Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1916 — FRENCH CONTINUE TO LOSE GROUND [ARTICLE]

FRENCH CONTINUE TO LOSE GROUND

Paris Admits German Victory on the Meuse. TEUTONS GAIN THREE MILES 30,000 Killed in Fighting About Fort Douaumont—Kaiser’s Troops Advance Between Haudremont Wood and Thiaumont Farm. Berlin, May 28, (by wireless). —The repulse of three counter-attacks by the French on the village of Cumleres, west of the Meuse on the Verdun front, was announced by the war office. The capture of additional French trenches southwest and south of Fort Douaumont, and the recapture of the Haudremont quarry by the Germans, are also reported. All day attacks by the French on the German lines in the Caillette wood, southeast of Fort Douaumont, in which the French met with severe losses, were beaten off by the Germans, who report the capture of more than 850 prisoners and 14 machine guns. Defeats Admitted In Paris. Paris, May 26.—Continued retreats of the French before German onslaughts on the right bank of the Meuse are officially admitted in the communique from Paris. A French defeat between Haudremont wood and Thiaumont farm, near Douaumont, is reported. Germans Gain Three Miles. Berlin, May 26. —The giant German "nutcracker" is closing in upon Verdun in the bloodiest fighting in all history.

The right Jaw has advanced on a front of three miles in the last 72 hours of the new struggle northwest of the fortress. The French have evacuated the entire Dead Man’s hill position, northwest of Verdun, after sacrificing more than a whole army corps in vain efforts to hold It. Hill 304. cornerstone of the French outer defense west of the Meuse, is now held jointly by Germans and French. Further slight advances for the Germans in the ravines on either side will force its surrender to the right wing of the German army that occupied Cumleres village Tuesday night 30,000 Died at Douaumont. The left jaw of the crown prince's great fighting machine, bent back slightly under the most terrific blows struck by the French since the Verdun struggle began, has reconquered entirely positions temporarily surrendered to the French. It is estimated there that 30,000 men died fighting in dark underground caverns and about the ruins of "'Fort Douaumont without changing the battle line in the slightest. The only French detachment that penetrated the ruins of the fort itself was completely wiped out, not a single survivor escaping. Countless Dead and Wounded. Strewn about the southern and western approaches to the ruined fort are countless dead and wounded. Since the French attack began Sunday night the fury of the battle has not waned, but has grown more intense, 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 Cumieres opens the way for a Gerna&n drive down the Meuse upon Cbattancourt and Fort Bourrus. The German center, which drove the French from the Dead Man’s Hill positions, has not yet occupied all the abandoned works, because French artillery is playing upon the southern ridges.