The Washington herald., 1916-04-10
FURIOUS DRIVE
LAUNCHED UPON
FRENCH Lines
Village of Bethincourt Evacu,
ated Just Prior to Heavy
Attack on Verdun.
GERMANS HURLED BACK
Troops Under Tri-color Make
Valiant and Successful Re-
sistance, Paris States.
special 81. . ne Washinrtcn Hsr,ld.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald
Paris, April 9.-The village of Bethin-
court, forming tho apex Of the salient on
the western bank Of the Mouse against
which the Germans have been pounding
for days with heavy artillery and with
frequent infantry attacks, was evacu-
ated by the French last night and today
the new line withstOod the most furious
assaults which have been made by the
crown princes army in many days.
As now established. the French line in
this sector runs from the Avocourt re-
doubt along the wooded slopes to the
west Of Hill 5O4 follows the Forges
Creek to the northeast of Haucourt and
joins the positions already held to the
south OF the crossing Of the Bethincourt-
Esnes and Bethincourt- t-Chattancourt
roads. The evacuation of Bethincourt,
in Itself only a small ruined village, has
had the effect Of fiattening the point of
the salient, although the successful
holding by the French of the line on the
Forges Creek to the west of Bethilcourt
and the line just south Of the village
leaves a stilI very pronounced salient
projecting into the German lines, with
the two very important hills, 3OI east
Of Haucourt, and lie Mort Homme,
southeast Of Bethincourt, within It.
Location of BethIncourt.
Bethiucourt lies in the Forges Valley
at its junction with valley running into
fba EorVas Vallax fran, tho so,,th o,a
was at the mercy of the German guns on
the hills at three sides. The new French
line skirts the higher ground to the
south
From the incomplete Information now
available It seems probable that the vio-
lent German attack on the western side
Of the river today made simultaneously
with two extremely heavy assaults on the
eastern bank, thus practically covering
the whole yerdun front, was undertaken
by the Germans as soon as they learned
OF the withdrawal from Bethincourt, in
the hope OF finding the new French line
in this sector not yet strong enough to
resist them.
The evacuation OF Bethincourt has been
regarded by military experts some days
ago as a military necessity, since 1t was
evident that the group Of ruins represent
ing the village was 50 situated as to make
it practically untenable under the pro-
tracted fire OF the German heavy artiI--
lery.
The German commanders, anticipating
the withdrawal, appeared to have timed
their attack. which might almost be
called general assault on the Yerdun
front. to coincide with the evacuation
But the evacuation had been safely COM
pIeted in the nightS troops were waiting
in the new trenches at the rear when the
attack finally was made this morning.
Two Sectors Hard Hit.
Todays attack was centered against
two sectors on the western bank Of the
river, one extending from the BoIs Avo-
court to the Forges stream, and the other
from lie Mot Homme to sumieres.
Details Of the fighting have not yet
been received, but the Official announce
ment iH&icates that It was of a most >vio-
lent character. At one point. on the
southern edge of the Bais Avocourt, a
German assaulting column gained a tenn
porary footing in a French position, but
was Immediately driven out again by a
counter-attack