The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-06
Big Guns Batter Defending
/. Forts On More / han Fifty
Miles Of Front
ALLIES ABOUT VERDUN
DRIVE BACK GERMANS
One Reverse Is admitted By
Berlin In Statement hat
Unnecessary Ltsses W ere
30 Avoided

London. March 5.--Thg Germans
within the last twenty-four hours
have suffered series of checks in
their operations against Nerdun. 1T
one point, in the region northeast of
Badonviller, they have been forced to,
cede ground.
Their terrific bombardmcmt of the
defending forts continues without in
terruption on more lnan fifiy miles OF
front, but their infantry attacks have,
for the moment at least. been brought
to standstill
The Berlin official statement today
admits that German detachment
near Baderviller was oh,iecd 10 give
up trench captured from the French
almost a week ago.
To Avoid Unnecessary Losses.
This force was subjected tn con-
centrated fire and was threatened with
development. according to the Berlin
report and was Withdrawn lin order
to avoid unnecessary losses"
A German attempt to advance along
the Mouse east of Vacherauville
village to the north of Bras. was
broken up by French gun fire. This
was the only infantry action Of the
day. The Germans as dusk was falling
last evening. launched q furious as
sault on the key front between Fort
Douaumont and Haudremont wood:
Strong artillery preparation had been
made for the effort, torrent of shells
being poured on the French positions
throughout the afternoon. When the
moment of attack came, however.
concealed French guns opened up on
the advancing legions, tearing great
gaps in their ranks. The Germans
were forced to fall hack to the shelter
of their trenches.
The French midnight statement re-
ports a furious artillery battle in this
region. So far as changes of posi-
tion go. however. neither side has ex-
tended or withdrawn its lines The
French state that the outskirts OF
Douaumont village are still In their
hands. the Germans holding the shat
tered houses and shell-s~ept streets.
sharp Bombartimcnts Continue.
According to both French state
nenfs today. The homhardnlent IL
continuous along the entire semi
circle which the Germans have drawn
around Verdun. The points of great
est intensity are the Bouaumort-
Haudremont front. Deadman's Hin
and Goose Hill, west OF the Mouse.
and the chain OF heights which hr.na
to an end the woevre Plain. In this
latter region big gun fire of the utmost
intensity is being directed against the
French defenses before Fresnes and
east of Haudiomont. The French ar
tillery is replying effectively.
West of Nerdun, through the
Argonne to the region OF scissors,
the French have kept up for more
than forty -eight hours a sharp bonn
bardment of the organizations behind
the German front.
Official reports on the fighting of
the last twenty-four hours follow
German Official Report.
Berlin. March wireless via Say
yille) Western theater: Towards
the evening of yesterday there was
a lively hostile fire at several places
on our front The French artillery
fire was uninterrupted and very active
between the Meuse and the Moselle.
Their bombardment was especially
violent, but not long continued in the
Douamont District There were no
infantry engagements.
t In order to avoid unnecessary
losses the Germans evacuated trench
which they had captured from the
French on February Is. near the OBJ
servation post northeast OF Badon-
viller ana which was being subjected
to an encircling fire by massed troops.
Eastern theater--Tn the Illuxt dis
trict Russian attempt to attack after
blasting operations was frustrated
similarly other advances OF hostile re-