, 1916-05-24

iected the general positions TO a neaVy pom
bardment. On the remainder OF the front
we sprang mines near Roclincourt, the Ho-
henzollern redoubi and the quarries. There
was mining activity also near Melville st.
Vast and south of Fleurbaix. The artillery
of both sides have been active on both sides
opposite Lens and east Of Ypres. We OBJ
tanned direct hits on an enemy battery east
of BlairviIle. Yesterday enemy aeroplanes
were active. Many were engaged by our
machines. Eight were driven off, though
none were brought down One of our recon
nnissa ce machines was forced to land in
the enemy's lines.
Petrograd, May 22ud--The following Off
cal communication was issued to-day: Near
the village Of Ostrov northwaPd of lake Mar
OF OH Saturday evening, the Germans after
a violent bombardment, made numerous
attempts to take The offensive but each time
they were repulsed by our fire. In the re-
gion south west Of lake Naroz our artillery
dispersed large gatherings of German
troops. Near The village of Rostioukhovka
northwest of ca 2rtory5k, we repnlsed an
enemy attack. Ga the remainder OF the
tlont from the Gulf of Riga to the Ronma-
ninn frontier, there has been no fighting
except exchanges of rifle fire and reconnNis-
sances. In the Baltic, one of our submarines
has sunk three German steamers. On the
Caucasus front, in the direction of Di0rbek,
there has been advance post actions.
Berlin, May 22nd.-Ihe capture of several
lines Of British positions over a front OF two
kilometres ~ miles) near Interchangeable
was announced to-day by the War Office.
German troops stormed French positions on
the eastern spurs OF Hill 304 ON the Verdun
front and maintained them against counter
attacks, which are said to have cost the French
great losses. The statement is as follows
Western front: East of Newport a German
marine patrol entered French trenches,
DESTROYING the enemy's defences and re-
turned with one officer and 81 men as prl-
soners. South of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS several
lines of British positions over a front of
about two kilometres were captured, Dur
ing The night several counter-attacks
were made and repulsed. We cap
tused eight officers, 900 soldiers, four
machine-guns and three mine-throwers,
mo- cover the enemy suffered exceedingly
heavy losses. In the direction of Berry-au-
Boc. the French early il the morning at
tempted a gas attack without success, West
of The Meuse, our troops stormed French
positions on the eastern spurs OF Hill 304
and maintained them against repeated at
lacks Of Ire enemy. In addition to the
great losses of the enemy in killed or wound
ed we captured nine officers, SIS men and
FIVE machine guns, The booty taken on the
southern spurs of Dead Mans Hill has been
increased to IS cannon and Il machine guns.
South of Dead Mans Hill and in the vicin-
ity of Chattancourt the enemy made futile
attempts to recapture lost ground.
Paris, May 22nd,-The text of the French
official statement to-day is as follows. South
of Berry-an-B nc, French forces exploded
two mines with success at Hill l09. In The
Champagne district, q gas attack 10y the
Germans was without result. This was in
the zone between the road from Sounin to
Sommepy aud the road from Sainte Hiaire
to Saint Soupiet. No SCORER had the cloud
of gas started than an unexpected turn in
the direction of the wind drove it back
upon the trenches of the enemy, On the
left bank of the river Meuse, infantry
fighting continued last night, In the
Wood of Avocourt our grepadiers Sc
cured some advantages and occupied sew
eral block-houses evacuated by the enemy.
In the region to the west of Dead Mans
Hill, the fighting has been particularly fero-
clous. Several attempts made by the enemy
to further their progress have been checked
by our curtains OF fire and by the activity
Of our muchine-gups. A vigorous attack by
our troops made it possible for us to recap
- oorti,n IF tho utoun4 lost during the