Evening star., 1916-08-03
BITTER ASSAULTS
BY GERMANS MEET
GENERAL REPULSE
French and British Positions
Subjected 70 Furious
Blows in West.
SANGUINARY CONTEST
GOES ON BEFORE VERDUN
Gen. Joffre's Men Holding Captured
Trenches East of
Meuse.
ALSO PROGRESS AT FLEURY
Teutonic Efforts at Monacu Farm
and Hem Wood Prove Futile.
Gen. Haig Consolidates
Positions.
SANGUINARY CONTEST
GOES ON BEFORE VERDUN
ALSO PROGRESS AT FLEURY

LONDON, August 3.-German
armies now are engaged in a
series OF fierce counter attacks
against the British and French in
the Somme region as well as
about Nerdun They have been
almost universally repulsed in the
sanguinary fighting.
In the Somme region the Ger
mans have made renewed at
tempts to regain the positions
they were forced to give up to
the French in the Monacu farm
sector, near the river, Tuesday
night. These failed, Paris de-
olares-and the new French posi-
tions between Monacu farm and
Hem wood were organized by
their captors Similarly a Ger
man attack south OF the Somme
near Estrees was futile.
Yesterday the French, taking
the offensive. made an attack
along a three mile front east of
the Meuse, capturing several Ger
man trenches and organized
points of support. Paris today
reports this ground held against
series of German counter at
tacks delivered last night.
Progress by the French in the
Fleury sector northeast of the
fortress also is announced, to-
gether with the capture OF l,1OO
Germans. in the fighting on the
east bank OF the river since Au-
gust /.
French Official Report.
The text of the French official state
uent given out this afternoon follows:
North of the River Somme
pulsed last night several German as
saults upon the Monacu farm. and we
organized our new positions between
this farm and the Hem wood.
1T has been confirmed that the Ger
man units engaged in the region of the
Monacu farm had to be relieved as
result OF the heavy losses they have
sustained sinIe July 80
south of the River Somme counter
attack upon our positions located south
of Estrees failed under our fire.
Fighting Along the Meuse.
"On the right bank of the River
sieuse the Germans delivered several
vioIen, counter attacks upon the
trenches which we captured yesterday.
Everywhere our curtains of fire and
the fre of our infantry checked the ef-
forts Of our adversary. who suffered
heavy losses. AS for our troops fol-
lowing Up their advantages, they have
made notable progress to the south of
Fleury. They have reached the imme-
date surroundings OF this village and
have even gone beyond the railroad
station. The number OF prisoners made
by US yesterday In the region of Fleury
alone is in excess OF 700. This raises
to ilo0 the total number OF able bodied
prisoners who have fallen into our
hands since the FIRST of August on the
right bank of the Meuse.
Fierce Artillery Actions.
In the region of Vaux-ie-Chapitre
and Chenois there has been continued
intense artillery fighting. but without
infantry participation. The night
passed quietly on the remainder Of the
line except in the forest of Apremont,
where we dispersed with rife fire Ger
tam German patrols
on the front along the Somme
seret. Chainat yesterday had two
aerial encounters with German ma
chimes, and in each case vanquished
his adversary. These two new VIC
tories make total of eight German
machines which have been brought
down by this aviator. Another Ger
man aeroplane attacked at close
quarters by one of our machines fell
90 the ground and was wrecked near
Chauny.
British Consolidate Ground.
During the night we continued the
work of consolidating the ground
which we had gained and in opening
up communication trenches" says the
British ofhcial statement issued today.
Our guns were active and the enemy's
artillery retaliated briskIy during the
evening along our front from Maltx
farm to Longueval; also on the woods
: of Mametz. Fricourt and Becourt and
the village of Pozieres"