The sun., 1917-08-21
Special Gable DesputcA to Tnn sux

PARIS. Aug. 20.-Nerdun, called by
Maurice Barras. the French Academy
expert. the centre of the universe"
during the spring of 1916, came to-day
strikingly to the foreground of the Eu-
ropean war situation when the French.
with one daring drive, practically SGT
at naught the gains the German Crown
Prince had made. On a front of a
trine more than eleven miles. extend
ing from Avocourt Wood, on the left
bank Of the Meuse River. to Hill 240,
north Of Louvemont. on the right bank.
the French captured many valuable
positions that had cost the Germans
100000 lives and millions upon millions
| of treasure
Both of the spurs that bear the name
Dead Mans lIill, perhaps the most
famous graveyards in Europe, Grow
| Wood and Cumieres, fell to the French
on the western side of tho river, while
Talou Ridge, Champneuville and the
| commanding hills 344 and 24O repre-
sented the typographical booty on the
eastern bank.
sixteen AirpIanes Downed.
For mile and quarter in depth the
French moved forward along the eleven
mile front. In less than two hours after
| the infantry was ordered ahead. all of
| the French objectives were in hand
More than 1000 prisoners were in French
hands and sixteen German airpanes had
been dropped.
The new battle OF Nerdun began early
| this morning after an intense artillery
preparation of three days. with ire
sistible dash the French attacked the
| lines that the Germans had held since
| February OF 1916. As position after 20
siton fell before the French. they con-
| solidated their gains and pushed ahead.
In the preliminary bombardment the
| French aviators did great work. They
| directed the artillery with deadly effec'
Dead Mans H!ll and Hll SJ4 were
smothered with fire, which also de-
stroyed the German lines OF communica-
| ton and prevented both men and mum
tions from coming to the front. Grea
quantities of military supplies, munitions
| and stores. to say nothing Of aviation
camps and centres. We're wiped out bv
the aviators and the artillery.
| The Crown Prince had brought up
| large forces Of fresh troops. but thev
were unable TO get through the curtain
! TO take part in the combat. or to stou
! the advance of the Frenchmen. MANY
| prisoners are coming through the French
| i''''r n''A lit itpOI - ITODl lnt Ddf
tieground say the struggle continues with
| unabated fury
Tragic and OvcrwheimInI."
Again and again the Germans counter
attacked in an effort to get back ther
lost ground. They failed at all points
Avocourt Wood. Dead Mans Hill and
Hin 30+ We're the scenes OF intense
| fighting. At low heights. the French
aviators turned their machine guns on
the German forces ana played havoc
| with their new formations.
The last phase Of the artillery prepa-
ration ended at 4,40 o'clock. Then be-
tween AvoCourt Wood and Bc2onyauN.
me infantry started tho ball. Before +
O'Clock tn" first German prisoners were
on their way to the French rear The
Germans had been forced everywhere to
abandon their first lines under the ar
tillery attack. and the infantry passed
from trench TO trench, taking all OF the
living occupants.
1T was tragic and overwhelming" de-
clared special despatch to tho TcmDs
from Bar-le-Duc
| The points taken to-day by the FreuC.,
easily cost the Germans the population
or city of first rank in any country
In the world, In point of expenditure
OF ammunition also the German atta,.y
set a new mark 70 the military world.
To-day's losses for the Germans.
based upon their key figures and az
piled to the known prisoners. show tlat
more than full army corps Of A0.ODr
men have fallen in the short fighting
that is recoid ded IN the first official state
ment, with the full story of the losses
yet to come.
The German official communication
issued this evening. as received here,
says the French attacks I'm the NordUu
region We're everywhere repulsed eXC"nr
. In Avocourt wood. Taiou wood and at
lie Morte Homme. and that tho battle :
. now going on in the favor OF the Ger
, mans,