The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-04
SECOND
LULL IN
VERDUN
AT ACK
Village of Douaumont Now Is
Key to Verdun Drive.
Giant Armies in Death GrappIe
for Sector.
GERMANS CAPTURE MANY GUNS
Occupy Town, but French Gain
in Fierce Counter.
Germans Repulsed in Bloody
Duel for Heights.
Village of DOuaumont Now Is
Key to Verdun Drive.
Giant Armies in Death Grapple
for Sector.
GERMANS CAPTURE MANY GUNS
Occupy Town, but French Gain
in Fierce Counter.
Germans Repulsed in Bloody
Duel for Heights.

London. March 4-The driv-
ing German assault on Verdun
has halted for the second time
in the Douaumont sector north
east of Verdun, on this occasion
in the face of a formidable coun-
ter-attack by the French in an
effort. to retake Douaumont viii
lage, just captured by the Ger
mans.
Paris last night declared that
the counter attack had enabled
the French to regain ground IN
the immediate vicinity of the vii
lage, but did not claim its recap
ture. Today's official statement
from Berlin announces that the
French attack on the village and
the German lines adjoining it
was "repulsed partly in close
range fighting"
Heavy French losses.
The clash of the opposing armies at
this poipt has evidently been of the
most desperate character Berlin
mentions heavy losses sustained by the
French and the capture Of more than
one thousand prisoners Hhe numper
of cannon taken by the Germans since
February %, has reached a total OF
Ills with 81 machine guns.
The Douaumont sector is pointed
out by French military critics as KEY
position essential to the German puf-
pose of taking the fortress
The importance of the German ac-
tivitics in other sectors is not over
looked, however There nave peSil
advances on both the French TANKS
and indications are furnished of con-
templated thrusts at vital points In the
lines about the curving front, such as
on the northwest line. where the don't
mating height of LIE Mort Hcmn1e mas
been under the fire of German heavy
guns.
Uondon. March 4-French troops
under General Petain have completely
blocked the German attempts 10 cap
ture Pepper Heights, north OF Verduns
by a flan- ing attack, according 10
Paris dispatches today
Driven out of Douaumont village.
Petain is making az stand around the
strong redoubt less than mile SOUTH
east of Douaumont Here the French
have repulseL with heavy losses sue
cessive charges Dy the Teutons, VINO
hone to penetrate the French front
and cut off the defenders of Pepper
Heights.
The battle for Verdun has now been
resumed. Fighting is as fierce as in
the early days of the crown princes
drive. The Germans are wasting lives
lavishly. regiment after regiment be-
ing rolled up and wiped out.
Teutons Hold Village.
Latest dispatches from Paris today
admitted that the Germans now hold
nra cticaIlv all of Douaumont village,
but report desperate fighting on it's
northern outskirts.
The Teutons have renewed theit at
tack on the village of Vaux, prellmi-
nary to a grand assault on Fort De
Vaux, Just south of the village
The French were driven out OF
Douaumont village after desperate
fighting that began Wednesday night
ami continued for more than "a hours
Proba oly no mere furious struggle has
been ranged In the history of the war
than for possession of a little group
of less than rs houses. The towns i'm
portance lay in the fact that it was
the intersecting point of three high
ways.
Pombs illuminate Field.
After an all day bombardment, the
gray column of Germans came
through the ravine northwest OF
Douaumont just at dusk. At the same
time another gray column advanced
along a little brook.
French Illuminating bombs cast
ghastly light upon the advancing Ger
mans The French artillery shattered
their lines and the Germans fell Lack
During the night the Germans
brought up masses of reserves At
dawn Brandenberg and Pomeranian
regiments renewed the assault against
DOuaumont
The Germans succeeded IN reacnins
the Frerch barbed wire. but SO furi-
Gus was the machine gun and r1fle
fire that the gray columns simply
melted away