Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-06
AssaiIantS Come in Close
Formation and Are Ruth
IeSsIy Moved Down by Ma
chine Gun Fire.
BAYONETS FINALLY
DECIDE STRUGGLE
From 10000 10 $4,000 Teu-
ton CorpseS Lie on Field in
Front of Douaumont; 4,000
Slain at Single Point.
rsy uosarss JovsH.. s,sel.l ls.eeo wi.e,

Paris. March Sit is stated semi
officially that the battle at Verdun
continued yesterday throughout the
day with the same intensity and with
out causing any change in the re-
spective positions of the opposing
armies. Fighting is still going on for
definite possession of the village OF
DOuaumont.
The situation as a result of this
second phase of the German offensive
is regarded as altogether different
from that of the first days of the bat
tie. The only progress made by the
Germans was during the first two
days of the second attack. For 'he
last forty-eight hours they have not
advanced.
Favorable TO French.
The comparison also is in favor OF
the French by reason of the fact that
the Germans now have lost the ad-
vantage of surprise and also because
the ground has been torn up tn such
aM.cxteut That il cannot be soc 'a lfF'
properly.
This information from semi-official
sources points out that 1t must be
demoralizihg to the Germans to see
some 10000 to 10000 c0rpses OF
their comrades lying before the
French lines
Reinforcements brought up by the
Germans since Inauguration of the
second phase of the battle on Wed
ncsday are estimated here at 2aV,oou
men, raising the total forces utilized
by the assailants to more than half
million. Estimates of losses show
wide variance Details of local ac-
tions and the size of the reserves
brought up cause French observers to
make the deduction that the Germans
have paid a very heavy price for the
six square miles of ground they have
gained
1000 Corpscs at One Point.
In front of the village of VauX
alone 1000 German corpses were
counted after the eighth unsuccessful
attack. This part of the battle,
though overshadowed by the fight
for Douaumont, is regarded in Paris
as serious check for the attackers.
The Germans carried on the assault
with great courage until the dead lay
thick on the field. Then the officers.
it is said, We're compelled to urge on
the troops as they clambered over the
corpses of their fallen comrades for
the last assaults.
The attack on VauX began on the
evening of March 2, after a furious
shelling. and continued until the fol-
lowing night Columns Of Germans
advancing simultaneously from the
north and northwest tried to envelop
the village. French artillery immedi-
ately opened a heavy fire which sep
arated the first wave of Germans from
their reinforcements. Nevertheless
the fresh troops came on and obserV-
ers saw plainly the tragic spectacle
Of lines of men plunging into that
storm of steel and emerging thinned
to half their strength. Some contin-
gents lost six out of every ten men be-
fore even having fired a shot
Eight Desperate Charges.
The survivors, undaunted, resolutely
stormed the Frech trenches and
fought hand-to-hand in fierce melees
Mt the outskirts of the village me
btterest fighting was for possession
of the road leading to Douaumont, the
advantage OF which was obvious, Ihe
Germans charged eight times there
The supreme effort was carried out py
six regiments advancing in close ior-
nation.
French machine guns did gruesome
execution In the mass ana fIthcu ~
fantry. held carefully under cover un-
I'll the advancing force approached
the trenches, leaped out to meet the
onrush with cold steel 1t then was
finished in a few minutes. The Ger
mans retired, leaving hundreds torn
and mangled in the barbed-Wire de-
fenses and thousands laid low by ma
chine gun bullets and hayonets.
AS the battle proceeds the strategy
of General Petain, French commander
at Verdun, is being compared more
and more carefully with that OF Gen
eral Castelnau, in the battle OF Nancy
General Petains withdrawal to thel
Douaumont plateau was like GENERA
Castelnaus withdrawal to the plateau
of Amance, away from the heaviest
blows of the adversary to domlhat-
ing position from which all eiloIts
failed to dislodge him. French OH
GERS predict General Petains strategy
will have the same result. so that the
Germans will be compelled to seek
decision elsewhere on the front
The Germans in their assaults arc
using several sorts of burning hquiu
projectors. one of these is IN tls
form of a small tank. which rs carrie"
on the back, filled with a composl-
lion liquid which seems To be mostly
kerosene. Attached to the nozzle y
an igniting apparatus. The hqulu II
projected by means of hand pump