South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-09
BATTLE OF VEROUN Is
NEARING ITS CLIMAX
French Counter Attacks Grow
in Strength, Indicating
Decisive Clash Will
Come Soon.
International News servlce:

according TO reliable reports re-
ceived here, but has returned to
port without encountering British
warships.
For five hours from I a. IN. to
noon, the fleet was apparently en-
gagged in maneuvers on a great scale.
1t steamed in a sOuthwesterly direc-
ton at a. m, but turned back to-
ward the northeast between l. and
II o'clock. 1t was in three squad
rous. all of different formation
Each battleship and cruiser was
accompanied by a torpedo boat and
a zeppelin sailed high over the iieet.
International News Service
PARIS, March 9.-Fierce attacks
were renewed by the Germans on
the Verdun front, both TO the east
and to the west of the Meuse, bat
were repulsed by the French troops,
the war office announced this after
noon. At one time, according u he
communique issued by the war office.
the Germans succeeded in entering
the village of VauX, northeast Of
Verdun, but were Immediately eX-
PEELED by a bayonet attack.
There was also fierce fighting
northwest Of Verdun, but the French
repealed the German efforts to re-
gain the positions which they had
lost in CorbeauX forest.
The text of the communique fol-
lows:
in the ArgOnne our artillery has
continued its bOmbardment of the
enemy's line of communication, par
ticularly in the eastern Argonne and
in the region of Mont Faucon and
Nantillois.
West of the Meuse the enemy at
tempted several attacks in the course
Of the night, seeking TO overcome a
violent artillery preparation against
the village of Bethincourt, but were
stopped by our curtains of fire,
which prevented the enemy from de-
bouching. In the Corbeaux forest
TO dislodge US from the large space
of reconquered ground which we
had consolidated.
Battle Continues With Tenacity.
East of the Meuse the battle has
continued with tenacity. Yesterday
evening and in the course of the
night the Germans directed several
attacks with powerful forces against
our positions in the region between
Douaumont and the village of Vaux
Despite the violence of his artillery
fire and the violence of his assaults
the enemy was unable 10 break our
line.
Some German infantry forces
which had penetrated momen-arily
the village of Vaux were imme ate
ly driven out by a counter tack
with the bayonet.
I'm the WOevre region both sides
carried on an intermittent cannon
ade without anyNinfantry action. A
surprise attack west of lie Pretre
forest resulted in our taking 20 pris-
oners."
Draws Near Climax.
The steadily increasing violence Of
the French counter attacks indicates
that the mighty battle at Verdun is
drawing near its climax. These at
tacks had the most success north
west of the fortress where the
French launched a drive in an effort
70 recapture Bethincourt. Regneville
and FORCES. The Germans were
forced TO give up the greater part
of the forest Of Corbeaux. falling
back upon positions which had prev
iOasly been fortified.
There has been no letup in the
smashing artillery duel which is still
raging all along the front from the
Champagne region To 81. Mihiel
Both sides are using guns OF every
calibre and a perfect tornado Of
shells is falling night and day.
Rains has followed the recent
cold snap. accompanied by fog. but
despite the murkiness Of the atmo-
sphere the gunners are kept at their
task throwing numberless proiectfles
against the positions OF the enemy.
German airmen have been show
ing great activity. At times as many