Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-06
Nearly 1000 French Taken
by Germans in Sunday
Battle, Claim.
MBARDING FORTS
Heavy Artillery Fire Con-
tinues-Paris Hears of
Little Action.

Berlin, March (via London 500
p. m)-Capture of nearly 1000 French
near Verdun on Saturday and Sunday
was announced today by the war Of
flee. The prisoners captured east OF
the Mouse number IA officers and 934
men.
The statement follows:
Western front: Lively mining
duels occurred northeast OF Vermel-
les. British infantry which delivered
minor attacks on several occasions in
this neighborhood was repulsed by
our fire.
"On the eastern bank of the Mouse
the day passed more quietly than
previous days. Nevertheless we cap
tured yesterday and the day before,
during minor engagements, IA officers
and 934 men.
Eastern and Balkan front: There
is nothing to report"
Paris, March (2:3O p. M There
was no infantry to the north of Verdun
last night, the war Office announced
today. The statement follows:
In the Argonne we have lombard
ed different sections Of the forest of
Cheppy and the Malancourt-Avocourt
road.
in the region north of Verdun the
night passed without infantry action.
The artillery action continued violent
ly on the left bank Of the Mouse and
internationally west Of Douaumont and
in the Woevre
Our batteries have actively bonn
barded the enemy. The night was
calm on the rest of the front"
A semi-official statement says there
were no infantry actions last night
north Of Verdun but that violent artil-
lery engagements continue along the
left bank of the Mouse and intermit-
tently elsewhere. Calm prevails on
inc lSludluuGT Ol Inc
Good Day for French.
Yesterday was a good day for the
French at Verdun, according to infor-
nation received this morning and pub
lie confidence is greatly strengthened
by the news of the continued repulses
| of the German attacks. In military
and political circles lively satisfaction
is expressed regarding the situation
and the report now begins to prevail
that the great effort of the Germans
will be more easily disposed Of than
was at first expected. Having failed
to make any impression on the Douau-
mont position and on Vaux to its right,
the German general staff determined
to smash the French left on the Vach-
Granville wood-Cote Du Poivre posi-
ton. Without regard to cost the best
! troops were hurled forward but with
no more success than elsewhere. Pom
eranians and what was left of the
Brandenburgers dashed themselves
vainly against the French, who stood
Violent Fighting at vaux.
At Vaux the Germans finally fell
back, leaving heaps of dead on the
ground. The French infantry, support
ed by their formidable artillery, which
will never henceforth lack ammuni-
ton, showed themselves able to resist
every onslaught. On the left bank Of
the Mouse artillery on both sides thun-
dered all day. The French infantry
in that section has little 10 do, but it
remains there ready for any emer-
gency, although the military experts
/ believe it doubtful that the Germans
will attempt to storm the Mort Homn,o
! key position, for to do so they mus.
deploy over plain a mile wide under
cross fire from the heights around.
! Halt German Action.
( 1t is chiefly the French artillery
which is involved in the Woevre fig ~
ing. The French hold the outskirts Of
the village of Manheulles firmly and
have stopped all attempts OF the Ger
mans to debouch in that direction.
An idea of the relatively small per-
centage OF French casualties in the
Verdun battle is considered as deduc-
ible from statement made by a lieu
tenant who has arrived here wounded
Our losses" he said. ARE compare
lively slight. My regiment for in
stance had only Al killed and 81
wounded This is small for unit
which has been acting as support and
which was engaged in the most VIC
Ilent Of the lighting"