The Alaska daily empire., 1916-04-04
French Colonel Weeps as lie Decides
 To Die Rather Than Be Captured By
 the German Forces at Battle of Yerdun
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isnecIaI correapondenee.l

Special corrospondcnce.)
 PARIS, March 15.-An officer who has returned from the Verdun front gave the following description Of the battle for possession os caures Wood:
 "The affair of the Caures Wood is one of the most dramatic and most glorious episodes of the battle of Yer dun. The Chasseurs who were charg- ed with defending that part of the sector were under the orders of Lieu tenant Colonel Driant. They have ad- ded magnificent page to contempor- ary history by their unyielding gal. lantry.
 "It was 7:15 In the morning of February 20 when the Germans com menced preparations for their attack. We had then been holding the trench es for four days and our chief Lieu tenant Colonel Driant. was making 8 tour of inspection.
 "We had one battalion on the firing line and another held in reserve at the Moronat farm. Everybody was immediately on the alert. The bonn bardment commenced with an unusu- al violence and our listening posts, according to orders, fell back on the first line. where we awaited the at- tack.
 "A storm Of iron began to pass oy- CT. It was. in fact, more than storm It was a deluge. Our shelters, even the best constructed. were demolish- ed. About n o'clock the post at which was was destroyed by the hail of shells, and 14 Chasseurs and one officer were buried in the debris
 However our men did not hesitate. but pressed forward to the aid of their wounded comrades as it 1t was simply a question of some common accident Sergeant Caplain, with some assist ance, rescued nine victims and each one courageously prepared again to face the enemy.
 Under the fire of the enemy, the soldiers labored to re-enforce our for tifications in the wood. About two o'clock the effects Of the lombard. ment were tremendous. There did not remain a single shelter worthy of the name. The officers next in com. mand to Lieutenant Colonel Driant was seriously wounded, and many of our Chasseurs were also stricken.
 About five o'clock the enemy's ar- tillery slackened It's fro and we no longer suffered as much. The reason of this was that the Germans were about to hurl themselves on Haum- ont.
 "The front ranks of the enemy were dressed in capes somewhat resembling ours, and they wore ormlets similar to those of our men. This ruse was quickly seen through, and they re- ceiyed a warm welcome. However at the end of a certain time, they were able to penetrate our first line trenches and establish themselves there.
 Counter attacks were made by us during the whole night, and after a hot grenade fight our positions were practically maintained.
 "On the 22nd the bombardment was resumed with the greatest violence. Our trenches. hammered by shells, were rapidly leveled, the communicat- ing trenches were destroyed and even the wood itself was moved down in large spaces. However, our chasS- CUTS maintained the same lmpassabii- fly.
 Towards midday we received large parties of the enemy. who, after hay ing advanced toward the wood Of Haul mont. turned towards the Caures Wood, with the intention of taking us in the rear. All our teleDhonic com. had been destroyed the evening before, and we were no lon-