HILL 304: THE DEMI.LUNE TRENCH, THE FARTHEST POINT OF THE
FRENCH ADVANCE
HILL 304: TRENCHES OF THE ZOUAVES; OFFICERS WATCHING THE
SECOND WAVE OF TUE ATTACK
THE CROWN PRINCE TUNNEL.
French troops in occupation after clearing out the Germans.
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The Crown Prince’s defeat at Verdun
Three entire batteries were asphyxiated by the explosion of a store of their own gas shells, caused by a French shell which fell plumb in the middle of it
The moral and strategical value of the French advance in front of Verdun becomes more and more evident as one is able to review quietly what has been done. In very many cases among the thousands of prisoners, not only the men, but the officers - there are nearly 200 of them - are undisguisedly glad to have been taken. The accuracy and the tremendous volume of our bombardment and barrage-fire have purged them of their war lust. In one Division the whole of three regiments are either dead or prisoners. Three entire batteries were asphyxiated by the explosion of a store of their own gas shells, caused by a French shell which fell plumb in the middle of it.
But the most vital fact to be considered in reckoning up the enemy’s losses is that they were not confined to the troops in the front lines. In anticipation of the attack and with a view to prompt counter-attack the German commanders had brought up unusually numerous reserves, and the French directed a considerable part of their preliminary fire on points where these forces were assembled, as well as on the positions to be taken. A battalion in process of being relieved lost two-thirds of its effectives and farther back behind the lines the casualties were so heavy that no counter- attack on the scale which was to be expected has as yet been attempted.
Another point to be noted is that two-thirds of the prisoners were taken on the left bank of the Meuse. The positions there were so valuable to the Germans that they posted an unusually large number of men in the front trenches in the hope of being able to hold them, contrary to their regular custom nowadays, which is to leave as few troops as possible in ground necessarily exposed to the main force of a bombardment preparatory to a big attack, to say nothing of the attack itself.
But if the positions on the left bank were of such importance to the enemy it is obvious that they are likely to be at least as useful to the French, by whom they are now held. And that is undoubtedly the case. If the strategical value of the heights of the Mort Homme, Cunmieres, Cote de l’Oie, and Regneville was worth four points to the enemy, then, in Parliamentary language, they certainly count now eight on a division to General Petain. On the front of attack of these three days the Crown Prince’s forces have been driven back, so that they are nowhere less than seven miles from Verdun and at the same time they have lost the advantage of most of the commanding heights surrounding the city and its forts, and been compelled, willy-nilly, to resign it, and all that may go with it, to their opponents.
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Very early yesterday morning the impetuous valour of the French won back, on the left bank of the Meuse, Hill 304 and the wreck of what was once the little Camard Wood that lies in the slight depression between it and Hill 287, just east of the road going north to Haucourt. Nor did they stop there, but, still advancing north, carried a line of fortified works and came to the southern bank of the Forges Brook, between Haucourt and Bethincourt. At the same time, farther east, they widened their hold on the ground north of the famous Mort Homme height to a depth of three-quarters of a mile.
These continued successes of the French at Verdun have much more than their superficial importance. All the ground that was won back yesterday morning is thronged with memories of the men of France who defended it in May, 1916. It was here that the utmost German effort against the Verdun defences on the left bank of the Meuse was put forth during that month and into June. Here the German guns smote the French positions with a weight of metal never known before, though the Allies have been able to surpass it since.
But if the positions on the left bank were of such importance to the enemy it is obvious that they are likely to be at least as useful to the French, by whom they are now held. And that is undoubtedly the case. If the strategical value of the heights of the Mort Homme, Cunmieres, Cote de l’Oie, and Regneville was worth four points to the enemy, then, in Parliamentary language, they certainly count now eight on a division to General Petain. On the front of attack of these three days the Crown Prince’s forces have been driven back, so that they are nowhere less than seven miles from Verdun and at the same time they have lost the advantage of most of the commanding heights surrounding the city and its forts, and been compelled, willy-nilly, to resign it, and all that may go with it, to their opponents.
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Verdun restored
Verdun was always the key to the defence of France. In the last few days one after another of the bastions of that defence, which Germany won in the spring of 1916, have been regained
Very early yesterday morning the impetuous valour of the French won back, on the left bank of the Meuse, Hill 304 and the wreck of what was once the little Camard Wood that lies in the slight depression between it and Hill 287, just east of the road going north to Haucourt. Nor did they stop there, but, still advancing north, carried a line of fortified works and came to the southern bank of the Forges Brook, between Haucourt and Bethincourt. At the same time, farther east, they widened their hold on the ground north of the famous Mort Homme height to a depth of three-quarters of a mile.
These continued successes of the French at Verdun have much more than their superficial importance. All the ground that was won back yesterday morning is thronged with memories of the men of France who defended it in May, 1916. It was here that the utmost German effort against the Verdun defences on the left bank of the Meuse was put forth during that month and into June. Here the German guns smote the French positions with a weight of metal never known before, though the Allies have been able to surpass it since.
Here, while the world held its breath and Great Britain hastened her preparations for the Somme offensive, Germany poured forth her men like water to make good her mastery of Verdun. In vain. The twin summits of Mort Homme were in turn searched with shell till nothing lived upon them. The French withdrew to the reverse slopes, and still held on. After days of thunderous assault, Hill 304 passed slowly and at dreadful cost into German hands, and from Mort Homme itself the French at last drew back. Through Camard Wood the enemy drove one of the last and most terrible of his attacks. But close behind these positions - that should, by all the rules, of war, have made him irresistible - the French line none the less stood firm. The slopes of Mort Homme, as many observers have testified, were piled high with German dead, and the price that the German Crown Prince thought fit to pay there was no higher than he paid for Hill 304, and the Esnes ravine that cuts between them, and the small wood of Camard, smitten to obliteration. It bought no more than the mockery of their possession. The valour of France, embodied in Verdun, defied purchase, even at that dreadful price.
France paid, too, and paid heavily; but now, after fifteen months have gone, takes that for which she paid. Now the weight of artillery, as our Correspondent with the Verdun Army shows today, is with her, But it is not only artillery. The spirit of France lives in the “extraordinary patience of the French soldier, which, combined with his excellent physique, makes his mind and body so untired in spite of the tremendous mental and bodily strain of the war that he seems today just as full of energy and even more determined than in the first enthusiasm of the rush into Alsace and Lorraine.”
Verdun, as our Correspondent says truly, was always the key to the defence of France. In the last few days one after another of the bastions of that defence, which Germany won in the spring of 1916, have been regained. There is in this the -whole hope and confidence of the Alliance. What Germany has won and still holds she will in due course be made to restore; that, and more also.
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Nothing could have been steadier than the way in which the French infantry resisted the determined attack made by the Germans yesterday morning on the positions north-east of Verdun between Beaumont and Bezonvaux, which the French have occupied since September 8. The attack was not unexpected, as the enemy had for some days before been deluging the lines of communication between the front and Verdun with frequent barrages. But that in no way detracts from the fine quality of their stand, which completely broke down the German effort.
There were two subsidiary attacks, the one on the French left from Beaumont. the other just above Bezonvaux on their right, carried out by units of the 48th and the 78th Divisions of Reserve. Our trenches south of Beaumont were held by Colonial troops, who, as soon as they saw the enemy advancing, charged out to meet them and with bayonets and grenades drove them back into their own trenches.
France paid, too, and paid heavily; but now, after fifteen months have gone, takes that for which she paid. Now the weight of artillery, as our Correspondent with the Verdun Army shows today, is with her, But it is not only artillery. The spirit of France lives in the “extraordinary patience of the French soldier, which, combined with his excellent physique, makes his mind and body so untired in spite of the tremendous mental and bodily strain of the war that he seems today just as full of energy and even more determined than in the first enthusiasm of the rush into Alsace and Lorraine.”
Verdun, as our Correspondent says truly, was always the key to the defence of France. In the last few days one after another of the bastions of that defence, which Germany won in the spring of 1916, have been regained. There is in this the -whole hope and confidence of the Alliance. What Germany has won and still holds she will in due course be made to restore; that, and more also.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/enemys-vain-blow-at-verdun-vlzcx780c?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_December%2013,%202017&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_2647515_118
Enemy’s vain blow at Verdun
Some few of the enemy’s troops reached our front trenches in the centre, but they were promptly driven out
There were two subsidiary attacks, the one on the French left from Beaumont. the other just above Bezonvaux on their right, carried out by units of the 48th and the 78th Divisions of Reserve. Our trenches south of Beaumont were held by Colonial troops, who, as soon as they saw the enemy advancing, charged out to meet them and with bayonets and grenades drove them back into their own trenches.
The main attack in the centre on a front of a mile and a half had had for its objective Hill 353, midway between the two flanks and some distance behind the French front trenches. The position is important. as it stands on the high ground of the ridge from which the road runs due north towards Azanines and Longtoyon. crossed at right angles, a little way behind the German first line, by another ridge, along which runs the main road between Beaumont and Ornes.
The French, whose trenches at this point run along the north edge of the Bois de Fosses and the Bois de Chaume, were assaulted by four battalions of the 13th Reserve Division and the Rohr Battalion of shock troops, the crack corps of this special formation (named after the German officer by whom it was first raised and trained), and the attack was supported by heavy artillery fire, chiefly from batteries stationed behind the heights on the north-east between Azannes and Ornes.
Some few of the enemy’s troops reached our front trenches in the centre, but they were promptly driven out, again, and here, as on the right and left, after fierce hand-to-hand fighting, the whole of the attacking force except a large number of killed and wounded and 50 prisoners were pushed back to their starting-point, with not a foot of ground gained to console them for their heavy losses. Further fruitless efforts to advance were, made in the afternoon. But the Crown Prince ought by this time to know that the Armies of Verdun are as solid as her eastern walls.
The French, whose trenches at this point run along the north edge of the Bois de Fosses and the Bois de Chaume, were assaulted by four battalions of the 13th Reserve Division and the Rohr Battalion of shock troops, the crack corps of this special formation (named after the German officer by whom it was first raised and trained), and the attack was supported by heavy artillery fire, chiefly from batteries stationed behind the heights on the north-east between Azannes and Ornes.
Some few of the enemy’s troops reached our front trenches in the centre, but they were promptly driven out, again, and here, as on the right and left, after fierce hand-to-hand fighting, the whole of the attacking force except a large number of killed and wounded and 50 prisoners were pushed back to their starting-point, with not a foot of ground gained to console them for their heavy losses. Further fruitless efforts to advance were, made in the afternoon. But the Crown Prince ought by this time to know that the Armies of Verdun are as solid as her eastern walls.
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