Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-04-26
THE MOST GIGANTIC STRUGGLE
In Worlds History Still Rages About
Verdun, France.

ganticN conflict In the history OF the
world, the battle of Verdun, has en-
tered upon its ninth week. 1t is in
many respects without precedent
The enormous scale Of the German
preparations and execution Of the at
tack. the unparalleled concentration
OF artillery and the sustained feroc-
ity of the fighting. mark the battle as
one OF the greatest efforts Of the war
Verdun has been rated as one OF
the strongest fortresses in Europe, a
cornerstone OF the French defenses
against Germany. The evolution Of
military tactics during the war, how
ever, and particularly the employ
ment by the Germans Of long-range
HOWitzers capable of reducing the
greatest forts, have done much to
change the character of the Verdun
campaign as compared with the ear
lier conceptions Of what such q strug-
gle might be. Before the battle
opened, the French partly dismantled
their forts around Verdun and here
as elsewhere on the various fronts
chief reliance for resistance was
placed on an elaborate system Of
trenches.
Losses Are Enormous.
In no previous battle were the
losses SO high as those which have
been estimated in the fighting around
Ver(lun. These estimates, however,
cannot be regarded as conclusive evil
dence, for neither Germany nor
.franCe has announced its own caSu-
alties. The French war office has de-
clared the Germans have lost 200,-
900 in killed. wounded and captured.
The Germans state semi-officially
that the French casualties number
10000 killed and wounded, and
that SO, 900 unwounded French pris-
oners have been taken. If these esti-
mates are approximately correct,
nearly 100000 men haye been elimi-
mated as fighting units.
The ground occupied by the Ger
mans after So days Of offensive ope-
ratiOns may be roughly calculated as
100 square miles. They have forced
back the French from their outlying
positions to their c.etlnite line OF re-
Sistance along the semi-circular
front from the edge Of the Argonne
eastward across the Mcuse and south
ward into the Woeyre. For the most
part this main line has withstood the
shock OF successive attacks. The Ger
mans captured Fort Douaumont early
in the campaign and have bitten into
French defenseS at Dead Mans Hill
and elsewhere, but at no point have
they succeeded in breaking through.
Drive Begun Eel clary 21.
The Verdun drive was begun on
February 81 by the German army un-
der Grown Prince Frederick William.
The Germans are reported 10 have
brought up seven army corps, or
about 100000 men, to reinforce the
troops which had been in service
tnorc, and subsequently, according to
French accounts, other large bodies
OF reserves were called in. After an
unparalleled artillery bombardment,
the infantry attack was launched. An
unofficial French estimate placed the
nurher%ot attacking Germans In
some sectors at 1900 men to the
linear mile.
Within the first ten days of battle
the French lost Haumont, Sanlog-
neuN, Brabant, Ornes, Beaumont,
Chamhrettes, Marmont, Cotellate,
Charneuville and numerous other
outer positions, including villages,
woods, heights and fortified farms,
together with the fortified works OF
Hardamont, Dieppc. Fromezeye. Bau-
court and. most important Of all,
oW Donaumont. These positions
northeast OF Verdun.
Fighting continued mtermittently
northwest OF Ncrdun during the third
week. centering in the struggle for
the possession Of Fort VauX. In this
week the Germans captured Fresnes.
l2 miles southeast Of Vcrdun, MAX
ing 3-mile advance in this section.
Meanwhile new phase Of the bat
tie mad developed west OF the MeuSe
With batteries spaced, according to
German correspondents. scarcely 100
yards apart, the violent artillery at
tacks were made against Dead Mans
Hin. preceding the long expected Of
fensive from the northwest. Forges,
near Dead Mans Hill. was captured
early in the third week, after an in
fantry assault along a front less than
three miles long. Positions south OF
Forees changed hands frequently
during the following days.
New Batteries Moved Up.
On March 3 | the capture Of Malan-
court was accomplished after fierce
night attacks. The Germans now
had occupied all the French positions
north of Forgcs brook between Hau-
court and BcthhMcourt, and had ma
terlally advanced and strengthened
their battle line in the northwes
New batteries were moved up and
the infantry was rested and rcOrgan-
lied for the next attack.
On the forty-sixth day Of the bat
tie the Germans announced the cap
ture OF Haucourt about three miles
northwest OF Dead Mans Hin, which
formed a supporting point OF the
French left wing. From it a large
section OF the French line and forti-