Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-09
VERDUN SITUATION VERY
SATISFACTORY TO FRENCH

Paris, March G.-General Gallieni.
minister of war, has told the commits,
sion on military affairs of the chamber
of deputies that he is satisfied with
the situation at Verdun. He gave de
tails of the reserves of men and stocks
of ammunition now available.
Military writer's say hat 1t was in
keeping with all the precedents that the
Germans should attempt 1, reduce the
salient of Douaumont plateau, for this
key position must be taken before sol
Id progress could be matie elsewhere.
The attack began after a long pre-
liminary ~bombardment on Wednesday.
German columns started to deploy from
Hardaumont wood, on the right, and at
the same time a division advanced on
the village of Vaux. The latter attack
failed. with heavy losses to the Ger
mans.
French artillery fire was so fierce
that evening that the Germans were
unable to push attacks on any point
of the Douaunlont plateau. They prof
tied by the darkness of the night, how
ever. to bring up masses of reserves
n the fighting began with renewed
fury on Thursday. During the morning
n afternoon the desperate onslaught
were made by Pomcranian and Bran
denburg regiments.
In the first and second attacks the
assailants. who fought with great
''>hhSN nv a. q pSD
wire, but so fierce was the hail of bull
lets from the machine guns and rifles
that the ~gray-coated legions melted.
The officers rallied them again until
no more were left to rally.
Clash With 6ayonet.
The third attack began about 2
o'clock in h afternoon. It was even
more violent than those which have
preceded. For more than an hour the
Germans came on in serried ranks.
hurting themselves regardless of cost.
against the ridges held by the French
men. AT last the defenders line way
cred at two points. but only
tarily, and the ounter attack, driven
home with the bayonet, drove the Ger
mans back to the shelter of the Cham
brettes of the ~Hardaumont ravines.
The Germans then reSumed the bonn
bardment, ploughing up the ground
and pulverizing the rocks with hun
dreds of big shells. The fourth advance
was made after dusk by fresh Prus-
sian ~brigades, who had replaced the
troops engaged in the morning and
afternoon attacks. After desperate
fighting they managed to get a footing
on the extreme edge of the plateau.
whence they pushed forward into the
ouses on the north side of the village.
The Germans now hold Douaumont
village, but the French dominate them
from commanding heights. AS the
sides are fairly evenly matched. it is
likely that the village will change
hands more than once before the bat
tie ends. The experts say that Ger
man possession Of it is only tempo
rary and hat the technical advantage
remains with the French. whose lines
I continue unbroken.
Battle in a Cave.
An episode of the battle of Verdun
is told by a wounded man who has ar
| rived here, who was posted in a quarry
at Louvemont on the Mouse heights.
| He says:
1.-The quarry ended at the rear in a
deep cave running under the plateau
on which the Germans would advance
to the attack. A detachment to which
/ belonged o refuge in the cave
while the heavy bombardment. lasting
4S hours, was going on and after
which he attack was delivered. Arriy-
ling at h top Of the plateau. the Ger
mans dug al opening into the cave
from above, but were prevented from,
entering. as they saw US with a ma
chine gun ready to receive them.