ome idea of the great courage and devotion displayed by the French
troops during the intense struggle around Douaumont village may be
gained from the statement made by an infantry officer which appeared
in the Army Bulletin, and from which some quotations may be made.

The Germans on March 2, 1916, at 3.15 a. m. had attacked the village
simultaneously from the north by a ravine and on the flank, where they
debouched from the fort, and certain covered positions which the
French had not had time to reconnoiter.

"The Germans we saw first were those who came from the fort. They were
wearing French helmets, and for a moment our men seemed uncertain as
to their identity. Major C---- called out: 'Don't fire! They are French.'
The words were hardly out of his mouth before he fell with a bullet in
his neck. This German trick made us furious, and the adjutant cried:
'Fire for all you're worth! They are Germans!' But the enemy continued
his encircling movement with a view to taking the village.

"The battalion which was charged with its defense had lost very
heavily in the bombardment, and most of its machine guns were out of
action, but they were resolved to make any sacrifice to fulfill their
trust. When their left was very seriously threatened, the Tenth
Company made a glorious charge straight into the thick of the oncoming
German masses. The hand-to-hand struggle was of the fiercest
description, and French bayonets wrought deadly havoc among the German
ranks. This company went on fighting until it was at length completely
submerged in the flood, and the last we saw of it was a handful of
desperate heroes seeking death in the heart of the struggle."

An attempt at this time was made by the Germans to debouch from
Douaumont village on the southwestern side, with the evident purpose
of forcing their way to the top of the crest in the direction of
Thiaumont Farm.

[Illustration: Western Battle Front, August, 1916.]

"The commander of the Third Company," to continue the French officer's
narrative, "immediately made his dispositions to arrest their
progress. A machine gun was cleverly placed and got to work. In a
short time the hundred or so of Germans that had got through were so
vigorously peppered that only about twenty of them got back. This gun
was in action until nightfall, dealing with successive German parties
that attempted to advance from the western and southwestern sides of
the village."

After describing how th