purpose in this operation was to extend their offensive front.

On March 20, 1916, after intense bombardment in which their heaviest
guns were employed, the Germans sent a new division that had been
hurried up from another front against the French positions between
Avocourt and Malancourt. The attackers were thrown back in disorder at
every point but a corner of Malancourt Wood. During the night, though
strongly opposed by the French, who contested every foot of ground,
and despite heavy losses, the Germans penetrated and occupied Avocourt
Wood, from which they could not be dislodged. The French were,
however, in a position to prevent them from leaving the wood, and
every attempt made by the Germans to debouch met with failure.

On March 22, 1916, the Germans having bombarded throughout the day,
made a number of attacks between Avocourt Wood and Malancourt village.
The French defeated every effort they made to leave the wood, but they
obtained a foothold on Haucourt Hill, where the French occupied the
redoubt.

For five days the Germans were engaged in filling up their broken
units with fresh troops and in preparing plans of attack. On March 28,
1916, strong bodies of German infantry were thrown against the French
front at Haucourt and Malancourt. In numbers they far outmatched the
French defenders, but they gained no advantage and were thrown back in
disorder. Emboldened by this success, the French on the 29th
counterattacked to recover Avocourt Wood, and occupied the southeast
corner, which included an important stronghold, the Avocourt Redoubt.

The Germans attacked and bombarded throughout the day. Their attempts
to regain the captured position in the wood failed, but they secured a
foothold on the northern edge of the village of Malancourt.

This place was held by a single French battalion. It formed a salient
in the French line, and the Germans appeared to be desperately eager
to capture it. In the night of March 30, 1916, they launched mass
attacks from three sides of the village. The fighting was of the most
violent character and raged all night long. There were hand-to-hand
struggles from house to house; the losses were heavy on both sides.
Finally the French were forced to evacuate, the place now a mass of
ruins. They occupied, however, positions that commanded the exits to
the place.

Early in the evening of the following day, the 31st, the Germans
launched two violent attacks on French positions northe