New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-17
FRENCH REPULSE
NEW MEUSE DRIVE
Continued from page !

orally believed here that the counter
offensive went further than that during
the day. il being the habit Of the Gen
eral staff 10 announce advantages only
when they are definitely won.
The abrupt halt in the German OF
fensive after what. according 20 the
official reports. were the small sue
cesses won. IL regarded by military
opinion here as highly significant
symptom, il being considered that from
the heavy forces engaged in Tuesday,
attack the Germans had greater OBJ
jective than the capture of few ad-
vanced trenches.
The critics advance numerous
reasons for the German halt in the
circumstances. al of which reasons
are summed up in the opinion that
the attacking forces no longer have
the same elasticity and driving power
that they possessed a the beginning
OF the great struggle. The general
feeling now is one Of decided opti-
mism.
The repulse Of fresh French attacks
in the Champagne is also claimed by
Berlin. together with the capture Of a
trench in upper Alsace. The official
statement says;
Tn the Champagne the French
after persistent artillery preparations
made a number Of attacks. oil with
out success, on our position south OF
81. Souplet and west of the Somme-
Py-Souain road. This caused US few
losses, whereas theirs were numerous
We took there two officers and l50
unvounded prisoners and captured two
machine guns.
Germans Take Alsace Trench.
South Of Niederaspach upper Al
sace) our patrols. after an effective
bombardment Of enemy trenches, pene-
trated the latter. destroyed the de-
fensive positions and returned with q
few prisoners and some booty.
Between the Meuse and the Noselle
the position is unchanged.
"In Flanders. especially in proximity
70 the coast. artillery duels have APP
preciably increased in violence. They
have become more violent in the region
OF Roxe and Ville-aux- Bots"
Increased artillery activity is report
ed By Paris on other sectors of the
front. West Of the Meuse about Dou-
aumont and the village Of Vaux the
French borbarded German troops pre-
pairing for attack.
"On the right bank Of the Meuse.
says the French statement. "the activ-
ity OF the artillery redoubled 10 the
east and west Of Dousumont. as well
as aroInd the village Of Vaux No in
fantry attack was carried out. Never
theless our batteries took under their
fire on several occasions troops en-
gagged in evolutions in that region.
"In the Woevre rather spirited
bombarinent on both sides occurred m
the sectors at the foot of the hills.
"To the north Of the Aisne there has
been artillery activity on both sides
in the region OF Bots des Buttes. south
Of Nille-auI
an the Argonnc we carried out q
concentrated FIRE on the German OF
carnations 20 the northwest OF the
road from Varennes and on batteries
in action on the outskirts Of Mont
faucon."
The afternoon statement said:
an the regions OF Haudremont and
of Damloup our artillery has cannon
AIDED violently the country TO the west
Of Douaumont. where the enemy was
engaged IN petI'Sti"e uc'e.t' NVihe
"In the Woevre We have bombarded
several provision trains Of the enemy
ITO the east OF the Forest Of Aprc-
mont a surprise attack against a Ger
man trench resulted IN our inflctine
some losses or the enemy and Of bring
ing in some prisoners.
an the Vosges. TO the south Of the
Thur, the Germans delivered an attack
against our positions near Burnhaupt.
Checked by our curtain OF fire the
enemy found Il impossible 10 set foot
in our trenches