The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-08
Battle is Expected to Reach Its
Climax Tomorrow or Fri
day, the French Say.
OUTCOME IS CONJECTURE
French Forces ReCapture Por-
tlons of the Trenches They
Lost on March 6.

PARIS. March Sin the Champagne
the French have recapturcd portions
of the trenches lost OH March 6, oc-
cording to semi-otficIal announcement
made here today
The situation north Of Verdun is
unchanged. No infantry attacks were
made last night. Artillery fighting
continues.
France waits anxtously. but con-
fidently, the issue Of todayB battle.
The Germans thus far. at the cost of
large losses, have obtained command
OF the approaches to the main French
positions beyond the west banks of the
Mouse. The real struggle will begin
when German masses hurI themselves
on the fOur-mile line OF heights ex-
tending from Bethincourt to Cumieres.
Yesterdays attack left the battle UNI
decided. Corbeaux wood in which the
Germans succeeded in establishing
themselves Is within hollow between
Dead Man and Goose hill and as netth-
or position is endangered, the German
success ls of little strategic import
Hnce.
1t is known here that the Germans
set aside 100000 men to capture Ver-
dun Only 100000 having been em-
nloyed up to yesterday, 1t was a ques-
tton whether the remaining 100000
would he used to make a sudden de-
Tense on some other part of the French
line in developing the offensive against
the fortress. The heavy attacks west
Of the river, however, leave that ques-
ttnn no longer to be settled. The im-
preston Of members of parliament.
who are kept regularly informed as to
the progress of the battle, is that the
defense will be able to resist oil on
slaHghts the Germans are able to
make, and that Goose hill OH the left
bank will play role similar to Dou-
aumont. on the right.
II is expected the battle will reach
its climax tomorrow or Friday. Not
until then will it be possible to Judge
which way the battle Will go.
The battle developed both in inten-
sity aud in extent all day yesterday
and is now raging along the line from
Cheppev, in the Argonne, to Fresnes
In the Woevre showing that the second
attack for the stronghold is to he made
OH a larger, scale than the first. So
far. according to thr reports received
here. the Germans by employing
masses Of men without counting cost.
obtained some slight gains both to the
west of the Meuse and in the Woevrc,
where they carried F'resnes after a
fierce struggle.
Desperate fighting is again going on
on the west bank of the river. Fol-
lowing UP the advantage OF yesterday,
the Germans going around the foot Of
the slope, which serves them rs a
mask. followed the railroad and en-
tered Regnieville. From there they
launched $4,000 men against hill 2G5 to
the east of Cnte-te-L'0ie. and carried
1t. Thus they control the loop of the
Meuse within which Regnieville Is To-
Gated. The French withdrew their
right from within the loop and 1t now
rests on the Nteuse above Cumieres.
This withdrawal from nm advanced po-
sition on the left hank became ne
cessity. according to the military ex-
perts, in order to maintain alignment
with the positions on the right bank
and it would have been difficult To hold
the advanced point, which the Germans
could Mt the same time attack in front