Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-23
5000 PRISONERS TAKEN,
SAYS OFFICIAL REPORT
Paris Statement Tells of Violent
Fighting on Right Bank of
the Meuse.
HAUMENT LOST TO FRENCH
Evacuation of the Village Admitted,
Approaches Still Are Held.
Some Conquered Ground
Is Regained.

BERLIN. February q, via
London. 3:36 p.m.-Announce-
ment OF another important gain
in the offensive on the western
front was made by the war Office
TODAY. The statement says that
i'll upper Alsace the Germans
captured position 700 yards
wide and 400 yards deep.
The war office also announced
that German forces had pene-
trated the opposing lines for a
distance of three kilometers 1.-TWO
miles) in the northern sector of
the Woevre. 1t is said the allies
lost more than 5000 prisoners and
great quantities of material.
Position Strongly Fortified.
The text of the Official statement fol-
lows:
I'm the neighborhood Of the trenches
captured by our troops February 81 to
the east of souchez the positions of
the enemy were considerably damaged
by mining operations. The number of
prisoners taken here was increased to
eleven officers and s4s men. The booty
consisted of three machine guns.
IN the Mas hills artillery duels con-
,inued with undiminished violence"
East of the (Meuse) river we at
tackled a position which the enemy has
been fortifying for one and half
years with all means of fortress con-
struction in the neighborhood of the
village of Consenvoye. in order to main
tain an embarrassing effect on our de-
fense in the northern sector of the
Woevre.
Penetrated Enemy's Lines.
The attack was delivered on a front
extending well over ten kilometers
lsix miles), and we penetrated as far
as three kilometers into the enemy
lines.
Apart from considerable sanguinary
losses. the enemy lost more than 5000
men in prisoners and great quantities
of material. the extent OF which can
not yet be estimated"
'In upper Alsace our attack to the
east of Heidwiler resulted in capturing
an enemy position extending over a
width of 100 meters and for a depth of
400 meters. About eighty prisoners
were taken.
in numerous aerial engagements be-
hind the enemy lines our aviators
maintained the upper hand"
Violent Fighting on Mouse.
PARIS. February 20, via London
Fighting Of great violence is in prog
ress from the right bank of the Meuse
to point southeast of Herbe Forest
the war Office announced today. North
of Verdun there were infantry actions
on front of fifteen kilometers tie,
miles,. East of Seppois the French
were enabled by a counter attack to rs
take great portion of the forest Of
Causes, north of Beaumont.
The war office admits the evacuation
Of the village OF Haumont by The
French. but declares they still hold the
approaches to the village.
French Oficial Statement
The text OF the French statement fol-
lows:
we have retaken some sections of
the trenches in the woods of Giyenchv
In the regions of the north of Verdun
the bombardment by the enemy. which
has been energetically answered by us
continued throughout the night. In.
'antry actions have developed on =
front of fifteen kilometers uen miIesl
The struggle is continued with vio-
lence along the right bank of the
Meuse toward the southeast East r.,
this point counter attack enabled n.
to retake the greater part of the fores,
OF Causes. situated i'll the salient oc.
cupied yesterday by the enemy to tn.
north of Beaumont
stohs German attack on Herbe
forest was stopped by our curtain a,
SO According TO statements of pris.
oners certain German units were com.
pietely destroyed in the course of thess
actions.
"A desultory artillery due, continue,
in the region of Hautechar .fere and n,
FromeZey. in Lorraine. In the region
of Nomeny our artillery has been very
active. An enemy reconnaissance 10
the north of Letricourt failed to reach
our lines.
I'm the Herbe forest we have ev,c.
uated the village of Haumont We still
hold the environs after bitter fight
in which our troops inflicted very
heavy losses on the enemy"