Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-31
FRENCH FORCED
To GIVE GROUND
EAST OF MEUSE
Abandon Trench South of
Caurettes Woods, East
of Hill 304
FOG HELPS GERMANS
NivelTe's Troops Retire to Chat
tancourt Station, but
Regain Line

PARIS. May s1--French troops were
compelled TO evacuate a frst.line trench
south Of Caurettes woods. east of Hill 3O4.
and to retire south of Cumieres village, in
the direction. of Chattancourt station, under
most violent German attacks. the War
Office announced today. By a counter.
attack last night. General Nlvelle's troops
regained the lost ground south Of Cunleres
ThrouRhout yesterday the most violent
battle yet fought on the northwestern front
OF verdun continued without cessation The
struggle grew more furious toward night
fall and was continuing early today.
Between the Meuse and Dead Mans Hill
the Germans launched attack after attack
on two and one-half mile front German
divisions charged forward I'm powerful
strokes against French works east of Dead
Mans Hill and against the positions still
held by the French in the southern part of
Cumeres
These attacks. for the most part, were
completely repulsed, the French time and
again beating back German assaults, until
the front was literally covered with dead
and wounded.
The Germans. meanwhile treated the
French positions TO terrific artillery fire.
A first line trench south of Caurettes woods
and was of necessity abandoned
South Of Cunieres village, the German
attack became so violent that tho French
relinduished their hold on the works west
of the Meuse and fell back along the rail-
way leading TO Chattancourt station, half
mile east of Chattancourt village.
In the action around Chattancourt the
German troops were able to advance with
out being seen by the French observers.
Under the cover of thick atmosphere the
Germans made their way along the Chat
toncourt-Avocourt highway from it's juno
tfOn with the road which llplg the left
bank Of the Meuse. French guns were kept
playing upon the road and the Germans suf-
fered heavily, but their numbers were
intorced and they were sent forward despite
the toll taken by French shells.
The German advance guard reached the
Chattancourt station in the fog before their
presence was known. The French forces
Immediately made a counter-assault. The
fighting continued along the railway
throughout the afternoon. In the evening a
brillinta counter-cttack drove the Germans
back to their former positions near the
village. One German detachment which
had manag ged to reach ,the Meuse was COM
pletely annihilated by French FIRE.
The text of the official comuuique fol-
lows:
On the left bank of the Meuse
bloody conflict was fought yesterday
and during the night between Dead
Mans Hill and the Meuse. The enemy
following a, bombardrnent Of unusual
violence which: lasted two days, launch
ed concentrated and repeated attacks
with very large forces against our
trenches east of Dead Mans Hill and
on both sides of the village of Gu
mieres. Our troops resisted bravely
everywhere and repulsed the enemy,
who suffered very great losses.
However, in the region south of
Caurettes wood we evacuated our first
line trench. which had been destroyed
by the bombardment. South of Gu
mieres, German attacks directed on
both sides Of the village succeeded at
first in rolling us back In the direc-
tion of Chattancourt station, but
sharp counter.attack enabled us to
drive the enemy back TO the outskirts
of the village.
Some German foPces- which under
cover OF a fog had crept along the
Meuse as far as the height of Chattan.
court station. were completely annihi-
lated by our fire.
on the right bank there was an
Intermittent artillery duel.
In upper Alsace the enemy. after an
intense bombardment with artillery. at
tackled our positions for about 1900
metres east of Seppoys and gained
foothold in some trench elements. He
was thrown back Immediately by our
counterattack