The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-28
VIVID STORY TOTO
OF D0UADN0IT's Loss
COST CROWN PRINCE $4,000 MEN
They Won't Get By Is the Dry at
vsrdun-French High Commands
Confidence in Outcome Is Still IN
shaken.

Paris, May 27.-~rhs hill on which
stands the ruins OF Douaumont fort
Is 30 closely carpeted with dead that
1t 10 impossible to mount the slopes
on three sides without tramphng over
bodies" 10 how ono offcer. wounded.
describes the scene OF this weeks
frightful struggle for the height
II saw three German regiments fall
to a man within half an hour under
the sweep of our 75's- he added.
The French regiments, which
gained short-lived possession of the
fort. have seen more fighting on the
banks of the Mouse than any others
In the French army, and the wounded
with complete unanimity. agree that
they never before witnessed such aw-
ful carnage The ceaseless deluge OF
shells with which the Teutons pound
ed the entire hill led General Nivelle
to refratn from attempting to REIN
force the regiments holding the fort,
and he called upon these iron troops
to hold off the Germans as hong az
as they could force them TO make a
frequent counter-attack.
This policy entailed the final aban-
Comment of the fort, but It was COM
pletely successful in its motive OF tear
ing further sanguinary gashes in the
Crown Princes reserves
The German assaults on the hill De-
gan on Tuesday night Under the
binding glare Of electric searchltghts,
they attacked with the fercest deter
mination. Eleven times during the
night and on the following day they
swept against the French lines with
out gain.
Twelfth Time a Success.
The twelfth attack was irresisti Bile,
haTxreyyar and tho all f,af ~ly
down the blood-Soaked hill, picking
their way over the dead and dying to
their trenches three hundred yards to
the south
Captured German offcers admit that
the reoapture Of the tort by the French
created alarm on the whole German
front comparable only to that OF the
first days of the Champagne offensive.
For forty eight hours telegraphs and
telephones, as we'll as motor messen-
gers, were busy summoning available
reserves. Six divisions, including the
Prussian guard. which is reserved only
for the greatest emergencies, were
rushed TO the scene, Two divisions.
one Of Saxons and the other of wur-
temburgers. were sent 10 the west
bank of the Meuse and hurled against
Cumieres to ease the French pressure
on the other side Of the river. Alto
gether at least $4,000 German oayo-
nets were thrown into yesterday
fighting. They won Cunieres and re-
took Fort Douaumont. But the price
they paid Is estimated at 10000 men.
Paris critics. pointing out that the
Germans always fight with the advan-
tage OF superior artillery, predict that
the Verdun battle is going to continue
as bloodily as ever. All express COM
plete confidence in the valor OF the
French infantrymen.
They won't get by'' is still the
watchword OF the verdun defense.
Feel Loss of Position.
/ Henry Bidou says: 1--WE feel the
loss of the fort because of the sacua
fees we made to get it Our pious
admiration goes QUITO the heroes who
for the capturs of standard: for
Douaumont isn't more than that
''Tf the position were really impor-
tant. the Germans would not irave
remained idle there for three months.
They will never be able to pierce our
lines on this side Of the Meuse."
II has become evident that the Yer
dun battle has REDUCED itself to the
problem of keeping the scales even
on both sides OF the bank OF the
! Mouse. Owing to the einuous course
/ of the river. with the hills on the Yves,
side neutrahzing 80 much ground or
the eastern side. the Germans are
forced not only to continue to ham
mer on the western, but to remain
prepared for another sudden blow
which the French. with their en1peri.
GRITTY of numbers, can deliver on the
eastern side at any time the eituattor
justt4ies the sacrifice of hvea TIT
French high commands confidence in
the Anal outcome of the battle IL un.
! diminished, because the magniflcen'
temper of the troops In maintain ed
! the heavy artillery situation is an.
| proving, and the Crown Princes re-
serves OF human materials, guns
shells, etc, cannot last forever.