The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-04-06
GERMANS LOSE
GAINS At VERDUN
French Counter Attack Retakss
Part Of vauX.
TEUTON FRONT IS MENACED
Battle For the Village Of vaux 10 stilI
Raaine-crown Princes Troops Are
Swept From Advanced Positions
Previously Captured by Them.

Swept From Advanced Positions
Previously Captured by Them.
Paris, April 4.-The battle for the
village Of vaux. a formidable obstacle
in the crown princes drive against
Verdun, east Of the Meuse, is still rag
ing furiously, but when the night set
tied upon the battle field It saw the
French victorious in violent counter
attack the first one Of a large scale
thus far attempted and the most sue
cessful counter movement undertaken
by the defenders as regards results.
The fighting of the most savage
character, which lasted all the previ-
Gus night and throughout the day. the
French counter attack gained steadily
until at night they had recaptured the
western part OF the village and be
sides, thrown the Germans back to the
northern edge of the Caillette wood
and to the pond north Of vaux. All
of these positions had been firmly
held by the crown princes infantry
troops. after their latest drive on this
sector during the two previous days.
This, a vital part Of the twomile gain
made by the Germans. was wrested
from them by the French in the coun-
ter attack.
The French war ONCE in their COM
munique admitted that the Germans
had succeeded the previous day to the
extent Of sending their front over an
area Of this length. adding that heavy
losses were inflicted on the Teuton
infantry columns as they came for
ward in successive waves. The gains
netted by the French counter offensive
not only refuces the German extension
considerable. but also presents . great
menace to the whole German front In
the Douaumont-vaux sector, II the
spirit of the dash shown by the
French troops. evidently a surprise to
the Teutops. keeps up.
Good evidence that II will keep up
Is gained by military critics here from
a perusal OF the official communiques.
The first statement reported only that
ground had been gained in the Call
cite wood and gave an outline OF the
French front in the Douaumont-Vaux
sector. A late communique announced
the recapture Of the western part OF
the village Of Vaux. which indicates
that the counter attack gained in in
tensity and that the German resist.
ance slackened considerably.
The report also tells about a vain
and costly attack west Of the Meuse.
when German infantry was sent forth
to engage the French on the northern
bank OF the Forges. a. small stream In
the Hauco~rt- t-Bethincourt sector. II
develops from the French statement
that the French had secretly evacuat
ed the positions which former the
German objective, and when the Teu-
ton troops dashed forward they were
met by a tail OF fire from the south
ern bank Of the riverlet to which the
French had withdrawn. French flank
ing fire from Betheincourt also met
the attackers, who found no infantry
to attack.
Four German aeroplanes were
brought down by the French In the
verdun region. according to the Of
ficial statement which reports a num-
Der Of other successes in aerial en-
gagements, notably raid by thirty
one allied machines on four German
points in the German line In which
eighty-three big cslibre shells were
thrown.