Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-21
General Petain HurIs Army Of
100000 Men Against Ger
man Line. Advancing ON
SiX-MiIe Front.
30 CANNON ARE CAPTURED
Numerous Villages, Important
Works and Strong Positions
Go Down Before Rush of
Victorious French.

Paris. Dec. 1S.-The number of guns
captured from the Germans in General
Nivelle's victory on the Verdun 'front.',
as counted up to the present, is so, ac-
cording to the latest reports reaching
Paris. More than 5000 Germans were
made prisoners. The French advanced
about two miles on a six-mile front.
The French plan of attack was drawn
up by General NiVclle. now the com
mander in chief, with the concurrence
OF General Petain, who at the time was
his superior officer. The assault proper
was left to General Mangan. 1t was
made by five divisions, or close to 100.-
ooo men, under command of such lead
crS as General De Maud-Hay and Gen
eral Dupassage.
The front which the French infantry
had held since the %recapture of Douau-
mont, and VauN, ran thus:
Ihe southern slopes of Pepper Hill.
east OF the Meuse, between Bras and
Nacherauville, Haudremont wood.
ttaudfemont quaTries, the region north
OF the village. Fort Douaumont, the
guafries northeast of Fort Douamont-
Ihe small wood southeast of Fort Doua-
ulnont, Hardaumont wood, the village
or VauX the fort of VauX. Behind
that line General NiVelle had distribut-
ed groups of powerful batteries which
1or ~ hours before the attack han.
nlered the German positions. particu-
larry those on Pepper Hill and at Hard
oumont and B~ezonvaux.
French Held Heights.
FROM the positions occupied by the
french 1T may seen that they were
installed on q series of heights, some
dominating the German positions, but
others being under the direct fire OF
tnelr opponents. To improve and
strengthen their line it was necessary
TO wrest from their adversary the ia
nous Pepper hill. Louvemont. the crest
of Hill 372 Which commands Posses
wood, La Bauche and Hassoule wood,
north OF Douaumont fort. as well as
the important works at Hardaumont,
west or Douaumont and north of Vaux:
and, II possible, the village of Bezon-
NauX, most of whoscs houses arc in the
WoeVre. The church. OF this village is
on the southern slopes Of Hill 329, upon
the other sid of which lies the village
OF Ornes. one of the first towns carried
by the Germans at the beginning Of
tnelr victorious advance.
Five Divisions Attack.
Promptly at 10 a. M, the five attack
ing divisions, each of -y1-ich covered a
front of one n one-quarter miles, adj
Vanced behind the screen fire of guns
of all calibers. They swarmed rapidly
into the German trenches. The German
troops in these positions. surprised by
the suddenness of the attack. offered
~ I VIA
In the village OF Vacherauvile, where
the Germans had installed a quantity Of
machine guns. the struggle was sharp.
but none the less short. More to the
east the French formations charged the
slopes of Pepper Hill, carrying all be
fore them. AS they rushed to the attack
the soldiers cheercd n from time to
time the Marseiliaise reared by the
strong throated poilns, could be heard
above the chorus of the cannon.
Germans Make Wild Break.
With Vacherauville and Pepper Hill
lost 1T became evident to the Germans
that resistance would be futile and they
retired III fairly good order. On the
Observation-Disclosures road, however,
French troops suddenly appeared in the
rear OF the Germans. The French hard
crept along a small ravine running from
Pepper Hill to the road. On seeing the
French tho Germans boIted, throwing
away their rifles, knapsacks and pouch
es. From the top Of the hill the FRENCH
could see them running and, shouting
with joy, they dashed after them. a.
Half an hour later the Frehch
reached the extremity of the Lowe
mont crest, close TO the village of the
same name.
Here the French troops joined bands
with the formations which had started
from Haudremont wood and had
progressed almost as rapidly along the
Cb7lSIH Siot OI IeppGI mn dllu llc
Bras-Louvemont road. LouVemont WAS
stormed out of hand and a large con
llngent of prisoners was rounded up.
BY this time the Germans were STIR
rendering freely all along the line and
the communication trenches We're
choked with prisoners going to the roar.
East of Louvemont another division
reached tle ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS road.
South of the angle formed by this road
at the southeastern horn Of the Posses
wood, a sharp tusSle took place for
possession of Hill 372, but here again
the Germans went down before thervig-
orous efforts Of their assailants, ahan-
doEing the ground and leaving many
dead and several hundred prisoners.
The advance swept on over Hitfa372
as far as Chambrettes farm, at the
other edge of Posses wood and carried
it.
Many Guns Destroyed.
Northeast OF Douaumont the. adj
vance OF the French troops was equally
rapid. The woods of La Bauche,. and
Hassoule and the Hardaumont posi-
tions were carried successfully. Har-
daumont work was completely demol-
ishcd by shell fire, and could give no
support to the German formations.
which fell back upon it in disorder. All
the FOODS north of the work were
occupied by the French. who pushed on
as far as the village OF Bezonvahs. BY
II o'clock 20 guns had fallen into the
hands of the French: by NON, 40 guns:
by 5 o'clock, rs had been counted, ex-
elusive of those destroyed
Having accomplished the task set for
him, General Mangin, profiting by tho
Reorganization of the Germans, ranks
caused by the abrupt attack. stnt out
exploring parties, who put out OF: action
most of the guns north of Vacherau-
vile and L~ouvenont and in Fosses and
Caurieres woods.
OvERRUN RUMANlA.s
Berlin, (by wireless to Sayvilfsl. Dec.
lS.-The Teutonic forces in Rhmania
! Are continuing their advance an along