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Show FRENCH GAIN GOAL SET BHENERALS SHARP SMASHING ATTACK At VERDUN OVERCOMES POWER. FUL DEFENSE OF GERMANS. Thousands of German Prisoner Poured Into the French Lines, During Day's Fighting, Many Cannon Being Captured. Paris. A short, sharp battle brought to the French on Saturdaj their third smashing victory within two months in the vicinity of Ver 'dun. Every objective of the French commanders was obtained. Although the Germans offered a des. perate defense the attack was so powerful pow-erful there was no withstanding it, with the result that the Germans were pushed back along the line by the. French, who only ceased on orders when the objectives had been gained, Thousands of German prisoners poured into the French lines during Xhe day, including 200 officers, anJ are still arriving. The total counl already is 7,500. One division alon captured more than 1,200 Germani within an hour. iMore than eighty cannon were captured or destroyed. The villages of Vacherauville, Lou vemont and Besonvaux and Hardau mont Wood now are in French hands The front was ten kilometers long, When the fighting ceased, owing to the darkness, the French advance had exceeded an average of three kilometers kilome-ters along the whole front, at various points rushing further out. The battle began at, 10 o'clock in the morning with the left flank of the French opposite Vacherauville and the right flank on Fort Vaux. General Mangin was again the print pipal organizer of the victory, in which he followed his own example at Douau-piont Douau-piont and Fort Vaux by delivering irresistible ir-resistible blows at the chief point iD the German lines and hammering until his opponents were forced to give ground. Generals Nivelle and Petain watched the engagement, in which only four French divisions participated, participat-ed, although it is known the Germans had five divisions engaged, from every regiment of which prisoners were taken. It is reported without confirmation that several of the German divisions which took part in the fighting were hurried from Roumania to rejoin the crown prince's army, and that they, were among those suffering defeat. |