The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-04
EYEWITNESS GIVES FIRST DETAILS OF | DEFENSE OF VEROUN German Attack on Feb. 21 Preceded by Terrific
 Bombardment GROUND FLOWED
 UP BY SECTIONS Gas Shells Are Used, But Without Ffscct-Hand-to-H Struggle
 Continued Better Part
 of Day

Paris, March S.--The French official of the defense of Herbebois, three miles to the north of Fort Douaumont, where the great battle of verdua began F days ago:
 Tt was on February 21 at 7:S0 in the morning, that the Germans began the preparation for their attack. They un- loosed formidable artillery fire on the positions which they wished to capture and shells of all calibrer fell like hail from those of 150 millimetres to shells of 305 millimetres It was veritable drum fire of an intensity unknown till now and this drum fire played by series on objective points selected for attack
 USED GAS SHELLS
 "A zone 300 metres broad and a 1ilo- metre deep, for example, was pounded in such fashion that the earth was plowed up on the entire superficial extent in mathematical fashion. Lacrymosal shells and suffocating gas shells were also em- ployed by the enemy to accentuate the moral effect. However, despite this for m.dable rain of projectiles the Germans on the first day succeeded only in en- tering our first line of defense at Herbe- bois and taking a small supporting work of the line. It was miserable result compared with the mechanical effort and the human effort which they had put forth against our advanced line of resist ance. It was then that my regiment was called upon to counter attack and to try to recapture the first line lost
 At midnight, accordingly, on the Fist, the men were in position and we were rather happy. at having, at the first mo- ment of our appearance on the ground taken 63 prisoners who seemed to be very glad not to have to measure themselves against us any further. Among these tried to escape. was killed by the sem try who was charged with guarding them. a ss
 INCREASING STRUGGLE
 "Our counter attack took place on Feb- ruary 9 at 4:30 o'clock ifr the morning, but after moment the Boches attacked again. No one had the advantage in this affair. Then during the day there was on both sides an unceasing strug- gle with hand grenades, while some of cur men strained every effort to consol- idate our positions. At this moment we nc longer had any natural shelter. Herbe- bois is covered with tree stumps among which some large trees stand up. On a depth of three to four hundred metres behind is ordinary undergrowth but the Germans had opened upon it terrible outpouring of projectiles and the wood at certain places was transformed into a clearing. It was necessary to maneuver through this confusion hy climbing and crawling. It was showing and I leave you to imagine the endurance which our men showed in the circumstances
 During the night of February % the Germans renewed their offensive A bom- however to advance an inch. When their mortal precision did not permit them, however, to advanc can inch. When their infantry in turn attempted to strike our men made them suffer sanguinary losses. It was still worse during the 23d. After having copiously rained shells on our Hines the Germans sent against us at least battalion. This attack excited to the highest degree the valor of our
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