Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-09
FIGHT FOR EVERY INCH.
is ORDER OF GEN. JOFFRE
Crown Princes Assailing Forces
Compelled to Surmount
Great Difficulties.
MAKE STEADY PROGRESS
Attacks Being Driven Home on Both
Sides of Important Salient-Lit-
tie Action in Other Ver-
dun Sections.

| LONDON, April OF feIS1Stent
attempts by the Germans to re-
duce the salient in the French
lines northwest Of Nerdun are re-
sulting in steady progress for the
operation. Attacks are being
driven home on both sides of the
salient. at the northern angle of
which lies the village of Bethin-
court. but more particularly on
the western edge in the vicinity
OF Haucourt.
Berlin reports the capture of
strong points of support to the
south of Haucourt, which passed
recently into German hands, an
entire French position along a
front OF more than a mile and a
quarter coming into Teutonic
possession. Paris has admitted
German advances here. but de-
clares that on the opposite side
fof the salient the advantage in
the recent fighting has been with
the French. The present German
activity in the Nerdun region is
confined almost entirely to this
operation, although the artillery
in other sectors around the fort
ress is being intermittentlv en-
ployed.
French Told to Fight Hard.
According to a dispatch from Berlin
has been obtained from French
prisoners and orders found on them
which indicate, according to German cor
respondents in the Verdun region, that
the French are fully aware of the i'm
portance OF every yard OF territory in
their salient, whose northea asternmost
point is Bethincourt, now the only VIII
lage of this section of the battle front
remaining in their hands. French troops
have been ordered BY Gen Joffre to hold
every inch of ground with all the force
at their command. the correspondents
aver. and every German gain is regis
tered only in the face of desperate re-
sistance.
The character Of the terrain is well
suited to defensive purposes. The as
sailing forces are obliged to storm over
open ridges which are fianked by forests
IN which large numbers of skil{ully built
in and concealed machine guns are 10
ca ted, protected by barbed wire a nd other
hindrances to a hostile advance
Menaces Increase.
The German conquest Of Raucourt ~
another step in the increasing menace TO
the whole French salient, which still is
commanded by Hill No 3o4 The
French rear communica tions are roads
leading from Haucourt to Esnes and
from Bethincourt to E.snes. and botE
! roads. well Esnes itself. lie under
a fanking German fire from west and
east and direct fire from the north
Those troops who still desperate
iy holding Bethncourt have only a single
road to Esnes available. This road. in
places. Is only 1000 yards from German
positions. aud Esnes itself is only two
and one-half miles from Hill o95
French Communication.
Tie French official communication is-~
sued tonight by the office says:
south of the Avre the fire of our ar
tiiery destroyed the Saint Au:in mill,
where there was observatory. and
shattered the enemy's trenches north
Of feauvra ignes.
In Champagne. in the region of Ma
varn. we replied by curtain of fire
/" a very violent bombardment which
presaged attack. The enemy did not
leave his trenches.
In the Argonne directed a con-
central ted fire on The enemy batteries in
the cheppy wood and in the region of
Montfaucon and Malancourt.
In the region of Nerdun there was
no event Of Importance save A some
v-har spirited bombardment of our front
comprising Rethincourt, lie Mort
Honme and cumeres
In the Nosges our artillery was very
active in the Fecht valley"
British Official Report.
The British official statement issued
tonight on the campaign reads:
Last night and today there has been
| some mining activity about the Hulluch
| ouarries. GiVenchy ana southeast of
| RoChincourt. There was artillery ac-
| fivity today on both sides about Roch-
| incourt. Bellacourt. Souchez, Lorette
ridge and Wulverghem
! About ST. Eloi. sputb of Ypres. the