Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-17
TEUTONS ARE DRIVEN
OUT OF TRENCHES IN
FIERCE NIGHT FIGHT
Armies of Crown Prince Lose
Much of Footing Gained Be-
tween, Bethincourt and Dead
Mans Hill
fRx Associated Press. J

(by Associated EreSS.l
WASHINGTON. Marcn 15.-The
French have turned to the aggressive
in the desperate struggle in progress
northwest Of Verdun and have recap
tured a part OF the ground gained by
the Germans in the renewal of their
drive west of the Mouse, Paris an
nounces today.
Yesterday, in a two-and-a-half-hour
battle, the crown princes armies, by
delivering massed attacks. succeeded in
coming footing in the French lines at
two points between Bethincourt and
Dead Mans hill, the dominating height
which is the immediate object of the
present German drive.
Last night the French launched
heavy counter attacks and, by using the
bayonet and hand grenades freely, were
able to recapture portions of the
trenches the Germans mad. taken.
The Germans made heavy sacrifices
in attempting to cut the French line
and obtain possession of Dead Mans
hill, Par .dvices declare. Possession
of this he ght has enabled the French
to sweep with their artillery the terri
tory over which the Germans were en-
deavoring to advance against the for
tress 1t is still in French hands, how
ever, the French war Office announces,
although the German line has advanced
southwark until it now takes in nearly
the whole of Cumieres wood to the
east of the height.
Berlin officially denies rumors that
the new German submarine campaign,
under which armed merchantmen are
h. oh ~
doned or postponed On the contrary.
it is now in full swing, it is declared.
Following the recent declaration of
war on Portugal by Germany, Austria
has severed diplomatic relations with
the Portuguese government. a Geneva
dispatch states.
(By Associated Press.)
PARIS, March 15.-The Germans last
night made no further aggressive move
ment to the west of the river Meuse, ac-
cording to announcement made this af-
ternoon by the French war office.
French counter attacks between Bern-
incourt and Cumieres resulted in the
reoccupation of certain trenches cap
tured by the Germans yesterday.
French troops still hold the height OF
Mort Homme.
The artillery exchanges have been ac-
tive between BethincOurt ana CumlereS,
but elsewhere the night passed with
relative quiet.
The text of the statement follows,
'oTo the west of the Niver Mouse the en-
envy made no further endeavor to al
vance last night
Along our front between Bethincourt
and Cumieres counter attacks with the
bayonet and with hand grenades made 1t
possible for us to reoccupy portion OF
the trenches captured yesterday by the
enemy in the direction OF hill No. 2e5.
I'VE now hold Bethincourt; the height
of Mort Homme; the southern boundary
of the wood of Cumisres, and the village
of Cumieres.
"The bombardment has continued with
Intensity in all this sector, and the IRE
of the enemy has been answered with en-
ergy by our artillery.
"There has been nothing of Importance
TO report from the right bank or the
Mouse nor in the Woevre district, where
the artillery exchanges have been inter-
mittent
"The night passed quietly on the re-
mainder of the front"