New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-09
FRENCH WIN WOOD
ON MEUSE RIVER
Continued from page /

the Germans. without losing a mo-
ment's time. hurled masses of infantry
against these positions.
In this district centres at present the
chief interest of the battle, and the
supreme effort Of the German troops is
awaited by the French with confidence,
as they rely on the strength Of their
defensive preparations. The occupation
Of Fresnes is considered as OF only sec
ondary Importance, since the position
was an advanced one. and not worth the
iucurring Of heavy sacrifices to defend.
The French, By surprise attack,
have regsined the trenches they lost in
the Champagne some time ago.
IN the Champagne district says
the Paris statement, lin the region 70
the east Of Msisons de Champagne, We
launched an attack which placed us
again in possession OF the sections of
trenches occupied by the enemy on
March 6. In the course OF this fight
ing We took eighty-fye prisoners. in
Guiding three officers, and captured a
machine gun. A counter attack on the
part Of the enemy delivered a little
later against the positions Te held was
successfully repulsed."
statement says:
In the Woevre a very spirited artil-
lery action has been maintained. Our
batteries or the Meuse hills have ener-
getically counter shelled the German
artillery.
TO the north OF the Aisne destruc-
the enemy works on the plateau OF
north of Scissors.
an the Argonne we concentrated our
re on the German organizations at
Haute Chevsuchee and the Cheppy
Wood.
an upper Alsace a grenade attack
enabled US to reoccupy some sections
Of trenches taken by the Germans on
February u 10 the east OF Seppois.
Zone Of our bombing groups. com
posed Of sixteen aeroplanes, dropped
1874 shells Of all calibres on the Metz
Sablons station. where there we're sew
eral trains. The projectiles struck well
A squadron Of enemy aeroplsnes gave
chase 70 our machines, which returned
TO their base, with the exception Of
one. which was obliged 10 make land
ing owing 70 motor trouble"
AT 10 o'clock in the evening the
French delivered counter attack
against the position east Of the farm
house Of Maisons- de Champacne, which
we had recap.ured. On the right wing
hand grenade fighting continued. Other
wise the attack was completely re-
pulsed.
"In the Woevre district the enemy
was driven out of the last houses IN
Fresnes. The Number Of prisoners taken
there was increased TO eleven officers
and more than seven hundred men.
few machine guns were captured.
"Our aercplsne squadrons dropped
bombs on the villages 20 tie west OF
Verdun which are occupied BY the
enemy"
Prisoners taken at Verdun estimate
the losses Of the battalions which took
part in infantry assaults since Feoru.
AIRY 25 al an average OF two-thlrds OF
their total ST. ength.
"Our officers promised US" said one,
that cannon would clear the way for US
so that We could occupy the French lines
almost without loss. We believed, also
that at each stage Of our advance new
artillery preparation would enable US
TO continue without great FISK. In
stead. m battalion. under unheard OF
fire from field guns and machine guns
for hours together. was cut 20 pieces.
The effort " made passed all measure
Of human strength. That is Why the
march on Verdun failed
a German soldier belonging 70 the
cath Infantry said: "Our battalion
started from its position in the woods
on the night of March . with orders 70
occupy an earthwork to the east OF
Fort Douaumont. Suddenly some one
called: Here come the French The
shock was so impetuous that II over
whelmed our lines. fell into hole
made By a shell and lay there all night
listening to the calls OF the wounded
for stretcher-bearers. The means often
ended in the death rattle.
There can scarcely be anything left
o. nv COMPANY. Il had already lost
one-fourth Of It's number IN the fight
ing from February Il TO February Il.
This was the finish"
Another German, 2 member o. the
oath Regiment said: 81 was glad 10 &c,
out Of that hell Our spirits were
pretty low in all the division because
We felt that the work of taking Nerdun
L.... - oil oyer n