The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-24
Pierce French Line Almost 2
Miles, Capturing 5000
Men. Berlin Says.
HEAVY OFFENSIVE GROWS
Seven Army Corps in Attack
Paris Admits Loss. Says
Enemy Paid Dearly.
SDsfig' CobIs D,spo,cL 70 TUE Srv.

Of Verdun, precipi.ated by the offensive
Of the German army under command of
the Crown Prince. which was begun
Monday night. is increasing in Intensity.
The German official statement issued
to-day claims the taking Of the French
positions TO n depth Of three kilomctcrs
Ga nile and seven.eighths) on ten
tori In the region of the villag. of con-
senvoye. More than 5000 French were
taken prisoners. the German statement
says. and the French also lost heavily
in killed and wounded and in material
captured.
The French admi, the loss o, the
village Of Haumont, although they say
that they stll hold the envrons after a
stubborn fght, and they also admit that
the Germans have penetrated into the
Wavrille wood. west OF the village of
Wavrilie. in the same sector.
Troops OF seven German army corps
are being used in the offensive in this
sector. according to the French official
communicate Issued tonight. Seven
corps OF the German army in war time
comprise some 100000 men.
German Attack Persists.
The Crown Princes attack on the Ver-
dun sector resulted on Monday. its first
day. In the Germans gaining a foothold
IN certain advanced French trenches at
Brabant- sur -Meuse. between the forest
OF Hautet and L'Ilerbsbos They were
driven out OF Communicating trenches 20
which they had penetrated at some
points.
These first assaults were preceded by
artillery preparations OF exceptional
thoroughness and this bo;nbardment.
from guns Of large calibrc. has been
continued ever since without cessation.
Yesterday the attacks were resumed
against the Brabant-sur- -Meuse- -Herbe-
bois front. with the result that the
French were forced out OF the Bois Hau-
mont and the Germans were lsf; IN
possession of the French salient north
OF Beaumont. At the same time attacks
against Brabant and L'Herbebos were
repulsed.
Haunont was evacuated Tuesday
night. but the French made a stand in
the outskirts OF the village. and the
Germans were unable to dislodge them.
French counter attacks recovered the
greater part Of the sector north OF
Beaumont and the Germans were pre-
vented by the French Are curtain from
carrying out an attack on LHerbe bois.
These positions north OF Beaumont.
which are within the forest OF Caures
were again the scene of terrific aght-
ing to-day. the Germans trying In vain
to maintain the advantage which their
offensive had gained at this point. only
20 lose II again. In the Wavrllle wood.
which is to the northwest OF the Caures
wood they were more successful after
attacking repeatedly, and IL was her"
80 si>atr
gains.
Claim Gain In Upper Alsacr.
A second important gain is claimed
by the German official s,a,emen, issued
to-day IN upper Asare An assault
made cast OF Heidweilcr. northeast ~
Al,kirch. thu statement says, gave the
Germans French positions on front
OF 700 meters ,73s yards) and TO
depth Of 400 meters t37 ynrds.
The present German offensive, W
which the assault on the French lines
defending Verdun is the latest develop
men' was begun on January 20.
Dispatches received from Paris dwell
on the importance OF the German at
tempt on Verdun and the severe losses
o. the attackers. II Is admitted that
the local attacks have had certain al.
vantage. owing to the wooded hills and
ravines. which create difficulties for the
defending artillery. especially when con-
centrat!ng for curtain fire,
There Is marked tendency on both
sides TO hold the front trenches very
lightly. since the first trench line dis
appears under a fierce homha rdment.
while large forces are held further back
ready for counter attacks when the
enemy guns are inactive. Consequently
tho loss Of Hrst lin. trenches On either
side no longer possesses It's former Sig
nhcancA
For this reason the loss NJ the French
advanced trenches II regarded calmly.
willie great confidence is expressed in
the ability of the French to hold their
own,
The Paris correspondent ~ tho Times
SAYS that hitherto neither side can claim
any definite advantage. and adds;
"The general commanding the Ger
man held army in this region is unlikely
to encourage the Crown Prince 10 push
much further"
German OmciHI Report.
Following is the German oricia, re-
port
In the neighborhood OF the trenches
cantured by our troops February II
IN IN. east OF Souche1 the positions
Of the enemy were considerably dam
AGED by mining operations. The num-
her Of prisoners taken here was In
creased to eleven officers and 34s men.
The booty consisted OF three machine
guns.
ON the heights Of the Meuse artil-
iery duels continued with undlminished
violence.
T,ast Of the Meuse River we at
tackled Z position which the enemy
has been fortifying for one and a half
wears with all means OF fortress con-
struction In the neiEhbOrhood OF the
village Of Consenvoye in order to
maintain an embarrassing effect on
our defence In the northern sector OF
tho Woevre.
The attack WAS delivered on a
front extending well over ten kilo-
meters (six miles) and We penetrated
as far as three kilometers into the
enemy's lines.
Apart from considerable sangui-
nary losses the enemy lost more than
5000 men In prisoners and great
quantities Of material. the extent of
which cannot yet be estimated.
In upper Alsace our attack to the
east of HeIdweiler resulted In captur-
ing an enemy position extending over
y width Of 100 meters and for q depth