The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-03
Troops Attack From North,
but Are Cut to Pieces
by French Guns.
POINCARE BEARER OF
THANKS TO THE ARMY
President Goes to Fortress
to Congratulate Joffrc.
on Check to Foe.
Sp~c,ai Cable D,spofch tn THr -ts.


tack on Vertun. In which there had becu
q iuil for two days. WAS resumed last
night with 81 lively hut futile assault
agains, f'resncs. oil tho Wocvre piain,
and to-day the Germans returned to
their drive against the fortress from
the north.
Neither the driving power nor the
vide scope of the attacks of last week
was manifest in the renewal of opera
tions and the German efforts to make
further hcadway were without success
\ new centre of activity In this region
hae developed to the west Of the Meuse.
about lie Mort Homme. on the Cote de
role, between Malancourt and the loop
Of the Meusc SO far there has been no
infantry attack In this quarter but the
nombardment has been exceedingly vio-
lent.
Poincare At Verdun.
rresiden, Poincare has just returned
from the French army headquarters at
Nerdun. to which he went on February
20. lie presided over meeting OF the
Cabinet. which unanimously voted to
request Gen. Joffre to convey the Gov
crnneuts congratulations to the troops
for their heroic courage In repelling the
first shock Of the Verdun attack.
President Poincare while at headQuar-
ters asked the commanders 10 convey
to tho troops the warmest thanks Of
France. Parliament Is very optimistic
over the outcome Of the fighting in view
of the detailed information commu-
nicat.d to the Deputies by the Premier
Tho renewal of the German assault
or the French lines about Douaumon;
to-day was preceded by a lavish use Of
tho artillery. Several infantry attacks
were made but all were thrown back
by the French Are. which caused heavy
losses in the ranks Of the attacking
parties Tine bomhardment by the Ger
man artillery. which extended over the
whole front III this sector. was of aspe-
clal violence on the cote du Tovre.
northeast OF Bras. Everywhere the
French guns replied with energy, de-
voting special attention to the lines Of
communication behind the German
front.
NigneulIes BOmbn rded.
Southeast of the Nerdun sector. French
'ons range guns bomharded the rail-
way station at Nigneulles. in the ST.
Nihiel salient. starting two fires, setting
locomotive. Nigneulles es-ies-iattonc chatel
= Oh IN. railway between Fresnes and
Co'nnercy and is a highway centre "
importance TO the Germans
The exact figures of the French losses
IN the Nerdun fghtlng up to date have
hesn given by Gen. Gallieni TO the COM
mite" of Military Affairs OF the Cham
her of Depu,e.. The figures were not
made public. but the statement Is made
hat they were no: high.
According TO estimates given by the
Pe't PIisiCn the Germans have lost
between l25. 900 and l30, 900 men In this
hch'ing. roughly one-fourth OF tho forces
used
TIE latest word received in Paris re-
eaiding the Brandenburg troops at Dou-
snlnont was that on Wednesday they
we're stiil imprisoned al Douaumont and
AL the EFFORTS of the Germans to release
them had been defeated.
Wounded Frenchmen recognize the
va'or ~ the German infantry. which
marched tn within thirty yards OF the
French trenches. although they knew
certainly that they were marching TO
death Then M the command they
charged.
Describing such charge a wounded
"f'cer said
We awaited their a,tack. Our ma.
chine guns moved down the first ranks
then rang out the order. Fix bayonets,
chaTgc.' and our men went out to meet
Haom. Terrible hand TO hand fighting
followed in the darkness. which was
pierced only here and there by search.
Light or hare, There were some tragic
nlisunderS,andings. We found a Prus-
sian non-commissioned officer with a
German bayonet in his chest. One com.
pany of the enemy had charged anothe!
section, which was coming to its sup.
port"
The Might Comm y uniaue.