To mark an epoch in the six months' battle for the great fortress on the Mouse. The Germans appear to be less and less capable of operating on their old overwhelming scale, and the initiative, military men here think, is about to pass to the French for good. While the German artillery continues to be as powerful and as well supplied as ever, the Germans no longer are able to gather the masses of troops necessary to reap the benefit of artillery preparation. It is twenty days since the Germans made their last big attack on the right bank of the Meuse. On the left bank of the Meuse nothing beyond local actions have the Germans attempted for a week. French bomb throwers for a fortnight past. In anticipation of the present offensive, had been creeping forward by the Vignes ravine, east of Frol-de-Terre, with the object of getting near Thiaumont work by working around hill No. 365. The bombers first reached the Rras Ferry road. They then separated into two parties, one going to the eastward toward Thiaumont work and the second pushing northward toward Ynehorauville and Pepper Hill. Last week the first party stormed a redoubt west of Thiaumont, and after a stiff fight went beyond that position. The second party reached the little wood of Vacherauville. The whole section from Vacherauville to the approaches of Sotiville thus were in the hands of the French, and the higher command judged the time ripe to attack from all sides at once. Attacked from the northwest and the southeast, the Germans  In Fleury offered desperate resistance, but the French bayonets finally prevailed. 