The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05
Terrific BOmbarGment by
Both Sides Kept Up
Increasingly.
PARIS CONFIDENT
VICTORY Is CERTAIN
Gen. Pctain Following Tao
ties of De Castelnau. the
"Sayior Of Nancy"

sp,ciai cable Despatch to TIE SUI.
r,>,nS. March 4.--The French have
n,,k,n part Of the village of Douau-
,,nn,. north Of Verduu. after heavy
and prolonged artillery fire. according
10 the German official statement issued
to-day. The German version OF the en-
fou,t.r SAWS that the French were re
missed partly in hand to hand fighting
And tha, they lost 1000 prisoners.
The cuntes, for the village continues
ser,cly. both sides swaying back and
forth in the struggle. according TO the
French official communiQue issued to-
night. which says that the Germans
we're driven from the village oy
French counter attack last evening. but
succeeded this morning in regaining
footho!d. The French command the VII
!age from the heights to the south. In
the view Of the Paris military experts.
,he French retain the technical advan-
tage and the German occupation OF part
q the village can be only temporary.
Germans Checked In West.
The Germans launched an attack this
morning against the French POSITIONS III
the Bois Haudraumont east OF the Cote
du poivre. on the west bank OF the
Meuse The attack was checked By the
French mitrailleuse and rifle hre.
The only activity reported from the
Wo.yre. wher. the Germans had under
taken a drive against Eerdun from the
east. was moderate artillery fire on both
eides,
40 infantry activity on the Nerdun
Gvnt was reported last night.
The Night Comm niQWe.
Tho official communicate issued by the
French War Office tonight follows:
u Artois an enemy attack for the
rpuse Of driving us from mine
eater wnch We occupied near the
E'uNillc-La Folie road was repuiseu.
IN the Argonnc We cannonaded IN
a. region southeast OF Nauquois
tnomy organizations and demolished
several shelters.
~ the region of Nerdun the can
Inrado was very violent throughout
&, day on the left bank Of the Meuse.
o. cote 30i and ut the Cote de TOie.
pu the right bank tof the Meuse)
=" enemy after an intense bonioard-
mont directed against the Bois ftau-
ul1umunt, east of the Cote du PoiNre,
l'1nChcd an attack against our POSI-
tons. which was stopped by our mi
Gdilleuse and infantry fire.
Fighting In Village.
w the morning the Germans sue
coded IN regainlng foothoid IN the
village of bauaumont, from which we
I'D driven them last evening by a
counter attack. The fighting continues
f"'Crly with alternating advances and
'"',r.ments for the possession OF the
village
In the WoeVr. there was moderate
s'ivity on the part Of the artillery
o both sides.
IN Lorraine. in the region OF the
pnd- Of Thlavall", after artillery
Preparation. We took several elements
u enemy trenches and about sixty
I.ourrs. of whom on. was an of1cer.
IL" miiraillsuscs and bomb throwers
r.nliuod IN our hands.
The German Report.
71e ,icrman statement issued in Bel
III tp-dIy Was as follows
The lighting 10 the southeast OF
lpr,s has for the time being come
L. a staudstll. The position held by
u PRIOR to February ~ is firmly IN
clr hands and the baston II In the
fauds If the enemy
Lively artillery engagements in the
Champagne continued Throughout
!et.rda!. In the Argonne an enemy
t'trk failed.
ON both sides Of the Meusc tht
fr'n'h Increased the activity OF theil
H''iIl.ty and after a great increas'
49, ~" volume Of their fire they al
i'hrd the village of Douaumont an'
oar lines adjoining it. They wer'
pulsed partially in close range night
and suffered heavy loss. We tool
Iu"r" tnau 1000 unwUunded prisoners
>''rr the work Of clearing ,h
h'llctcld it has been ascer,aine'
iau tu" booty taken since Februar
g. ds been Increased from 81 gun
''l - machine guns to ll5 guns am
'r, machine guns.
.'"ir bhcrs"pt, northwest OF Phr
to- 'u'wy attempted In vain to re-
'aFivrc the position taken by us o
February l3. His first attack sue
'..0.'d partly in reaching our trenches
.,u which. however. he was ejecte
!"u"dlatrly by IA counter attack.
''ur curtain Of fire prevented
''rD'ltion of the attack from develop
.= except ~ some places.
The enemy, after suffering lOsse
c"n.i-llng of a great number of kille
g v"uuded aud eighty prisoners wa
'"'pell'd to retreat to his formt
,tion.
,l" French afternoon communiQ
a4 follows:
iso bornbardment which was mali
tD'.d with considerable activity lai
Fut ON the different sectors In Il
Iee IN of Verdun has not been TO