Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-07
GERMANS ADVANCE
IN NEW OFFENSIVE
ON VERDUN FRONT
Paris Admits Capture of Hill
265 and Gains West
of the Meuse.
FRESNES VILLAGE TAKEN,
BERLIN REPORT CLAIMS
Tremendous Big-Gun Bombardment
Paves Way for Attack by
Kaiser's Infantry.
BRITISH ON FIGHTING LINE


Heavy Artillery, Reported to Be
Aiding in Defense of the
French Trenches.
BERLIN, March 7, via
London, 3:2o p.m.-The war
office announced today that
the village of Fresnes, in the
Woevre, southeast of Yer
dun, was captured this morn
ing by Germans.
PARIS, March 7, via London,
I 20 p.m.-Further progress has
been made by the Germans in the
Nerdun region to the west OF the
Meuse. Announcement was made
here today that they had sue
ceedeed. by means OF violent bonn
bardment, in pushing along the
railroad in the neighborhood OF
Regneville.
The war Office announced that
a division of German troops ad
vancing to attack has captured
hill No. 265.
Official French Report.
The text of the war office announce
ment on the progress of hostilities is
as follows:
"In the Argonne district endeavors on
the part of the enemy at Haute Chevau-
cbAe te occupy a mine crater have been
repulsed.
"our artillery has continued its bom-
bardment of the lines of communication
of the enemy to the west of the River
Meuse.
Favored by an intense bombardment
German troops have been able to ad-
vance along the railroad line in the
neighborhood of Begneville. AT the
same moment the Germans delivered
very violent attack against hill No
os5 An entire division took part in
this maneuver.
Take Possession of Hill.
"They we're successful in taking posses
sion of this hill in spite Of the heavy
losses inflicted upon them by the fire of
our artillery and our machine guns.
1--WE are in possession Of the village Of
Bethincourt and the groves TO the east
of the Wood Ges Corbeaux and the Wood
L'Oie.
ARTILLERY fighting continued actively
last night to the east Of the Meuse. in
the vicinity Of Bras and Harda umont, as
well AS in the Woevre; in the sector Of
Fresnes. and in the villages located in
the foothills"
Attacking West of Meuse.
Today's reports from the front show
tempts to carry Douaumont plateau, are
now turning their attention to other
parts of the line and are driving at
French positions west of the Meuse,
while their artillery keeps the French
busy elsewhere and their infantry has
been making attacks in tie Woevre dis
,rict in the vicinity of Fresnes
NJ hQi nj
west of the Meuse the Germans took the
town of Eorges and since have advanced
further to the south and southwest. The
capt,Ire of Forges, which was only an adj
y, Nee post and not strongly held. was ap-
parentiy the first step in serious effort
TO storm the long crest extending from
the Meuse to Forges brook.
/ Took Germans in Rear.
The fire from the highest points along
this crest, the Mort Homme and Ole Hills,
took the Germans in the rear when they
were attacking Donaumont by way of
yacherauville. and was partly responsible
for their failure of Sunday, while the yio-
lent and persistent bombardment of the
German artillery had little effect on the
fire of the French batteries along the
crest. IL would be natural then for the
Germans, according to their known meth.
DDS. to turn to the alternative of irving
to storm the heights with masses of in,
fantry.
The desire Of the Germans to reduce
the awkward salient formed bv the
Meuse north Of Verdun was anticipated
by the French, who are fully prepared
for it's defense with .every confidence
that the German attempt would. only
result in heavy losses for the attacking