The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-09
GERMANS R0UT
FRENCH IN FIGHT
Verdun in Greatest Peril Since
Battle Began.
TEUToNS TAKE HILL 265
Joffre's Troops Driven Back West OF
the Meuse by Wall Of Liquid
>,a Fire--kaises Minis Cor
beaux Woods.

London, March S.-Verdun is in
greater peril than at any time in the
l6 days of fighting which have made
the battle the greatest in all history.
Crushing southwark on the west
bank. OF the Meuse in the drive which
captured FORCES and adding more
than mile to the desperate advance
made yesterday, the Germans last
night swept into the Corbeaux woods
on the line from Bethincourt, east to
the Meuse, routing the French from
strong positions and forging another
link in the chain which is threatening
to strangle the defenders of the great
fortress and take by siege the posi-
lions which cannot be taken by force
of artillery and men.
Paris Admits Loss.
Capture of the positions in the Cor
beaux woods is admitted in the COM
| munique from Paris, as is the loss OF
the village of Fresnes, which was
claimed in the official statement from
| German headquarters describing the
successful advance of the encircline
movement ON both TANKS of the front
around Verdun.
The new German gain followed the
capture of Hill 265, an important
strategic height west of the Meuse
| where 10000 of the crown princes
/ picked troops were hurled forward
| against French batteries and masseG
infantry formations. routing the
French before a wall of liquid flame
and taking the height on the third
! charge.
infantry Fighting RACES.
Infantry fighting is violent on the
western sector of the Nerdun front
and the German advance. which i'm
| perils not only the western fortified
tions but the vital supply lines of the
! fortress, is renewing such q fear il
| France as was felt only in the first
sweeping seven days drive of the
| Teutons.
Another indication of the determine
ton of the Germans to capture Yer
! dun at all costs is revealed in Gen
eva dispatch which announces thai
Austrian troops are being moved into
France TO REINFORCE the Germans
This is the first time Austrians have
been used on this front.
Report From Paris.
The cOmmunique from Paris says
In the Argonne our special gun!
have brought down German aero
plane which fell within our lines il
the region of Avocourt The two avi
ators, who were wounded, were takeI
prisoners. ...-
West of the Meuse the lombard
ment with shells of large caliber con
tinues with intensity. During the da!
the Germans multiplied their infantr!
actions between Bethincourt and tn,
Mouse. All these attacks were re
pulsed except in the sector of the Cor
beaux woods, where the Germans wer'
able to get a footing. ...
East of the Neuse, after a Violen
artillery battle in the region of tn
Hardumont woods. the Germans pene
trated a redoubt, but were immediate
ly driven out by our counter-attack
:. In Woeyre, after struggle whicl
cost them heavy losses, the German
occupied the village of Fresnes.
I'm the Vosges we have bombardet
the environments of Diffenbach. cas-
of Muhlbach. and opposing trenche
in the region OF Wattweiler."
Berlin Announces Gain.
The statement from Berlin concern
: ing the lighting around yerdun says
In the Mouse district the artiller
fire on the west bank was more live
ly. East of the river 1t maintaine
medium violence. Apart from engage
, ments between accommodating partie
/ no hand -to-hand fighting with the EN-
/ my took place.
: In the Woevre district the yillag
Of Fresnes was captured by storr
: early Tuesday morning. Howeye
} the French are still holding their ow
= in a few houses on the western on
> skirts The French lost more tina
J 800 men in prisoners.
Il During the night the railway ST
: ton at Bar lie Due was heavily bon
barded by one OF our airships."