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Show GENERAL PETAIN OPENS OFFENSIVE IN VERDUN REGION BERLIN, Sept. 8, via London. The French have resumed the offensive in the Verdun region, accoring to today's war office statement. They attacked last night, on a twenty-mile front, but were repulsed, it is declared. This morning the battle was renewed. The statement reads; Western war theater, front of Crown Prince Ruppreeht: A thick fog limited lim-ited the fighting activity in the northern north-ern portion of the Flanders front. From Southoult wood to the Coniines-Ypres Coniines-Ypres canal the firing increased to great intensity. British reconnoiter-mg reconnoiter-mg enterprises were repulsed. Front of the German crown prince: The artillery buttle before Verdun continued yesterday. On the eastern bank of the Meuse the artillery fire repeatedly increased to drumfire intensity. in-tensity. Shortly before nightfall a French attack was launched between Samoinieux and the Beaumont-Va-cherauville road, twenty miles. Thanks to strong resistance and . attacking force of our infantry and the defensive fire of our artillery, lite enemy's success was prevented. Their storming waves, followed by strong reserves, were repulsed. At points whore they penetrated our battle troops threw -themselves aga Inst the enemy and drove them back, some of the French companies being wiped out. The enemy losses were heavey. During the night the artillery fire continued with undiminished Intensity and early this morning it increased to the most intense drumfire' from Beaumont Beau-mont to Bezonvaux. Since t5 a. m. fresh Infantry engagements have been in progress. From Ramogneux to the Feaumont-VarherauvUle Feaumont-VarherauvUle road, the front of the French attack of last night as specified in the foregoing statement, the distance Is approximately two miles, 'making it appear probable that an error in transmission trans-mission of the German text is responsible for the mention of a twenty-mile front of the attack. From Beaumont to Rezon- vaux, where drumfire was opened Satnr-dav Satnr-dav noininc, ia a!prn.in;ately three and three -fourths miles. |