The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-03-07
Capture ViLLAGE
or D0UAUM0NT
Germans ReIi8VaSGVGTaI Hundred
Brand0nlurg Troops,
PUSH LINES WEST AID SOUTH

French Repel Attacks on the Village
of Vaux, When the Germans Reach
ed the Wire Observation-Disclosures
Take Trenches In Upper Alsaoe and
Repulse Counter Attacks-British
Gain Ground In Belgium.
London, March AIN a resumption
Of the fighting about Douaumont,
north of Verdun, the Germans sue
ceeded in reaching the village OF Dou-
Rumont, which lies to the north of
the fort, where several hundred Bran
denburg troops have been surrounded
for some days.
1--WE cleared the village OF Douau-
mont of the enemy" the German Off
clay statement says, "and pushed our
line to the west and south Of the viii
lage as well as of the armored fort,
TO more favorable positions"
The statement issued by the French
war Office admits that the Germans
had been successful in penetrating the
village, and says that the fighting is
continuing with ferocity. 1t says that
the fighting is very lively near the
village OF Douaumont, and adds: "a
lively counter attack launched by us
enabled us to regain ground on the
immediate outskirts Of the village"
To the east of Douaumont the Ger
mans attacked the village of Vaux,
| which lies to the north of the perma-
nent field works of Vaux. This attack
\ attack on the village OF Douaumont
comprises assaults from the north and
northeast. The Germans reached the
French wire entanglements, but were
then forced back by the fire curtail of
the French artillery and machine gun
FIRE, leaving a large number of dead.
The whole region to the north Of
Verdun, on both sides Of the Meuse,
and in the Woevre, has been subject
ed to heavy artillery fire by both sides
IN the past twenty-four hours. The
| French guns concentrated their fire
Cn a number of German points OF as
sembly and dispersed a column on
the march near Beaumont, to the
north of Douaumont.
French On Offensive.
Considerable activity is also report
ed from other points Of the front. In
upper Alsace, east of Seppois, the
French assumed the offensive and
took several trench elements on the
right bank of the Grand Largue. The
Germans organized counter attack
tut failed to regain the lost ground.
There is marked discrepancy be
tween the British and German re
ports regarding the situation on the
Ypres-C Confines canal where the Brit
ish recovered the territory recently
lost to the Germans. The report re
ceived from British headquarters In
France says that these gains, includ
ing 200 yards OF the original German
trenches, have been consolidated and
that five officers and 249 men were
taken prisoners. The German state
ment, after admitting that the British
penetrated the original German
trenches in this region, says that they
we're Immediately driven out Of them
while admitting that the British still
occupy some partC Of the bastion."
The Russians took by storm the
fortified city Of Bitlis. The city lies
110 miles south of Erzerum, the Arme
nian fortress captured by them or
Feb. 10. The army of Grand Duke
Nicholas has thus covered within ;
little more than two weeks more thai
cne-fourth of the distance from Erze
rum to Bagdad, which is about 50t
miles. With the capture of Bitlis the
menace to the Mesopotamia capita
becomes, therefore, more than tangi
, BILE, and relief for the still surrounde'
main British army at Kut-el-Amar;
assumes the light of not far distan
possibility