New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-11
500 Yards of Trenches
at Hill 295 Is Only
TeutOn Gain.
GERMAN LOSS
PUT AT $4,000
British Also Take Lines
and Mine Crater at
st. ElOi.
tBy Csbls u f11s rrfb,ne. J

London, April lO.-for more tnan
forty hours the French have with
stood the German grand assault on
Verdun. The battle, which began
about Bethincourt on Sunday, now
RACES on the entire line about the
fortress, from Avocourt to Cumieres,
west of the Meuse, 70 Champneau-
vile, Douaumont and Vaux, east OF
the river.
Against the most tremendous as
sault ever delivered in history the
French line holds. The first days
of the battle at Douaumont, the
French offensive in Champagne last
spring, the Teuton drive through the
Russians on the Dunajec, are forgot
ten In the rain of death loosed by the
Germans to-day.
It holds, like the British line at
Ypres, by the sheer strength Of flesh
and bone against shell and steel. The
French trenches have been shattered,
thei- psrspets swept away, thei-
shelters literally blasted out OF ex-
istence, and still there Is no appre-
ciable dent in the front.
Only 500 Yards Gained.
The net result for this staggering
expenditure of German shells and hu-
man blood Is Just 300 yards of trenches.
Early In the assault these were capt
ured on the slope Of Hill 2e5, north Of
Le Mort Homme. Since then the tide
Of battle has shifted back and forth.
but never has it's crest threatened so
much as the French first line.
Abandoning all the caution that has
marked the last three weeks Of the
operations about Verdun, the Germans
aret hrowing tho last ounce Of their
strength into the assault. BY sheer
weight Of numbers and shell they hope
TO overwhelm the French as they
sought 70 overwhelm Douaumont, ss
and again IN the Great Retreat.
In to-day's assault Paris estimates
that not less than three army corps
10000 men-with one or two extra
divisions, took part. The greatest
force wa, concentrated in the sector
between Avocourt and Bethincourt,
where Hill 304 is tho objective. By
cutAanking this position the whole
French salient would be jeopardized
The second heavy attack was at Le
Mort Homme, against which once be
fore the Germans had vsinly hurled
themselves, whilo third drive was
launched nearer the Meuse az Cumieres.
This spread across the river 20 Champ
neauyille and Douaumont, but Paris re
ports indicate that II Is largely q sec
ondary operation.
Heavy Losses by Germans.
No longer weakened By the necessity
Of defending the Bethncourt salient
extending into the lowland beyond lie
Nor. Homme, the French followed
their usual tactics By seeking TO infics
the greatest possible loss on the Ger
mans. For this nothing was ever more
cunningly devised than the trenches
arranged by General Petain, taking
advantage Of all hills, ridges and edges
Of woods, so that the attackers would
always be forced TO advance scros
open ground or through rayines swept
by French fire.
Following the actions Of the night
the first German attack to-day was
launched between Haucourt and Beth
incour., on the French positions south
Of the Forges brook. II was by troops
massed in close columns. Three times
during the day the Germans at
temuted 20 reach the opposing
trenches. bu. unsuccessfully. The same
results attended the assault between
lie Mort Homme and Cumiero..
Paris estimates that half OF the
.roops engaged in these charges were
twept away. In some quarters the
German losses N to-day's battle alone
are put a. between 10000 and 5O,0OO
men. Inc cost OF sihs4t Naf HsHt
ing exceeds tina, Of the whole battle OF
Gettysburg or Waterloo.
German Reserves Wiped Out.
Practically the whole Of the German
reserves are believed 20 have been
wiped out IN the series OF actions
eliminating to-day. And the end 10
not yet in sight.
Thus. despite the great strain en-
tailed while the battle hangs IN the
balance. Paris is more confident OF inc
result tonight than II has been Tor
days. The withdrawal from bethln-
court j. freely called victory. The
absence Of French countcr-ataeks D,
taken a. an indication that General
petain has the situation well IN hand
and that IT is ~ no sense critical.
A distinguished American who re-