The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-24
Vivid Account Of Wonderful
Attack Which Swept Ger
mans Out of Fortress
NIVELLE'S VICTORY
GLORY OF FRANCE
Germans Furious At Loss Re-
double Efforts Against Yer
dun - Austrians Capture
Italian Border City
BY c. r. BETRE.IdI.

"murderous struggle" the French at
Ferdun still hold fort Douaumont.
which they so spectacularly recaptur-
ed yesterday.
They not only hold the ruined for
treas, but the war ONCE today states
that in hand-to- hand engagements the
French have driven back the Germans
until they--the Germans-tonigh only
hold the. northeast corner of the
fort"
Fort Douaumont was among the
first of the Germans spells when they
began their verdun drive more than
three months ago and its loss-~rar-
TALLY admitted by Berlin--has made
= national hero OF General Niveile
The German attempts to regain II
today were of the most desperate and
persistent character. Artillery bonn
hardments and infantry assaults al
ternated without cessation all dty
long but tonights reports from the
front assert that the French are 's'ili
there" Moreover they claim $40
prisoners.
Fight Severe West of Mcnse.
The fighting on the western side pf
the Mouse has been almost euuan%
severe. There the French by their
offensive. which began on MONDAY
rscrring had esta hiished their posi-
lions ON mn ava hitj Aft'A '''fff' 1880
Gay t~o German COUNT -
a,tacks we're made on the former. but
both failed
q assaults were made to-
-. in great force on Dead Man Hih.
The first failed al its outset: the sec
ond. the Germans burst into The ti'st
line trenches. but were driven out
Iron troops were piited against the
katser's cherished Brandennnracrs al
IL. f<x.s Inn a L.
which will live in the annals ~ rance
a. one OF her most gfoTfuTTs military
achievements.
Loses His Keystone.
The ffrst ye~witness accounts OF
tn,s battle, reaching Paris this even
i1-as-n unsurpassed Tor
the savagery with which the finest
evh,ers az both countries disputed
( nna wards of the height. vince 7tanaS
the fort wht~t' -" 'r@
ssscrihed as the keystone OF verdun"
session OF 1, on February "a
was able today TO obtain first
hand description OF the gigantic strug-
tie from an officer who witnessed It,
The battle began in the morning.
mi. ofscer told me, when the French
opened a murderous fire in the whole
fort zone. They had the most accu-
rete dirtance sighted out on every
xnot the Germans occupied and so
niouRhed up with exploding shells was
the sunbaked soil that huge dust
cloud soon enveloped the whole scene.
Al hrs. the Germans replied shot
for shot. the yellowish green pun OF
the 1855. the coal-hiack explosion or
the 1908 and the volcanic crash OF
tns 31o runs and 3os fortress smash
Ars. bearing terrible evidence of how
.he German gunners were searching in
vain for the .killfully concealed French
batteries.
A whitening Surprise.
Suddenly General Nivelle doubled
his batteries till the din OF the battle
crescendoed to the greatest limit yet
reached With complete secrecy en-
su-ed by French supremacy in the air.
General Nivelle had massed sun upon
gun for whitening surprise attack
on the biggest prize the Germans had
gained At the verdun battle.
When later prisoners began to
stream to the French rear crazed, un-
nerved and trembling with terror, II
was learned that the gunfire was so
terrific that no troops would he ex-
pected to stand against it.
Regarding this aspect of the battle,
the wise foresight of the French high
command was fully rewarded. The
.tsfantry's orders we're TO throw the
Germans back, recapture Dauauuont
and hold II at all costs. The regi-
Aients dashed over the fre-swept
ground surrounding the defense works,
avoiding heavy loss from the German
screen OF fire by dashing forward at
great speed and in extended forma-
ton until. approaching the trench
ramparts they grew shoulder to
shoulder and, shrieking rather than
singing the Marseillaise. they leaped