Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-22
GERMANS RENEW ATTACKS
ON vERDUN FRONT; STRIKE
IN VAIN ALONG MEUSE

PARIS July ~.
Renewing their assaults on the verdun
front, the Germans attacked the French po-
sitions last night, but the communique is
sued by the war Office today states that
all were repulsed
At the same time the Germans attacked
the French positions at ST. Die in the
Vosges Mountains, but met with no better
success The attackers were either beaten
of by the fire OF the French infantry or else
their assaults broke down under the curtain
Of fire Of the French artillery.
The communique announced that French
air squadron on Friday had dropped 115
heavy shells on Metz-Sablon station in the
Vosges. doing great damage. A German
aeroplane. which sought to pursue the
French attackers. was brought down. one
French aeroplane of the squadron has so
far failed to return.
The first report of any action around
Belfort was contained In the communicates
statement that a German air squadron bonn
barded that city, but without damage.
The official outline of the days fighting
shows series of desperate and unsuccess-
ful counter-attacks by the Germans in vari-
Gus parts of the battlefront. A strong Ger
man reconnaissance force was dispersed on
the right bank of the Meuse German artll-
lery hurled vast quantities of shells at
French positions around Fumin and Fleury,
and in the same sector an infantry attack
was repulsed by the French troops.
The text of the official communique fol-
lows:
Between the Olse and the Aisne we
dispersed strong German reconnoiter-
ing in the region of Moulin-Sur-Touvent.
In the Argonne we blew UP a mine at
Bolante with good results. At La File
Morte surprise attack by the enemy
against a small post was repuEsed
On the right bank of the Meuse
(Varnun frontN ,,i0
bardments In the sector Of Fleury and
Fumin wood. An enemy attack on n
trench south of Damloup was checked
by our fire.
on the vosges the Germans after a
sharp bombardment, at IL o'clock last
night attacked our positions northeast
OF st. DIE They were repulsed with
heavy losses
Yesterday our bombardment saua-
drons OF aeroplanes made three attacks
on the railway station at Metz-Sablons.
One hundred and fifty shells of largo
calibre were thrown. all striking the
station buildings and railway. II is
possible to state that great damage
was done. In the course OF one explo-
sion a German aeroplane which pur-
sued ths squadron was brought to
earth. One of our machines, forced TO
land at Panne has not returned. This
morning German aeroplane threw
bombs on Belfort. These caused neither
casualties nor property loss.
The resumption of the battle of the
Somme in the French sector has greatly
enhanced the general confidence in the situ-
alton. The protracted halt of operations on
more than minor scale was beginning to
make the public fear that the first results
would have no morrow and that. as In tho
case OF the Champagne offensive n year ago,
there might he q reversion to the old trench
warfare. Thursdays bulletins effectually
removed this impression.
A particularly fine piece of work from
the French point OF view was accom-
plished in the new sector attacked south
of the river. East OF the old French front.
which ran from the east of Herbeville to
half way between that village and the
ort-Vermandovillers road the Ger
mans had constructed, by months OF patient
TOLL an underground fertilization In a star
shaped wood and on, the slopes of a hill.
There were 80 trenches in the wood, very |
deep with two series of underground shell
ters. In which the soldiers lay snug during
the hottest bombardments.