The sun., 1916-12-24

first objective in front of Fort vaux.
It had carried the Damloup battery,
the Sablicre and the little Depot, but
there were greater obstacles in h way
which necessitated n heavier artillery
preparation than had been undertaken.
These obstacles were swept aside.
however, little by little, between Oceo.
Der "a and November /, when And
lauer's division took up the positions
won by L~ardemelle's men. The latter
were then relieved and the task OF ss-
saulting Fort Vaux was entrusted -
the fresh troops. Z
A German officer, captured on Octo-
Der "a. was stupcfled for a momen
when he learned that the French had
captured D%ouaumont. He recovered
his cquaninity. however. and ~
marked:
"You have taken Douaumont. but
you vii, never take Naux."
Besieyed by the Germans on March
. In the first drive of the Crown Prince
Fort Naux had held out until June Z.
1t resisted all efforts OF tho Germans
for three months. and even when the
b~esicgcrs were In immense strength
on three sides OF the place Command
ant Raynal and his heroic garrison
held out for six moro days. Judging
by the efforts put forth by the Ger
mans to capture this position It rep
resented for them an objective OF b
first importance in tho advance against
Ncrdun. 1t dominates the WoeVro
Forest and enabled tho Germans. 0nco
they were in possession OF the fort, 20
utilize the BAIL, Fumin n Horgne
~ravincs to mask the movements OF
troops. Its guns covered
and Souvillc forts.
While the buildings and works actu.
ally comprising the Naux fort were al
most In ruins from the French bonn.
bardnent. the Germans had organised
a tremendously strong line OF defence
in advance of the position. In the first
limo was Il trench extending from the
Ncz de Souvlllc to the southern slopes
of the Gazette Valley. About half a
mile behind this line was a second line
starting from the opening Of the Fen
: taincs ravine and extending to the VII
Z laCc OF Damloup. Between these lines
| was u third series Of non-continu0us
= trenches. forming points of support.
: Moreover. every shell hole and crater
/ was organized into a field work. The
= main trenches were linked BY
/ "~boyaux."
The Lhrdcmellc division was COM
posed OF seasoned troops. formed Tor
the most part Of men from the Dau-
phiuc. Savoy and BUGGY, who were &C.
. qaintcd with the Eround through hav-
t ing occupied II during the month OF
| September and the beginning OF Octo-
= Der. When the great offensive was
r launched on October - these troops
3 displayed the same ardor and will as
I their comrades of the divisions on their
I left.
They encountered a much moro stub.
$ born resistance. however. Every spot
i Of ground they @ became immedi-
: atoly the objective Of a serious counte
g attack.
g Led by n patrol" says an official
u report. "thc section advanced on the
: right and in spite OF a calling IRE
reached IA point a short distance from
the shelter ,Gcrman). Our men. led
hN their commander. threw themselves
= bodily against the position and hurled
G~ronadcs n the occupants. \. wounded
officer Surrendered, and. pointing to six
men who were on their feet, said:
y Lieutenant, there is my company; the
' res, are dead This episode Will DEM
: onstrate the violence Of the resistance
We met with"
The FIRST Line OF trenches guarding
Fort NauX was taken by the French
g.. only in tho evening OF October 25. The
strugg'c WAS Kept mp for Two days
against the second line and in the
meantime hig guns were pounding dt.
rcctly at tho ruins of the fort itself.
g French crenadiers got close enough 70
the position to hurl grenades over Il,
but the French high command realised
10 that an infantry assault would have
been II useless waste of men.
Gen. Nivc,le and Gen. Mangin de-
ID c!ded 10 take up again II complete
re the artillery preparation in order 20
- w.n back the fort at tho smallest pes
sihlc cos; in lives, The line was wtth-
lc drawn n little south OF the fort.
Bad weather and the difficulty OF OBJ
D servat!on work prolonged this period
OF preparation To mako success GER
N tain Oh" French had 10 seize and hold
" m" crcrt of I1miu wood. A series Of
nj preliminary operations, carried out by
'- Andlalcr's DIVISION, placed the FreuIh
& in IN! Possession OF all of Fumin
L. wood This division VAS supported
on tho loft by the Arlahossc division
~ which relieved that Of Con. Passage.
Even when II" artillery and other
II preparations had been completed the
ld French cummand"rs remembered tina
%" IN precisely similar conditions Com.
~ mHuddu' iitNnll and 4 handful OF mer
nee had he'd out uuti' thirst CONQUERED
ne their power of resistance. Nivelle wa
N holding vs. m'n in reserve when or
al the moruinG Of November = his avia
u tors reported thJt tho Germans wer,