New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17
CauriereS Wood and
BeZOn-VauX Taken
by Nivelle
5000 TEUTONS
MADE PRISONER
Original Battle Lines Re
stored by Success of
Surprise Attack
By FRED B. PIINE1
nv c.L-. 10 rna rr-bune.L

Paris, Dec l6.-Every lOot OF Ine
twelve square miles of territory
rorth Of Verdun won by the French
ia their stroke of yesterday has been
maintained. In addition, the victory
which signalIized the taking over Of
the high command by Nivelle has
been extended.
On the right bank Of the Meuse
the French obtained two more sue
cesses to-day. The village Of Bezon-
Vaux suffered the fate Of its forti-
fications, which were seized yester-
day. And IN the Caurieres Wood, to
the west of Bezon-NauX, the French
lines were advanced substantially
The Germans made no effort to re-
take the positions lost during the
night. They we're 50 dcmoralized that
IL was not until tonight that the
Grown Prince was able to rally his
men for a counter attack.
Machine Guns Halt Rally
This assault was directed against
tie French positions on Cote du
Toivre Pepper HID, between Nach-
erauviIe and Louyemont. The
French I'm momentary expectation of
the German counter blow, ever since
the new front had been taken over
by the troops, stopped the advanc-
ing columns with machine gun fire.
The number of prisoners and the
amount of booty captured by the
French troops in their big movement
is steadily mounting. Already more
than 5000 German soldiers and 25O
officers have been passed back from
the battle-ground, while eighty-one
GUNS have been captured or destroyed.
That the element OF surprise played
= big part in the French victory IS in
dicated bv the fact that the great
majority Of the prisoners are un-
wounded. The loss of so many guns
will cripple the German artillery
severely in their defence of the posi-
tions now under fire.
Nivelle's Men Outnumbered
One other feature of the battle is
worthy Of mention. The four divisions
of Nivelle's troops that carried out the
attack we're opposed By at least five
German divisions, and possibly more.
This is proved by the capture Of
prisoners from every regiment OF each
of the five divisions. The superiority
which the French demonstrated over
the Germans was due in a measure
,o the surprise nature of the attack,
and also to the splendid morale Of the
troons and the perfect coordination Of
artillery. infantry and aerial units.
The Germans are now back very close
70 the line from which they started
,boir great offensive in February Of
this wear. The territory which it took
the Crown Prince eight months to con-
.ouer has been recovered by Niyelle IN
two short. sharp thrusts one last sum
mer extending over three days, and
the second yesterday, Of less than
twenty-four hours duration.
The Verdun front to-day Is virtually
what it was on February 25. The bat
tie ground that was to have witnessed
the death stroke OF France has seen
instead the crushing of German hopes.
Bezon-Vaux lies IN the plain of the
Woevre. only a mile and a quarter
from Ornes, which was one OF the hrst
nlaces entered by the Germans at the
beginning of their offensive in Feoru-
ary. Further west is Louyemont, less
tban three miles from Caureres Wood,
which marked the French front in early
Continued on page 2. column