The Topeka state journal., 1916-05-25
Terrible Sacrifice Without Ulti.
mate Gain to Either.
German SmaSheS Recover
Ground France Won.
HlSTORY'S BL00DIEST FIGHT
French Evacuate Dead Man
Hill Before Invaders.
Detachment Holding Advance
Position Is Decimated.

Berlin, May 25.-The gigantic
German nut cracker is closing in
upon verdun in the bioodiest fight in
all history
The right jaw has advanced on
front of three miles in the last ~
hours in the great struggle northwest
of the fortress. The French have
evacuated the entire Deadman Hill
position northwest of Verdun after
sacrificing more than a whole army
corps in vain efforts to hold it.
Hill 3o4, corner stone of the French
outer defense west of the Meuse, is
now held Jointly by Germans and
French. Further slight advances for
Germans in the ravines on either side
will force its surrender to the right
wing of the German army, which
occupied Cumieres village Tuesday
night
The left jaw of the crown princes
great fighting machine bent back
slightly under the most terrific blows
delivered by the French since the
Verdun struggle began has recon
quered entirely positions temporarily
surrendered to the French. 1t is esti-
mated here that $4,000 men died
fighting in dark underground caverns
and about the ruins of Fort Douau-
mont in 72 hours of battle without
Changing the Datlle ifne IN the
slightest
| Authoritative denial was made here
| today OF French claims that General
Neiville's forces even temporarily re-
I occupied the ruins of Fort Douau-
| mont In the most desperate hand-to-
| hand struggle in the war a force did
succeed in capturing redoubt and
| ruined work connected with the fort.
| The only French detachment that
penetrated the ruins of the fort it,
self was completely wiped out. not
a single survivor escaping.
Can't Rescue Wounded.
Strewn about the southern and
western approaches to the ruined fort
are countless dead and wounded.
Since the French attack began Sun
day night the fury of the battle has
not waned, but has grown more tense
and there has been no chance to reach
| the dying.
! West of the Meuse the French are
being steadily driven back upon the
verdun forts. The capture of
Cumeires opens the way for Ger
man drive down the Meuse upon
! Chattancourt and Fort Burrous.
The German center. which drove
| the French from the Deadman Hill
positions has not yet occupied all the
aba ndoned works because of the fact
that French artillery is playing upon
the southern ridges.
All day attacks by the French in
the Callko1te WOOd southeast OF fOTt
lDouaumont, in which the French mat
with severe losses were beaten off by
the Germans, who report the capture
of more than $50 prisoners and IA
machine guns.
Lull of Exhaustion.
London, May 25.-Utter exhaustion
of the human elements in the two
great fighting machines brought a luil
in the struggle around Verdun early
today.
The frightful slaughter around Fort
Douaumont came to a halt last night
with the fort again in German hands
During the night the French made ne
effort to wrest the position from the
hands of the conquering Bavarians.
Violent fighting occurred south and
southwest of the fortress late yester-
day in which Berlin claims the cap
ture of French positions in the Haudo-
mont quarry and near Cumieres vii
lage, where the French announce an
advance. However, on Hill 304 and
Immediately before Fort Douaumont,
: throughout the night There was no
, let up, however, in the tremendous
struggle between German and French
. artillery. On both banks of the Meuse
: the cannonading was of terrific pro-
portions.
: Still on Austrian Soil.
Rome May 25.-The official bull
letin issued last night by the war de-
partment indicates further defense
lines have been taken up by the Ital-
ians, who are still on Austrian terri
tory in the Lagarina valley, where the
attempts of the Austrains to recapture
the village of Marco, about 15 miles
v south of Rovereto have failed.
In the Arsa valley, the direct
route to Vicenza, the Austrian and
Italians are fighting on the frontier
: line. Between this point and the
= Astico river the Italians have with
: drawn from the upper basin of the
r Posina river, which comprises part Of
= the Terragnola valley and have con-
s centrated in the Arsiero basin which
e descends to Schio and Vicenza.
e 100000 viii Parade