Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-10

moments lull in the fierce fighting
northwest of Verdun, the crown prince
has followed up his success at Bethin-
court with heavy drives against the
French wings, five miles apart.
The struggle is now becoming more
furious than any waged on the banks
of the Meuse since the German offen-
| sive against Verdun began. The loss
es on both sides in the past &c hours
have been appalling.
The Germans are attempting to du-
plicate their victory at 3ethincourt on
a larger scale.
Using the famous "nut cracker" tao
ties that squeezed the French out Of
Bethincourt, the crown prince plans
to crush the five mile French front
and force the evacuation of all the
strong outer field Notifications Of the
Verdun on the northwest.
The right jaw of the German nut
cracker burst in upon the French
line northeast of Avocourt wood with
powerful assault that carried the
Germans into advanced French posi-
tions. The French rallied and drove
the enemy out in a dashing counter
charge.
The left jaw thrust against the
French line between Dead Mans Hill
and Cunieres village with tie. grcut-
est violence, but was driven back with
heavy losses.
Emerging from the protection of
Cumieres wood, the Germans were
caught under withing fire and halt
ed before they reached the French
trenches.
The Bethincourt salient, which for
weeks had projected into the lines
west of Verdun, has been evacuated
by the French.
The evacuation was carried out un-
der cover of darkness and without in
reference. The French through the
hove, have been enabled to straight.
en- out their lines, which now runs
from the corner of the .Avocourt wood
to the south of the crossing of the
Bcthincourt-Esnes and Bethfncourt-
Chattancourt roads.
Violent attacks by the Germans
against the new positions found the
French line unwavLfng, and all OF
them replied, except between the Avo-
court swood and the Foarges brook,
where the Germans succeeded in en-
tering the French trenches, but also
Immediately were driven out.
Northwest of Verdun around Pep
per hill, and in the Douaumont sector
the Germans heavily bombarded
French positions, but were unable to
launch an infantry attack in the face
of the fire of the French guns. Cap
ture of $50 meters OF German trench
es southwest of Douaumont is re-
ported by Paris.
On the rest of the lines in France
and Belgium artillery duels have been
in progress.
The offensive OF, the Russians
against the Germans in Northwest
Russia has simmeret down to mutual
Commandments and bombarding at
tacks by the Russian and German
aviators. Artillery actions in the Lake
Narocz region continue and an in
fantry attack by the Germans here
was repulsed by the Russian fire.
| Considerable fighting between the
Turks and Russians has taken III the
Black Sea littoral, with the Turks the
aggressors. Three attacks against
The Russian intrenchments on the
right bank of the Karaders were with
out result. The Russians are pushing
their advance again~. the Ottomans
in the upper Tchoruk River region.
Along the entire Austro-1talian
front the artillery of both sides has
been active. An unofficial dispatch
from Saloniki repor.s an exchange
Of shots between German and French
cavalry on the Macedonian front
Il and the shelling without effect, OF the