Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-21
BATTLE With
LIQUID FIRE
Germans Lose Heavily West
of Meuse, is Report
From Paris
MAKE LITTLE GAINS
Both Armies Practically Dcadlocked
in Mighty Struggle Now in Pro-
gresS in the West
I Rks--

y ss--
Paris, March 21-Another powerful
German attack, this time between
Avocourt and Malancourt, west OF the
Meuse, resulted yesterday IN heavy
losses to the Germans, according to
the official communication issued by
the French War Office last night.
A fresh division brought up from a
distant point was used in this opera
ton. which was characterized by the
employment Of jets of liquid flame,
At one point, east of the Malancourt
wood. the Germans made some slight
progress.
The text Of the statement follows:
an the .Argonne our artillery de-
stroved German trenches to the north
east of Four de Paris and Haute Cher'
auchcc The shelling of German works
was followed by the emission OF con-
siderable sulphurous vapors, indicat-
ing that reservoirs were destroyed by
our shells.
"We energetically bombarded the
sector of Avocourt- -Malanqoul't and
disposed of groups of the enemy re-
ported assembling to the north OF
the Montfaucon wood.
'West Of the Meuse the Germans III
the course of the day after an in
tense bombardment with shells of
large calibre made an attempt to en-
large their front: Ar attack ny "a
fresh enemy division recently brought
up from a point remote from the front
was directed at great violence and
attended by the use of jets Of liquor
flame, against our positions between
.Avocourt and Malancourt.
"Our barrier fire and the fire Of
our machine guns and infantry in
flictcd heavy losses on the enemy ana
broke down the efforts of the assail-
ants who were able to make only
slight progress at point in the east;
ern port of the Malancourt. wood
"A violent bombardment, also ;oc-
Cured at Hill 304 and in. the region
of the Bois Boulrus.
!: East of the Meuse and in. the Wo-
eyre artillery activity: has been in
tcrmittent.
Last night our bombing aeroplanes
dropped 25 shells on the railway sta
ton at Dun-Sur- Meu where impor-
tant movements of troops had been
reported. Al! the projcctilcs reached
the objects al med al.
Yesterday morning enc of our pur-
suit aeroplancs brought down IN the
region of Verdun an enemy machine,
which fell inside our lines"
Berlin, March 2l--An Gattack made
bv French troops on the village OF
vaux, northeast of ,,Nerdun, was re-
pulsed with heavy losses, the War
Office announced yesterday.
The violent attacks of the Rus
slams in the Lake region. on the north
ern part of the eastern front were
continued. The Russians charged re-
peatedly with strong forces, but were
beaten back with huge losses The of1'
cial statement follows:
Western front--Favored by gooc
conditions for observation there wa:
very pronounced activity on the par
Of artillery and ,aeroplanes. on both
sides. In the, Meuse sector and in th'
plain of the Woevre artillery engage
ments continue to be especially vio
lent Sunday.
ITO prevent US from pushing oul
! lines father forward toward the de
fensive positions of the enemy IN th'
neighborhood Of Fort Douaumont ant
THE village of Vaux the French dell
cred fruitless attack with part
of division recently brought u
against the village of FauN. The.
were repulsed with heavy losses.
In an aerial battle Lieut.. Baro
Won Althaus brought down his fourt
aeroplane over enemy lines west o
Lihons. while Lieutenant Boelk
drought down his: twelfth machln
over the forest of Forges. The enc
! my: lost three other aeroplsnes.~on
lin an aerial encounter near Guns!
west of the forest of Forges, an