DOUAUMONT FIGHTING

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 May 1916, Page 5

DOUAUMONT FIGHTING

FRENCH SEIZE/OPPORTUNE MOMENT.

MOST OF/THE FORT QUICKLY ; * REGAINED: PARIS, May 24The attack at Douaumont was dis- ' ■ fated by the fact that General Nivelle learned that the enemy __ were with- ■ drawing the troops to -assist in. an attack at Mort Homme. . General Nivelle concentrated an enorinons force of artillery opposite Donaomont Unknown' to . ' the Germans. . When * the bombardment ceased tire French . infantry dashed out, singing : ' snatches'of the "Marseillaise." The greater part- of the fortrwas cap- ' - tared in'9o minutes, after great bayonet work. When the French began the assault at : Fort de Douaumont the artillery lengthened their 'fuses and .increased! " the density of the shell curtain, cut- - ting ofr the ndavmced lines from the supports- The assaulters were - the pick of the French army. The Frenclr lines were only 350 yards from the entrance to the fort. ; * Despite the fury of the preliminary bombardment, the German defence remained" formidable, . and it took the French an hour to cover the distance. 'The ' Germans. were dug in. deep in two lines of trenches before the fort ' itself, but the French cleaned np the "first Kne in half an hour. Wave. streamed toward the second line, being twice, driven back from the broken entanglements. Then reinforcements were ordered out, and . went for the German line,with a dash that carried all before it. The troops moved : on the fcrt, where an admirably co-ordinated movement from the west, east and south, converging on the east- ■ ern' column, met- a stronger resistance. The advance from- Caillette Wood was delayed, and it looked for a time as if the whole position would be surrcrand- • ed, so rapid was the French western 4 and southern mQvement.

Many of the defenders were .caught :' \ between flanking audi frontal attacks before they coola xetire. The fort was ruined, but the-garri-son put up- a determined defence in every corner and cellar. The French with bayonet and grenade, drove back the enemy towards the north-eastern corner, where the Germans made a successful stand. All' through Monday night the fiercest * fighting continued. - HEAVY MOVE-MENT * OF ! TROOPS THROUGH LUXEMBOURG. LONDON, May 23 - There have been heavy movements of ; troops tlrrough Luxembourg for se-veral-days. Luxembourg has ffaeen isolated from Belgium, Germans forbidding ; communication.