The Washington herald., 1916-03-10
BOTH REPORT VICTORIES
Berlin Statement Says Fort Of
Vaux Has Fallen Before
Drive of Teutons.
ALL AGREE CRISIS is NEAR
Eastern Bank of the Meuse Declared
Veritable Retort of Death-Bayo-
nets Used in Charges.
Special Cable to The Washington Herald.

SpcC2AL Caoac 70 The washington Herald.
London, March 9.-The tide of bat
tie before Verdun has swept back to
the eastern bank of the Meuse,. where
French and Germans are at grips in
the greatest slaughter of the war.
From this retort Of death tonight
rival claims OF victory are received.
Both French and Germans report
fresh glories for their arms.
The Berlin official statement says
that in a furious night assault over
the shell-swept terrain. two Posen re-
serve regiments under Gen. VnIet
Guertsky Cornitz carried the armored
fort OF Vaux. the village of the same
name and numerous adjoining posi-
tions, all of which were strongly fort
iied
Two French communicates, reporting
the same fighting. fatty contradict
this German claim.
Germans Declared Driven Ont.
The afternoon statement, which
makes no mention OF the battle for
Fort Vsux, asserts that German
troops who penetrated the village
were driven out Immediately at the
point Of the bayonet.
The midnight statement, issued
hours later than the German report
says:
East Of the Mouse the Germans
made numerous attacks on our front
from Dousumont to Yaux. At the
exit from the village of Douaumont
their attack was broken by our infan-
try and artillery fire. Furious as
saults against the village Of vaux
were likewise repulsed with heavy
losses to the enemy.
Finally. the Germans launched
against our trenches along the foot of
the ridge. which is surmounted by
Fort Yaux, violent attacks in solid
formation which were repuIsed with
enormous losses to the enemy, in
flicted by our barrier fire"
Agree Crisis Is at Hand
1t IS pointed out that the French state
ments have been twelve hours behind the
Berlin reports in following the develop-
ments Of the Verdun fighting. Both
French and Germans agree that the crisis
is at hand in the great battle OF Yerdun.
the most tremendous Of the world war.
The struggle, which is entering Its
nineteenth day, is steadily increasing in
fury until. within the next forty-eigbt
hours. it is expected to reach a climax
on which the fate of nations hangs.
More than 100000 men have been
shattered in the eighteen days of battle
The German losses are estimated at 125 900
Mai. Moraht. the German critic. places
the French casualties at 5000 to $1,000
The battle is being waged back and
forth on front OF about ten miles,
lntersected by the River Mouse. While
the eyes OF the world for the moment
are turned on the struggle east Of the
stream, fighting of tremendous violence
Is progressing on the other side.
The French midnight statement says:
West Of the Mouse. our troops con-
tinued, to progress during the day in the
Corbeaux Woods, nearly the whole of
which We now hold
Aio DeFun war once reports:
West of~the Meuse we were occupi.d
in clearing out the rest Of the French
troops in the woods of Corbeaux."
Statements Conflict.
The French statement is surprising in
view Of the previous nights comrnuniaue
which said at that time the Germans
occupied only the eastern extremity otl
the forest. No fresh German attacks
had been reported.
On this bank of the river the German
shell fire has literally swept the country
clear OF forests.
The German advance to Fort Vaux and
beyond would be gain or more than two
miles into the French lines and would
put the Kaiser's soldiers within four miles
OF VerdUn itself.