The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-15
Four Terrific Attacks Launched
Yesterday Believed Prelim-
mary To Final Drive
FURIOUS FRENCH FIRE
INFLICTS HEAVY LOSS
Entire Line From Lorraine 10
The Sea Sheet of Flame
Air Fights Feature of Day .
Activities

Paris. March luxurious
fighting has been renewed on both
banks of the Meuse, north, west
and northeast off versiun. The
Germans, by heavy assaults fol-
lowing the unprecedented bonn
bardment of the last seyenty-two
hours, broke through tine French
lines at two points ON the front
between Bethincourt and Dead
Mans Hill. The gain was made,
the war Office midnight report Ms
serts, At the cost of heavy losses
TO the kaiser's forces.
Four attacks I'm all were launch
ed during the day, two on each
bank OF the Meuse. Early In the
morning east OF the river the ar
tilIery cannonade against the
French positions attained its eli
max. For more than two hours
the Germans kept up the mighty
effort OF their heaviest guns, and
then long lines Of infantry, in
close formation. surxed from the
German trenches and assniled the
Ereuch positions In the wood OF
Haudremont.
The furious barrier IRE of tn,
French and storm OF machine gur
bullets and shrapnel moved down th'
gray columns Of Germans ~ the.
swept time and again to the attack.
The Germans leaving hundreds o
dead on the field, were forced to fal
back.
This attack failing, the artillery fr'
west of the Mouse redoubled in fury
according to the midnight war offic'
report, and In the afternoon terrific
assault was begun on the French
front between Bethincourt and
Cumieres.
Hand-to- Hand Fighting.
Divisions OF the 100000 new re
serves gathered by the Germans wer'
thrown into the battle. Despite th'
terrible fire poured into their ranks
the advancing legions succeeded II
reaching the French positions. and |
hand to- hand battle of the utmos
feroeity ensued. On the greater par
of the front, the report asserts. th'
Germans were forced to fall back
their attack broken by the French fir'
and bayonets.
Break Through at Two Points.
At two points, however, they sue
ceeded In penetrating the defense and
in holding their ground despite ferc,
counter-at.acks Immediately launch
ed with strong reserves.
The four attacks of the day ar,
believed in military circles here {,
herald the 6nal drive on the fortress
The Germans must succeed now. o.
they win never succeed. critics assert
The French express the utmost con
fidence that the Kaiser will see hi
legions advance only to be hurlet
hack from the impregnable French
positions
Line Of Five 200 Miles Long.
While Nerdun is the cockpit of tbs
fighting, and the decisive struggle viii
be fought out there. the entire from
from the seq to Lorraine today pre-
scented the picture OF a tremendou
river OF smoke and flame. stretching
for more than 200 miles
French and German artillery a
every point along this wide stretcl
were pouring heavy fire into the op
posing lines. At several points punt
tive infantry movements were made
but no action of importance wa
fought.
Above the Verdun cauidron, avi
ators of both armies fought death du
els hour after hour today. The mid
night report SAYS that three German
! machines were shot down by Frencl
fiiers north Of Nerdun, while In tn
Cernay region another was sent hurt
ling to the ground.
THE Berlin report states that Lieu
tenant Boeike, the noted fiier, sho