed there for months. It was the same di- visions that stood the first shock that de- tended the ground foot by foot, retarding the advance of the Germans and plough ing wide furrows in their ranks before each position, and finally by order, hold ing the line of Douamont-Bras until re- Inducements came up.
 "The issue of the battle was then cer- tain to the defenders The russh for Yer dun was not only anticipated by the gen. eral staff. but on analysis appears clearly logical in spite of critics who character ize 1t as paradoxical. The opportunity to impose battle upon an adversary, with a river at his back and. with a single line of railway communications exposed to ar- tilery fire was sufficient to tempt the Germans, whose preparations were long
 
 ried out.
 At the beginning of the action the French left rested on Brabant, Consen- voye, Haumont and the Gaures, forming
 first position, with Samogeneux and Hill 393 the second line. In the center the French held the Vile woods, Herebebois and Ornes on the first line, with Beau mont, Wavrille, the Posses, the Chaume and the Caureieres. The right comprised Ma1InnIrf la fL4 D,o woods of Hautes Charrieres and Prome- zey with the second position on Bezon- veaux, Grand Cinema and Dieppe Be- hind these positions was the line of forts marked by the villages of Bras, Douau- mont, Hardaumont. Vaux, Laufee and Fix.
 FIRST LINE CUT OFF
 After one hour of smelling by projec- tiles Of all calibres, including tear-pro- ducing and suffocating gas shells all tele- phonic communication with our first lines was cut and our forces began to suc- cumb. Reports by dispatch bearers told of groups of our men crushed or buried under the debris of our defense works.
 Our air scouts flying over the enemy positions reported formidable number of pieces in action. Aviators returning from the forest at Spincourt reported six captive balloons above the German po- sitions.
 From o'clock in the morning until In the afternoon the German shelling increased in intensity. Menwhile our artillery had opened fire upon adversary batteries which had been located by our airmen. Our first line trenches were lev elled, but the occupying troops clung to | them wherever they could, and, in spite of an avalanche of projectiles, kept the Germans in check. The Caures wood was lost. bIlf hxy seurs of Colonel Driant
 At the end of the first day the Ger mans had gained a footing only in our first line trenches at heavy cost But , the artillery preparations continued and 1t became evident that the German tao tics were to crush the defensive lines be- fore launching an infantry attack Once the desired destruction seemed to them as having been effected, reconnoitering parties advancing to observe the effect of | the fire Behind them came grenadiersl and sappers and then the first wave of ! 
 "On our side the artillery aimed to iso- late those troops of the enemy that in- everywhere. while our covering troops fought to the death and by coun- ter attacks stopped the onward march of the troops of our adversaries. The struggle for the. Caures wood was re- stunned on the 22d and our counter attack on the Haumont wood failed. while the Germans with liquid fire penetrated the wood.
 FIGHTING IN OPEN
 At Herbiboes our men held good and at Haumont they grouped around their colonel and struggled until o'clock in the afternoon when the Germans pene- trated among the ruins At the end of the second day the French troops were fighting almost entirely in the open. All E their shelters had been crushed. the trenches destroyed and the supporting works torn up. Our ar- tillery firing at maximum distance of 700 yards into compact masses of the enemy. spread death through the ranks and broke the impetus of the attack