The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-03
FRENCH on MEUSt
AND SOMME WIN
SLIGHT ADVANTAGE
Terrific Fighting Continues
About Verdun With Vary
ing Fortunes
THINK BEGINNING
OF END IS NEAR
Military Experts See In Latest
Activities at Verdun Final
Chapter In World . Greatest
Siege

London Aug. Both on the
somme and on the Meuse the French
have inflicted severe defeats on the
Germans In extensive battles.
In the former sector a strong work
between the Hem wood and Monacu
farm. north of the river, was carried
by storm. while south of the stream
court was captured and held against
two violent counter-attacks.
AT Verdun terrific fighting contin-
ued on the northeastern sectors of
the front throughout the night and
day. 1t reached it's climax of fury
when the French launched a tremen-
dous attack on q front OF three miles
from the river as far as Fleury. In
great waves. echeions. the French in
fantry swept forward across the shell
swept woods Of Vacharuville. west
and south OF the Thiaumont work and
In the ravine of Fleury.
The advance carried several Ger
man trench works and resulted in
the capture of 500 prisoners. Ten
machine guns were brought in. The
verdun fighting. which was violently
renewed by German attack yes
terday. continued throughout the
night. The Germans attacked inces-
sanity and realized some gains in the
Chapitre wood and at Chenots.
They claim to have captured hill
salient at the northwestern APP
proaches to the shattered fort of Sou
willie, but this Is not admitted by the
French.
Prisoners to the number of e42
were captured. the German report
states 1t was to Offset these gains
and halt their offensive that the
French today drove forward on the
other end OF the front.
Fight RACES on Whole vcrdun Front.
The fghting 10 now raging from
the Mouse as far as Damloup well to
the northeast OF verdun. Tho fight
ing IL almost incessant on front OF
six miles, with the artillery carrying
on a terrific duel in several sectors
nota bly, around Vaux-Le-Chapitre and
Chenois.
In the feid fort captured from the
Germans last night on the Somme the
French today discovered more than
one hundred bodies and four machine
guns. Berlin does not admit the loss
of this position, the offictal report
asserting that the French suffered a
''sanguinary defeat"
The statement says the French sue
ceeded In entering some demolished
trenches on the Maricourt-Clery high
road, but only at the price of severe
CasuauleS
The day passed calmly on the
British front after some sharp night
lighting around Poxienes, where Cen
eral Haig's troops are extending their
positions to the east, piercing the
German third tystem of defenses.
Think 1t Beginning Of End.
Military critics tonight attach great
Importance to the New German
at verdun. They be-
lieve that the attacks OF the last mark
the opening Of the Crown Princes
greatest and fnal blow against the
great fortress.
The midnight statement from Paris
follows:
North Of the Somme there was no
infantry fighting during the day From
later reports the fortified work cap
tured by US between Hew wood and
the Monacu farm contained about 100
German bodies. Up to now we have
discovered four machine guns in the
work
South Of the somme two enemy
counter attacks against the trench
captured by us northwest Of Denicourt
were repulsed.
ION the left bank Of the Mouse our
second line south Of Deadman Hill
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