The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-20
But Fails to Recapture Re-
doubt on iii 3G4 Recently
Lost by Germens
ATTACK HOTTEST YET
MADE DURING WAR
Terrific B ,mbardment Preced-
ed Infantry Attack -- Pro-
gram Carefully Rehearsed at
FRINGE S Headquarters
nv &. r. Bf,R1 Ella.

luris. May l9--The fight for Hlh
No. 304. seven miles northwest or
Nerdun goes on with undiminishea
intensity. Indeed. two fresh German
divisions have been brought into ac-
tion by the Crown Prince. who seems
a. be making a supreme effort TO cap
1 re this Dominating emi1ence.
These new divisions made an ak
tack last night on the French posi-
-tionS un Hill No 3n4 and IL Inc -ANn-
court Woods. which run southwest
from Hli No. eS7. The attack was
one ~ the fiercest OF the battle The
German effort was tn recapturo the
redouht on tho Northwestern slope of
lFll 304. which the FRENCH took yes
terday, and to drive the French from
their positions. The effort failed, so
far AS this objective was concerned.
but the Germa~s did succeed in cap
turing certuta works south OF nm
No ISL
This fierce German at..-ck against
the line Of the Avocoort Wood and
mn ~. oNf va ~ tAN'FA ~ - ~
r1c boluha -tment by heavy calibre
guns which stands as the most
10 m;dahie action SO far during the
ar.
i.carai st'd tho ttttrk.
Wounded Survivors ~ Pans hos
.tGi3 today asserted that never yet
Re 4 German sstack,-prepared With
such detailed method 10 such an sc-
t4niu!at on ~ material German
risono revealed that foe F~o DAYS
l>fcas on >es-s and non commYs s.oned
trtstr-rT-s ~ t'Te regiments doETfnCd 10 at
IL X wore called TO the crown Prince 5
ut'arters wNe~e complete exact
miniature rehearsais OF the intended
attack, Nere repeated until no hitch
was possible.
One Bayar.an and one Prussian
div sion ~ cfU~ troops, which fous ht
in GanCia and Poland last year in
tseld Marshal Won Msckensen's, pha-
lanx were seiJj+ forward ia deep for
,nat4on. Everywhere a second live
regiment Was hell ready TO Hi the
sap@ in the FIRST line.
The attack was led Ivy officers
patrol bout sixty strong. each fol-
lowed by pioneers and grenadiers, who
were followed at 200 feet intervals by
waves OF infantry.
\ subalteru OF a line regiment who
~ the AVocourt position describes
"heegy shells falling SO thick Ithe
regiment was ordered TO retire TO shell
ier but the men we're nfuriated ana
fused 10 fall back until il was eN-
planned that the retirement was only
TEN porary and that they would re-
turn in Time To meet the Germans,
Only the first line was left behind
as watchers.
we fell back he went on. Sud
denly the watchers signaled that the
r'Aan heavy artillery had length
ened its FIRE. establishing curtain
between where we retired and the
re-; inpe trenches. Also we caught
charge.
This fired our men In extended
formation the whole regiment raced
through the curtain OF fire, arriving
sn the nick OF time in the trenches.
20 open fire OH the Germans at a
range Of 1870 feet.
Many of our men wounded in their
dash through the curtain OF Are,
rrawled into the trenches. where they
handed cartridges to their comrades
and cheered them on.
THE Germans halted in disorder
. ed mass and ous men leaped out Of
the trenches and dispersed them.
The Baparians we repulsed retired
around small hamlet. in the eastern
cemetery of which our 75's wrought
. havoc among both the living and the
. tombs.
Prisoners said that the Germans
had made extensive preparations to
use asphyMatng gas in the attac!;.
IN This was impossible because OF
lack Of wind