New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-23
Germans Get FOothOld
After StupendOuS
All-Day Effort.
EXPECT NEW DRIVE
AT DOUAUMONT
Berlin Claims Fresh Ad-
vance Toward EsneS
from MalanCOurt.
Er Cable 70 The Tribuns

London, March 22.-Against the
stifening resistance Of the French.
the German fanking attack west Of
the Meuse has apparently been
checked. All day the Germans at
tempted to debouch from the Avo-
court wood. captured yesterday, IN
the direction Of Esnes, only to be
hurled back by the barrier of fire
which General Petain had drawn
across the front Of the wood.
As the sum of the days stipend
Gus efforts Paris admits only the loss
Of the small hill of Haucourt, little
more than half a mile southeast Of
Malancourt. insignificant in itself,
me Germans arc thus given an addi-
,ional grip on Malancourt, and
through it on lie Mort Homme.
Fire Hslts Attacks.
West Of the Meuse," says the
Paris statement tonight, "after a
violent bombardment lasting the
whole dav. the Germans directed sew
eral attacks against our front, be-
tween the corner of the Avocourt
wood and the village Of Malancourt.
"All the attempts Of the enemy to
oebouch from Avocourt wood were
arrested by our barrier fire and the
f-e Of our infantry. The enemy was
able 10 gain a footing on the little
hin Of Haucourt, about one klometre
southeast Of Malancourt.
r,n.ct New Douaumont Attack.
East Of the Meuse there was an
intense bombardment in the region
of Douaumont and Vaux."
The resumption of heavy artillery
fire about Douaumont and Vaux Is
taken here as foreshadowing another
assault. With the diversion OF
French reserves and guns TO the
threatened region about lie Mor'
Homme il is believed that the Ger
mans plan another of their light,
ning.like shifts. BY hurting forward
great masses of men they hope to
take the French by surprise.
The chief difficulty with such tactics
however. is that invariably the srtii'
lery preparation gives away the ATTACK
Unless. that is, the bombardment - on
such vast scale as TO cover the whoie
front and conceal the point CHOSEN
The Germans, except in the hrst days
of the assault, have not been tha'
lavish
Germans Spare Men.
Unlik. their ex.ravsgsnce OF men and
ammunition in the early days OF lhe
sttack. the Germans are now most spar
ing Of both. About Bethincourt tne
esief reason for their failure, Frencn
Observers cay. was their Outstanding o'
shells. The bombardment was "ho!iy
inadequate, and apparently the gunner'
we're ov1erSn1ioUs.
Small bodies Of troops were constant
y sent forward 20 observe the resuI''
o. the fre and not until they reported
al safe did the infantry advance. Ever
then IL was preceded By grenade oe
tschm.nts, Who searched out "nat re-
NAMED Of the trenches.
Berlin Insists on Capture.
Berlin. despite the French denial per
,n.s in be claim Of the capture OF m'
whole woods north Of Ayocourt, sno
,sys me prisoners taken no" tota
2sil. l. claims an advance beyond tn'
wooded ground md the capture Of ao
lltionsl frenches. The statement say
"DBriry the work Of clearing up h'
battlefield after the attacks or hSici
% northeast Of AyocOurt, ana o"lh1
% fne occasional capture OF ado lt'onS
ifsnenes from the enemy outslne Wy
ee01sd aectors, The number OF un
rognded prisouers captured theff ha, "a.
been increased % 81 officers ana |''i'
men
Art.llefy battles continued on Do,r
s.oss of The Meuse with great Y,oIehise &c
although a. times they became less u"
tense
a. Obersept the French again a,
tempted ~ nsls ~ for the ehecs tn'l
isHsfed On February ~. 1hey "ei'
f.Dglsed With considerable losses.
Three enemy aeroplsnes were pu'
'at o. action by our ayiators IN hsrla 20.
'a2SZemsnts north Of Ferdun' ~,
'smf down behind our front northeS''
fsstios.1 on DaSs q. column