Evening star., 1916-05-31
ARMY OF CROWN PRINCE
is GAINING BIT BY BIT
Wedge Being Driven Gradually Into
French Line West Of the
River Meuse.
ATTACKING IN GREAT FORCE
Verdun Front Continues Scene OF
Some Of the Most Desperate
Fighting Of the En-
tire War.

LONDON, May 3I-The Ger
man offensive west of the Meuse,
in the Verdun region, is being re-
lentlessly pressed, and bit by bit
the French are being forced back.
Gen. Neville's forces, which yes
terday were struggling to retain
a foothold in the outskirts of
Cumieres village, have now ad-
mitted they retired in this sector
in the face of infantry attacks
which followed an intense bonn
bardment.
The conceded withdrawal was
from a hrst-line trench near Caur-
cites wood, south of Cumieres.
German Force Annihi1ated.
In addition, the possibly signih-
can't admission is made that de-
tachment of German troops, un-
der cover of fog. was able to pene-
trate to the vicinity of Chattano-
court, which lies more than a mile
below Cumieres. This force, how
ever. was annihilated when taken
under FIRE of the French artillery,
the Paris war Office declares.
The German advance in this
sector is fast driving a wedge into
the French line Just to the west
of the Meuse, the movement be-
ing apparently intended to out
flank the French in the vicinity
of their commanding Dead Man
hill and Hill 3o4 positions.
French Give Up Trenches.
PARIS. May 81. 1915 p.m--In the
course of a violent struggle last night
on the verdun front, the Germans COM
PEELED the French to evacuate a first
line trench near the Caurettes wood.
south of Cumieres. the war ONCE an
nounced today.
After two days of especially severe
bombardment the Germans launched
infantry attacks repeatedly in great
forces over a considerable section of
the Verdun line. The French resisted
stubbornly, and. the Official statement
says. repulsed the Germans everywhere
except near Caurettes wood. The
trench which was evacuated had been
leveled by the German shell fire.
Under cover of fog detachments of
German troops made their way to the
vicinity of Chattancourt, where they
were annihilated by the French fire.
East of the Mouse there were inter-
mittent artillery encounters.
Battle Termed "Ferocious."
The text of the statement follows:
"On the left bank Of the River Meuse
q ferocious battle took place yesterday
and last night between Dead Man hill
and the Meuse. The enemy, at the con-
clusion of a bombardment of unheard-
of violence. which had been going on
for two days, delivered repeated and
concentric attacks, in which large
numbers of men were employed, upon
our trenches east of Dead Man
hill and on certain of our positions in
the village of Cumieres.
Everywhere our troops resisted and
rspulsed the enemy. who suffered i'm
portant losses. Nevertheless in the re-
1ion south of Caurettes wood we were
compelled to evacuate our first line
trench. This already had been COM
pletely leveled by the bombardment by
the enemy.
Counter Attack Successful.
South of Cumieres German attacks
delivered from two sides of the village
were successful in the beginning in
driving US back in the direction of the
Chattancourt station, but a spirited
counter attack made it possible for us
To force the enemy back to the out
skirts OF the village of Cumieres
Certain German detechments. which
under cover of a fog, had made thei1
way along the river Meuse as far as
the height at the Chattancourt station
were annihilated by our fire
ON the right bank of the river there
has been intermittent artillery fighting
In upper Alsace the enemy, after +
intense preparatory artillery fire, at.
tackled our positions at point abou,
1900 yards east of Seppys. They Sc.
cured a footing in some of our trenches
but they were at once driven out BY
our counter attack"
Berlin Report of Battle.
RrpTIN Nav a. nv, x,,;r.,a..
ville).-German troops operating in tn.
verdun region west of the Meuse have
been successful in clearing the southern
environs of Cumieres village of the
French who were holding on there, the