he Forges Mill, through the covered roads in the
valley-like depressions in the ground. It was the first wave
immediately followed by heavy columns. Our artillery fire from the
edge of Corbeaux Wood isolated them.... At times a rocket appeared in
the air; the call to the cannons, then the marking of the road. The
regular ticktack of the machine guns and the cracking of the shells
were distinctly heard even among the terrific noises of the
bombardment.

"The German barrage fire in the rear of our front lines is so
frightful that one must not dream of going through it. Where will our
reenforcements pass? The inquietude increases when at 3.15 p. m. sharp
numerous columns in disorder regain on the run the wood of Cumieres.
What a wonderful sight is the flight of the enemy! The sun shines
fully on these small moving groups. But our shells also explode among
them, and the groups separate, stop disjointed. They disappear; they
are lying down. They get up--not all of them--but do not know where to
go, like pheasants flying haphazard before the fusillade.

"With a tenacity that must be acknowledged the enemy comes back to the
charge, but the new attacks are less ordinate, less complete, and
quite weak. Even from a distance one feels that they cannot succeed as
well as the first. This lasts until sunset."

To honor the French troops for their brilliant defense General Petain
issued the following Order of the Day:

"April 9, 1916, has been a glorious day for our armies. The furious
assaults of the crown prince's soldiers have been broken everywhere;
infantry, artillerymen, sappers, and aviators of the Second Army have
rivaled each other in heroism. Honor to all!

"The Germans will attack again without a doubt; let each work and
watch, so that we may obtain the same success.

"Courage! We will win!"

Far from showing the effects of their defeat, the Germans on April 10,
1916, attacked Caillette Wood, but were repulsed. Further attempts
made in the course of the night to eject the French from the trenches
to the south of Douaumont also failed. These futile assaults by no
means weakened the Germans' determination, and on March 11, 1916, they
attacked in force the front between Douaumont and Vaux. At some points
they succeeded in penetrating the French trenches, but were driven out
by vigorous counterattacks.

On March 12, 1916, the French learned that the enemy was making
elaborate preparations to the west of the Meuse for