New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
States Five Attempts
to Recapture Fort
Have Failed.
FOE FORCED BACK,
PARIS ASSERTS
Claims New Offensive in
AlSaCe CheCked-AerOS
Raid Metz.

London, Feb. 27.-Temporarily at
least, the great drive at Eerdun has
teen checked. Both Paris and Ber-
In tonight agree in the abatement
Of hostilities, although some slight
gains in the neighborhood of Douau-
mont are claimed by the latter
Five attempts by the French 70 re.
capture the fortress are also de.
clared by the Germans 10 have
failed.
Champneuville, to the west. and
TIE fortified works of Hardaumont.
tc the east of Fort Douaumont, have
loen captured by the Germans.
Berlin also claims to have captured
the Cote de Talou, to the west Of
Douaumont. bur according TO the
French official statement the artil-
lery fire coming from both sides has
rendered this position untenable for
either French or Germans.
The French are hurting attack
alter attack upon the Douaumont
positions held by the Germans. who
are declared to be maintaining them
selves there with difficulty, but in
the Woevre region, to the east of
Nerdun, the French advanced posts
Lave been withdrawn.
The French are now steadily
driving the enemy past Douaumont,
despite his spasmodic rallies said
a message from Paris this after
room. 1t is believed that if the fort
is not retaken it will be so shattered
b shell fire as to be untena5le by
either side.
British Extending Lines.
Large reinforcements are being
brought up probably by both forces,
and it is reported that the British
lines are being extended in Belgium
ard France in order that French
troops may be released for the Yer
dun battle.
In the Nosges Mountains the Ger
mans also started a heavy offensive
southeast of Celles, but il was com.
pletely checked b. the French. On the
other extreme end OF the line, around
Ypres, a British attack was repulscd by
the Germans
Douaumont's Fate Still in Doubt.
The fate of Fort Douaumont. north OF
Nerdun, is still uncertain tonight. De-
spite the French claim OF its recapturs
yesterday, Berlin to-day stoutly insists
that it is still in German possession.
The Paris statement is rather smbigu-
Gus and says:
"To the east ard west OF the position
of Douaumont, the slopes of which are
covered with German bodies, our troops
are pressing closely the enemy detach-
ments which were able to gain a foot
hold there and who are maintaining
themselves with difficulty"
The German War Office statement,
asserting that all attempts to retake the
fortress have been repulsed, says;
con the heights to the right of the
Meuse the French attempted by at
tacks. repeated five times with fresh
troops. To reconquer the armored fort
ress OF Douaumont. They we're re-
pulsed with ssnguinary losses"
Germans Claim Woevrc Gains.
While Paris says there has been no
change on the battlefront around Yer
dun. the Germans report progress 10
the north Of Douaumont and in the
Woevre.
TO. the west Of Dousumont,' says
the Berlin statement, "our troops have
taken Champneuville. the Cote de Ia
lou and have advanced as far IS Nave.
on the southern border Of the wood
northeast of Bras.
ITO the east OF the fort We took bv
storm the extended fortified works OF
Hardaumon:.
In the Woevre plain yigorou. hgh,inx
Is taking place on the German frontier
the battles extending as far as. tn.
Cotes Lorraine.
According to information at presen.
in hand, the number OF unyoundsd
prisoners amounts to nearly $4,000"
Cote de Talou untensbIe.
The French statement saws:
"In the region to the north of Va,
dun. following The violent action, ~
the preceding days. there h,. re-.
some abatement IN the efforts of tAa
enemy IN the course Of the dsy. e,csn,
between the height of Douaumon, 80