The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-23

London May ga sudden stroka
ny the Germans against the new fro,t
neId by the British has ena bIef them
10 occupy almost mile of trenches
on 'he northern end of the vimv
ntage. They penetrated the British
lnes Tor a depth of from 100 to 900
yards. wv
The northern end Of Vimy ridge IN
the blood soaked hill No. 40, the
dominating eminenCe when tina
French. In September spent thou
sands OF lives to attain. Hill No, isy
ana the small ridge adjoining To tina
south"ard were the principal OBJ
stacles in the French drive on yip,v
point on the strategic railway which
parallels the German front and Leads
to. Lens. the German base.
AS result Of the German drive ON
Eerdun the French Withdrew their
forces from long section of tho ,lna
which marked the scene Of their Sen.
temb offensive, british troops oc.
cupying the trenches. From the crest
OF HiIl NO l4o, the French were ab,a
to command the "inln to the east ana
network of Is in aIdition IA
seriously hamper1il-; by artillery fire
German use of the fafiroad. The hill
was the scene of one of the hardest
' lBnt battles nf the war and its cam
ture was very costly TO the French.
Military experts, however. hctd that
the position was we'll worth the
price.
The German attack, which vas
made yesterday afternoon, was ear
ried out after furious preparatory
commandment which .asted through
out the earlier part OF the day,
From the crest Of the sminence tho
British today carried on a heavy bonn
hardmept of the trenches captured by
the Tentons. The British oit,rial .e-
1nit follows
British Reply With Cannona,It,
After heavy bomha rdment last.
ing all day yesterday. becoming OK.
ceedtng1y intense in the afternoon. tha
Germans attacked pur positions at the
north end of the Vimy ridge and sus.
c"eded in penetrating our front tins
trenches on Il front of about 1900
ya1us. The depth Of the penetration
varies from 100 To zoe yards Today
our artillery sub, &c the German
positions to a heavy homba riineut
ON the remainder OF the front, We
sTlang mines near. Roclin Court, the
I"htnzollern redoubt ana the ad.
5acart quarrie;. Their. was mining
activity also near Ncuville St Vast
and south Of Fleur Baix.
The artillery of both sides was
active opposite Lens ana east OF
} rres.
'esterday the German aeroplanes
we're active. Many OF them engaged
by our machircs were driven aff.
though mono # them were brought
d-Hn. During the day one of mr.
machines was forced to land In .l,a
German lines
FRENCH BREAK THROUGH
GERMAN LINES AGAIN.
Paris. May 22-From Hill No. as7
to the heights on the east Of the M.uss
the French today launched a powerful
offensive which tonight's Official state
ment announces resulted In the cam.
ture OF about $500 yards of trenches.
Inc french assault east of the Meuso
carried them into Fort Douaumont IT.
self, The Germans now hold only the
northern part of the stronghold.
The fighting was marked by moro
intensity on the east bank than on
the western side OF the river. Hers
the heaviest French guns shelled thu
German positions for hours preceding
the attack
The bombardment was followed BIZ
general soring attack on the Grown
Princes line east of Fort Douaumont.
French Official Report.
Midnight Official: In the Argonn>
our batteries energetfcally bombarded
Natiliois. Mont Fafcone and Cheny
woods
To the left of the Mouse during the
day we continued to the south Of Hio
2S7 and forced the GermAns to exacu--
ate number of small works which
they have held since the 18th OF NAV.
In the region west Of lie Mort Homme.
by counter attacks we were able to
dislodge the Germans from some sec
tons OF trench which they had pre-
viously occupied.
To the right of the Mouse, after
powerful artillery preparation out In
fantry attacked the German positions
on q front Of about two kilometers
1l+ miles). stretching from the region
west Of Thtamont farm to . point east
of Fort Douaumont.
We took German trenches on the
whoel of this front and penetrated into
Fort Douaumons. Of which the 0er-
mans still hold tho northern part. Nu-
merous prisoners remained In our
hands. tsss,T - " -: +
/. On the Mouse heights 1t the Docho<
wood. BY q heavy surprise attack. W
cleared out the German trencheu "a =
front Of 800 meters taking $500 prie-
oneFa IA n III
IAis aessaias sss = NJ u " Y
HUM IL w