New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-21

first lines vas cut and our shelters
began 10 succumb. Reports by dispatch
/ bearers told Of groups Of men crushed
or buried under the debris OF our de-
/ fence works.
"Our air scouts flying over the enemy
I positions reported formidable number
of pieces in action. Aviators returning
from the forest at Spincourt reported
six captive balloons above the German
positions.
From o'clock in the morning until
4 in the afternoon the German Smelling
increased I'm . ansity. Meanwhile our
artillery had opened fire upon adver-
sary batteries which had been located
By your airmen. Our first line trenches
were levelled, but the occupying troops
clung 20 them wherever they could, and,
in spite Of the avalanche Of projectilcs
kept the Germans in check. The eau
res Wood was lost. but was recaptured
By the chasseurs Of Colonel Drant.
Results of First Day.
AT the end Of the first day the Ger
mans had gained a footing only m our
first line trenches at heavy cost. But
the artillery preparations continued.
and 10 became evident that the German
tactics were 20 crush the defensive
lines before launching an infantry at
tack. Once the desired destruction
seemed 20 them 90 have been effected
recommending parties advanced 20 OBJ
serve the effect of the fire. Behind
them came grenad.ers and sappers, and
then the first wave Of infantry.
ION our side the artillery aimed TO
isolate those troops of the enemy that
intiltrated everywhere. while our Gov
ering troops fought 10 the death. and
by counter attacks stopped the onward
march Of the troops Of our adversarles.
The struggle for the Caures Wood was
resumed on the 22d. and our counter
attack on the Haumort Wood failed
while the Germans with liquid fire pen
etratcd the Consenyoye wood.
Al HcrbeboIs our men held good,
and az lIaumont they grouped around
their colonel and struggled until 6
o'clock in the afternoon. when the Ger
mans penetrated among the ruirs At
the end OF the second day the French
troops were fighting almost entirely in
the open. All their shelters had been
crushed. the communicating trenches
destroyed and the supporting works
torn up. Our artillery. firing az
maximum distance of zoo yards into
compact masses Of the enemy. spread
death through the ranks and broke the
impetus Of the attack.
French Situation Grave.
During the night the French troops
evacuated Brabaut. and in the morning
SamogneuX was subjected 20 such
bombardment that our projected coun-
tcr-attacks were impossible. Further
cast our lines held good under a bonn
bardmcut OF l2-inch and l6-luch shells.
The Germans were repulsed a. Wayrllle
~ 6 o'clock. Another attack upon Her
bcbois az 1880 O'Clock was resisted
until 1870 o'clock. when. Wayrillc hav-
ing been taken. our troops were obliged
20 retire. The barrier IRE OF our artil-
lcry held the Germans there.
"SamogneuX was IN critical posi-
ton. Our general in command put Pep
per Hill and Talou Hill IN a state Of
defence. The Germans, trying 20 ad-
vance from Samogneux, were several
times checked by our artillery fire.
and left numbers OF dead on the field.
Two Of our battalions rccaptured a part
Of the Wavrilc Wood. but tho Germans
turned Beaumont from the west and
the Posses Wood from the east From
tina, time the situation became grave.
Imposing forces Of the adversary
advanced between Louyemont and Hill
3i7. Ornes was attacked from three
sides simultaneously, but the garrison
retired IN good order under cover of
darkness on BezonyeauX. Still one more
night the French covering troops car
ricd out their order under the most try
ing weather conditions and held the
line Of Bras-Douaumont."
The statement deals with tho first
phases Of the battle previous 10 the
attack upon and the recapture Of Dou-
aumont.