THE GERMAN FAILURE IN THE ARGONNE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2543, 18 August 1915, Page 5

THE GERMAN FAILURE IN THE ARGONNE

HUNS DRIVEN LIKE CATTLE INTO THE FIRE ZONE By Tclegr.lpli—Press AewiriaUon—Oopyriglit (Tier. August 17, 10.10 p.m.) Paris, August 17. German prisoners from tho Argonue admit that the Crown Prince's sacrifices in the recent fighting ware jimohijst tho hca.viest in the war. The troops are for from optimistic. A tetter which wd* found'nn » ai tho *2ad I'russiau Infantry. Regiment, who was IsUlqtl. pa Mtttoß

that he had previously escaped a'perfect massacre. The letter concludes as follows : —",VII oui' l'also'hopes liavo vanished, and the movement has again failed. It is a cruel thing to see so many sacrificed for nothing." Private information sliows that the battle of August 7 was terrific. After an extremely violent bombardment, three German regiments fiercely assailed the French .position between Vienne-le-Chatoau and Laharazeo. Twenty thousand sheik of all sizes were fired in a few hours, but the French troops] notwithstanding the murderous hail, did not yield an inch, receiving the shock of the enemy's onrush with intense stoicism. The .struggle was sharp, and the immediate result was doubtful. The Germans at certain points manifestly wavered, but after a moment's confusion suddenly resumed tho assault, although it meant certain death. Prisoners explained that this hopeless rush was due to the German commanders' order to cut down the waverors with grapeshot from their own ma-chine-guns. Forty soldiers i" one company ivero killed in this way by their comrades. Tho final .attacks were most disastrous, being executed by 'troops who had been driven forward by this ferocious discipline, and mad with terror. Hardly any returned to their own line, whither they were pursued by showers of shells and solid shot from the French, batteries, which had been brought to hear at tho most effective moment. The rout was completed by a brilliant charge by two companies of infantrynear Laharazee, where tho enemy still held certain trenches.' The Germans in this part of the battle lost four thousand killed, upwards of half the force which was there. FRENCH OFFICIAL 1 COMMUNIQUE.' Paris, August 16. A communique states: "In the Vosges the explosion of a mine in an enemy trench between Burnhaupt les Bas ana Amurtzwiller enabled us to capture a mimbor of prisoners, two bomb-tlvrowers, and machine-guns." (Rcc. August 17, 10.30 p.m.) . Paris, August 17. A communique states:—"Our batteries have caused considerable losses to the enemy in tho Quiennevieres district, and seriously damaged the German works northward of Godat, near Berry au Bac (on tho Aisne). "The enemy is again shelling Saint Die. "We exploded' the gasometers at St. Marie aux Mines, and sot fire to a German factory eastward of Munster (in Alsace)."