Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-17
NIVELLE'S LAST BLOW
Is LIKE, THUNDERBOI r
Smashes German Line East of Meuse Along Front of Six
Mes-Vctory Described Com
plete and Crushing.

villo: l!audlomvnt wood. IIaudromunt
auarries the region north Of the viii
lnEc. Fort Douaumont. the uuarrics
northeast Of For; Douaumont the
small wood southeast OF Fort Douau-
mont. Ilnrdaumont wood. til. village OF
VauN, and tho fort Of NauX Behind
that line General Nivell" had dis
trihutcd groups Of powerful batteries.
which FOR seventy hours bcfor, Tho at =
tack hammered the German positions.
particularly those Oh Pepper lin and
~ Eiardauinont md Rc:onvaux
OTHERS UNDER DIRECT FIRE
or THEIR OPPONENTS
From the positions occupied b." tho
French. ii may be seen that they were
installed on "a series Of heights. some
dominating the German positions. but
others being under the direct fire OF
their opponents. To improve and
strengthen their line. IL was necessary
20 wrcst from their adversary the
famous Pepper Hi, Louvcmont. the
crest OF hill 3I2. which commands
Posses wood LA Bauchc and IIassouio
wood. north 81 Douaumout fort. as wcn
as importan, works at iardaumont.
west OF Douaunont and north Of NauX,
and, if possible. tho village of Bczon-
WUevrc. The church Of this village is
on tho southern slopes OF hill 32s.
upon tn. other side Of which lies the
village Of Orncs. ono vf tho first towns
carried by the Germans at the begin
ming OF thcir victorious advance
Promptly AZ 10 A. NJ. tho five attack
inr divisions. Zach Of which covered
a front ~ ono and ore-quartcr mil. >.
advanced behind IN" screen fire Of guns
OF all cal!bors The swarmcd rapid
Is INTO ;ic German trenches. The Ger
man troops III th"s" positions, sur
priscd by tho suddcnneSs Of the attack.
offered comparative little resistance.
il. tho village Of vschcrauville.
where the Germans had Installed :,
quaniitv OF machine guns, ;hc struggle
was sharp. bu, short More to the east
the French formations Charged the
slopes Of Pepper tilll. carrying all be
fore them. AZ they rushed TO the at
;ack the soldiers chccrcd. and from
time to time the "Marscillaise" roarcd
hy the strong -throatcd poilus could be
heard above the chorus OF the cannon
with Vacherauviile and Pepper Hill
lost. il became evident 70 the Germans
TINT resistance would be futile. and
iIl't I"tl!cH III idIli. Scbt oEHel. 'Il
tho NaChcrauville- Beaumont road, how
ever. French troops suddenly appeared
IN tho rear or the Germans. Thc
French had crep; along . small ravinc
running from Pepper tiill to this road
ON seeing the French. the Germans
bOlted. throwing away rifles, knupsa ck :
and pouches. From the ton Of the hill
the i'rcncA could see them running
and, shouting with JOY, dashed afte:
them.
Half az hour later the French
reached the extremity or the Louvc-
mont crest, close to The village OF the
same name There they joined hands
with tho formations which had started
from HaudromoHi wood and had pro
crossed almost as rapidly along the
eastern side Of Pepper Hill and the
Bras i-puyemOnt road.
I.oUVemont was storned out Of hand
and large contingent Of prisoners
was rounded up.
by this tiac the Germans were sur
rounding freely all along tile line. and
the communication trenches were
choied with prisoners going to The