New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-16
Wrest Back Trenches
Near BethinCOurt and
Check Foes Drive.
GERMANS LOSE
IN CHAMPAGNE
Abandon SOuplet Position
Three Allied Planes
Brought Down.

London. March 15.-The French
have turned TO the aggressive in the
desperate struggle west of the
Meuse. In fierce assaults last night
and to-day the French recaptured
part Of the ground gained by the
Germans yesterday between Bethin-
court and lie Mort Homme. the dom
mating height which is the imme-
date object Of the Teuton drive.
The last counter-attacks apparently
halted the forward movement of the
Germans.
West Of the Meuse," says to-
dghts French official statement,
the bombardment perceptibly slack
tned during the course of the day on
the Bethincourt -Cumieres front,
shere NJ infantry action was re-
0orted"
in last nights counter-attack the
french recaptured portions of the
trenches held by the Germans by
ansparing use Of bayonets and hand
grenades.
Free Use Of Bayonets.
The enemy made no further en-
deayor 10 advance last night" " says
the French account of these opera
tions Along our front between
Bethincourt and Cumieres counter
attacks with the bayonet and with
hand grenades made it possible for
Us to reoccupy d portion Of the
trenches captured yesterday by the
enemy in the direction Of Hill No.
265.
We now hold Bethincourt, the
height of Le Mort Homme. the
southern boundary Of the wood of
Cumieres and the village Of Gu
niereg.
The bombardment has continued
with intensity I'm all this sector, and
The fire of the enemy has been an
swered with energy by our artillery"
Berlin denies the success or tho
French coun,er-attacks last night, re
porting their repulse with heavy losses.
"On the left bank Of the Meusc,
says this German statement, "Silesian
troops. with swinging onslaught
pushed forward their lines in the rc-
g.on wes, Of Gorbereaux Wood. on the
he'gh,s Of Lc Mort Iommc. Twenty
I've officers and more than 1000 un-
wounded men were captured. A coun-
'er attack. four times repeated, gave the
French no success whatsoever. They
suffered very considerable losses"
German Losses Severe.
The Germans made heavy sacrihces
ye',erlay .a attempting 20 cut the
French Inc. and obtain possession OF
II Mort Hommc. Paris adsices declare.
Possession of thls height has enabled
ne French 90 sweep with their artillery
ne territory over which the Germans
we're erdeayor.nr 20 advance against
ne fortress J. BE- still in French
hands although the German line haa
advanced southward until 10 now takes
10 nearly tte whole o. Cumieres wood
20 'as ess, o. TIE height.
Ise frst attack by the German inian-
J yesterday last $40 and one-hah
'osr. eatead.ny along the whole four
nile I've from Bethincourt 70 The crest
% C.m.cres. but centring around lie
Nor, Homme. ne Germans deboucning
n mssses from Corbeaux and other
tmslisr woods ~ the west. They were
'D.issl 70 eros open ground, and
sl difected ere from the French did
.farfgi execution among them. Their
fanss quickly filed up. however. and
'.'toagh they we're stopped again. they
.'1ed b. getting footing .n advanced
'feneh trenches 81 tWo points.
Hill Valuable for Artillery.
Ls Nort Nomme Dead Nau HID,
inch 10 n0w being struggled for. ~
me artillery position and uothng
more. military critics ssy. for % ~ no'
!>ined ~ anything. H. Is plateau
fh>ts base is limited On ~ four faces
~ four faVines. and - rises only o.
~ east. dominating there Che prctent
b'rnsn pos.t.ons. The crown Princes
psn j. evidently 20 make breach in
ne French line between BethincOuft
~ lie Mort Bomme 10 enable hih
ssops " advance IN sOgthessterly
E&Gkl1u<A aa maze 4 S<sl1mn