New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-31
French Hold on lie
Mort Homme Is
Imperilled.
TEUTON LOSSES
NEARLY 600
Paris Admits Falling
Back in CauretteS
Wood.


London. May 80. More French de-
fences at Verdun gave way before Ger
man battering to-day. Advancing over
two-mile line-the widest front yet
covered west Of the Meuse-the huge
war machine OF the Crown Prince set
lied down in fresh positions TO renew
the grinding process. This was the
hundredth day Of the battle.
Paris admitted to-day the abandon
inc OF the Bethincourt-C -Cumieres road,
which the Germans have been seeking
TO break since early in April. The
War Office conceded losses in the
Csurettes Wood, south of Cumieres,
and on the slopes Of lie Mort Homme.
Since then the curtain of censor
snip has been dropped on the opera
tions at Verdun. The night com
munioue is almost the briefest since
the beginning Of the attack. 1t gives
no details, but confines itself TO the
terse statement that the lombard
ment has been very violent in the re-
gioD Of Ls More Homms and Cumi-
eres."
Expect Fall of Heights.
Observers here believe this step is
preparatory 10 the announcement of
news which they have been expecting
for some time the evacuation Of lie
More Homme and Hill 30i. 1t has al
ways been a part Of the French plan
10 sa rifice these positions after the
Germans had bought them sufficiently
dearly. The price exacted during the
las, ten days certainly should satisfy
the most grasping.
To-day's assaults we're but the repe-
ttion Of the slaughter that has gone
on at Verdun since Februry q. Even
the ground of to-dsy's battle has been
fought over necessarily for three
months. The lines stand scarcely a
thousand yards from where they stood
then. They have been purchased at
cost of thousands of lives foot.
Aim to rlanl lie Mort Homme.
The German operation at Cumieres
Is designed to do what the attack at
Ayocourt has failed to do. 1t seeks
10 flank from the east instead of the
west the French positions at lie Mort
Homme and Hill 304. Even Paris sd-
missions Of German gains show that
the plan has nearly succeeded.
As the situation stood at the latest
available information to-day, lie Mort
Homme was a salient projecting into
the German lines. On tke west. along
the Forges brook, it has beer close
gripped. while the German advance on
the opposite side to-day narrowed the
gap still available 10 the French. As
soon as the Crown Prince can com
pletely command this opening with his
guns the French must evacuate the hill
and fall behind the es-Chattancourt
line or on the Charnay ridge itself.
Paris Admits Losses.
"On the left bank Of the River
Meuse." the early French statement
says. "the bombardment was contln-
Ued yesterday evening with redoubled
violence between Dead Man Hill and
Cumeres. Shortly after this activity
the enemy directed a very strong at
tack upon all our positions in this sec
tor In this fighting a new division,
recently arrived on the scene, took part.
"On our left all the assaults of the
enemy upon the slopes to the east of
Dead Man Hill, where our lines are
established, were checked by our fire.
Further TO the cast, IN the vicinity OF
the Caurettes Wood. the enemy, after
several fruitless endesvors in which
they suffered heavy losses, compelled
Us 10 retire from some Of our advanced
trenches TO the south Of the road be
tween Bethincourt and Cumieres. The
Germans on our right, in spite OF re-
qea'ed efforts, were not successful IN
driving US away from the southern
boundaries of the village OF Cumieres.
he bombardment continued with IN
iensity throughout the night.
German Statement.
The German official statement reads:
ARTILLERY duels are continuing along
the front between La Bsssee Canal and
Arrss Lens was again bombsrded.
In the neighborhood of Souchez CAR
tots district and southeast of Tahure
lChsmpagne) weak enemy advances
failed.
There has been increased fighting
sctivity between Hill 304 and the
Meuse South Of the Corbeaux and
Cumeres woods We captured French
positions along the entire extent be
tween the southern ridge of Dead Man
Hill and Cumieres village. Thirty-hve
officers, including several stan ofhcers'
and 1913 unwounded men were capt
ured. Two counter attacks against
Cumieres village we're repelled.
Fast Of the Meuse We Improved
upon our newly captured line in the
Thiaumont wood The advance was IN
the eastern portion OF the wood. Here
at times the FIRE on both sides reached
the greatest violence"