The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-03-07
FIGHTING IS VIOLENT
TO NORTH OF VERDUN
Paris War Office Reports That Ten.
tonic Attacks Have Been Repulsed
Except at DOuaumOnt.

The violent German offensive on
Verdun has been resumed, the fighting
taking on an extremely desperate
character north of the French strong
hold.
The Paris war office claims that
the French repulsed all the German
attacks except that west of Fort Dou-
aumont, the Germans succeeding in
reaching the villege oA Douaumont
There the struggle is being continued.
The halt in the determined German
offensive directed at the stronghold
has been attributed by many obsery-
ers 10 the difficulties of rain interfer-
ing with the movement Of heavy artil-
lery by the concentrated fire of which
the crown princes armies blasted
their way through the outer defenses.
Apparently the Germans have been
able to bring up some at least OF their
larger pieces for the French war office
has reported a considerable Increase
in the intensity of the fire along the
whole front at Verdun, both to the
north and northwest and in the Woe
vre region TO the east and southeast.
The drives from the two sides, now
renewed are held to indicate the ia
miliar German plan OF rolling up the
f1anks of position Or using he claw
hammer jaws of the military machine
to get at the kernel of the nut. Sig
nifcance may be attached in this con-
nection to development d heavy
bombardment of the French positions
Oh LaMort Homme (The Dead Man,
This hill lies a mile and a half west
of the bend in the Meuse to the north
west of Verdun, from which it is eight
miles distant
Possible development of some Ger
man movement in the Argonne, still
farther 10 the northwest o. the fort
ress, is indicated by the Paris report
that the French have directed con-
centrated fire of hostile positions there.
Observers, eyewitnesses, also still are
on the Champagne region beyond the
Argonne. where the Germans recently
made gains toward the south and
where a serious break in the French
lines would have a material influence
upon the situation at Verdun BY inter-
fering with lines of communication IN
he west.
German military writer's are lay
ing stress on the large amount of ter
ritorv wrested fom the French in the
first few weeks d, the advance on Yer
dun. pointing to the advantage when
the reduction of the defensive :
Of the fortress gives the Germans for
their concentric artillery fire.
The activity q; the British along the
front in Belgium has begun to attract
increased attention with the delivery
of the thrust which yesterday won
back for them the 500 yards of trench
es they lost last month along the
Ypres-Comines canal. From various
sources have come accounts of heavy
artillery play along the User front
Whether these reports arose merely
from the preparatory fire lor the 10
cal attack of yesterday or if still
greater effort by the British is in
course of development is not yet ap-
parent.
Comparative inactivity prevails on
the other war fronts.
From Bombay comes a report that
the Portuguese have hoisted their flag
on all the German steamers at Mormu-
gao, the Germans on board being In
termed at Panjim, capital of the Por-
tuguese colony of Goa in India.