The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-23
French after Three Months Re-
capture the Great Part of
Fort Douaumont.
GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL
Germans Now Hold Only Small
Angle of the Fort of
Douaunont.

PARIS, May 23-Fighting contin-
ued with extreme violence on both
banks Of the Mouse along the Verdun
front during the whole night. Two
German counter attacks on French
positions on hill 304 failed complete
ly, the war ficeNannounced today.
The French made further gains
within Fort Douaumont. The Ger
mans now hold only small anglo on
the northeastern corner of the fort.
Battle Very Severe.
The battle around hill 304 was
especially severe. In attacking
French positions on the west side OF
the hill the Germans used liquid gas,
the official statement says, and pen
etrated one of the French trenches,
but were dislodged at once. On tho
east side of the hill the Germans at.
tackled after intense artillery prepa-
ration but were not permitted to
reach the French line.
The principal fighting east OF the
Meuse was in the sector between Thi-
aumont and Douaumont The Ger
mans attacked in massed formation
and are said to have suffered enor-
nous losses. They succeeded in re-
occupying one Of the trenches north
of Thiaumont farm, which had been
captured by the French.
Fort Recapturcd.
Recapture by the French after
three months of the greater part of
Fort Douaumont, which was taken
by the Germans at the outset of
their Verdun drive. is received with
great citation by the press and tho
public, the more so on account of the
effect 1t is expected to have on neu-
trail opinion. General Nivelle, the
French commander at Verdun, took
advantage Of the fact that the Ger
mans recently have been concen-
-trating all their attention on Dead
Man hill on the other side of the
river and assembled a large amount
of artillery for the attack on Douau-
mont sector.
On Sunday General Niyelle began
a heavy artillery attack on Fort
Douaumont and adjacent positions.
The hour fixed for the infantry as
sault was 4:30 p. M yesterday.
When the moment came French in
fantry, which had been carefully Sc
lected and trained, began the advance
singing Lle MarSellalSe.
Stubborn Resistance.
The German resistance at some
points was stubborn. On the Froide
Terre road and ut 'Douaumont the
French had to force back the Ger
man infantry inch by inch at the
point of bayonets. The leading
French contingent reached Douau-
mont at p. m. They killed the Ger
mans who resisted and sent to the
rear large number of prisoners.
AS soon as they recovered from
their surprise the Germans launched
a number of fierce counter attacks,
but all failed, and by 10 p. m.
preparations had been made to deal
with the serious effort the Germans
are expected to make to recapture
the lost position.
German Line Shaken.
The French success is considered
by military critics here to have
shaken the whole German line at
Verdun. Douaumont fort was the
most important point captured by the
Germans and the French gain there
Is regard as having nullified the most
significant achievement of the Ger
mans in the great battle Of three
months.
To the west of the Meuse hill
295, the western summit of Dead Man
hill, has become no mans land like
Hartmanns-Wilerkopf. Once before
the French abandoned it temporarily
to avoid useless loss. reoccupying it
when the opportunity came.