Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-06

HAMMER FOES LINES
Destructive Fire Directed Against
Teuton Trenches in Belgium, at
Steensraete

Paris. April 6-The following Off
cial communication was issued by tn
War Office last night.
"In Belgium a destructive hre OF
the enemy trenches in front OF Stecn
straete gave good results.
North of the Aisnc our artlller!
was active between the Beau-Maral!
wood. south of Craonne, and Berry
Au-Bac. -
an the Argonne our artillery con
tinued to direct concentrated fires or
tho lines of communication on the en-
emv's front, especially in the regiof
of Montfaucon and the Malancour'
wood.
"West of the Misuse the day wa:
calm. To the east there was an inter
mittent cannonade in the Douaumon'
Vaux sector. No infantry action oc'
Cured in the region of Verdun.'
The Belgian official communication
reads:
1.-THE artillery action was partlcu
larly spirited yesterday in the cen
trail sector of the Belgian army"
The French gained ground NORTH
of Caillette wood northeast of Vcr'
dun in the course of several engage
ments during the night, the War Oftl'
&C announces.
Paris, April 6-In Tuesdays fight
i! ing around Verdun the Germans lost
considerable ground and again sus'
tained heavy casualties, notwith-
standing the new formation of theil
attacking parties.
At 3 p. m. after the ground hae
been battered by several hundred
tons of projectiles, a thin line Of
rifle men debounced from chauffeur
wood, little to the northwest OF
Douaumont. The Germans advanced
bv short bounds toward the Frencf
trenches. situated about 200 yard:
south of the village. A second ane
third line followed at equal dis
tances with small supporting ant
attacking columns in the rear. Thi!
formation has been noticed during
the last few days, and is regarded
by the French as proof that the Ger
mans have been sorely punished il
their previous assaults in serried
ranks.
But the change proved ineffective
The first line of riAemen advances
to within so yards of the Frencl
trenches and there had to drop t
the ground under heavy blasts o
shrapncl and sustained musketrS.
The second and third lines attempte
to advance to the support of the frs
line, but were stopped far in tn
rear by machine gun fire.
The Germans in the first line wer
in a very critical position. Shrapne
worked havoc among them. I
charge was out of the question, an
as long as they remained at the poin
to which they had advanced the
were exposed to decimating fir
The second and third lines were Iii
tie better off, for they were With
range of the French 3-inch guns
The entire attacking force finall!
adopted the only move open, retreat
ing under a raking fire to Chautfou
wood. They left half their numbe
on the field. At least three reg
ments took part in the attack.
Chauffeur wood proved to be a
, insecure shelter, for the French a
tillery, increasing its range, covere
that entire area. 1t demolished she
ters and piled up the German losse
The action of Tuesday is regarde
l by military critics as of great sign
ficance showing that the German
. even with their new formation, al
unable to escape the furious .respon
: es of French artillery; that Il
: French positions. though they ma
be vulnerable at certain local and e
. posed points, cannot be shaken. al
that the French counter offensive
effective. =. - -