New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-27
Berlin Admits important
Fighting in Progress
for Two Days.
GERMANS REBEL
VERDUN ATTACK
Consolidate Gains at Fleury
and Prepare for Fresh
Assaults.

London, June 26.-The battle at Yer
dun, critical as ii is, with the Germans
still IN possession of Fleury, has be-
come secondary for the moment to the
operations developing on the British
front.
Although the British War Office has
not yet chosen to reveal anything con-
corning them. except in minor detail,
the Germans to-day declare the fighting
was important and has run for two
days"
The British statement claims that
German lines were penetrated at ten
points.
About Verdun German activity has
subsidized, while the gains of the recent
advance east of the Meuse are consoli-
dated. Berlin, however, records the re-
pulse of heavy French counter attack
on the Froide Terre ridge.
The Germans spent yesterday elabo-
rating plans for further thrust with
the object of working around Souville
by the northwest from Fleury. The
French artillery, however, gave their
70. NO rest. From Froide Terre, Belle
vile, st. Michel and Souville the French
guns concentrated terrific fire on the
German lines, and preparations were
made to resist the impending onslaught
and counter-attack at the right time.
There were indications last night that
the Germans were preparing to attack
also on the left bank Of the river. They
apparently aim TO push forward their
lines there to correspond with their adj
vance on the right and so prevent the
French from transferring reserves
across the river.
an Champagne" says the French
statement, "our artillery shattered en-
envy organizations north Of Ville-sur-
Tourbe.
"On the front north Of Verdun there
was no infantry action during the
course Of the day. The bombardment
diminished in intensity on both banks
of the Meuse. Nevertheless, in the re-
gion of Hill 3O4 very spirited srtil-
lery action was maintained.
ain the Vosges the fire Of our batter
les on the German positions east of
Chapelotte caused he explosion of two
munitions depots."
An earlier statement said:
"ln the Argonne an enemy attack
upon one of our small posts at La File
Morte was repulsed with hand grenades
ION the left bank of the Meuse the
artillery duel was particularly lively in
the region Of Dead Man Hill.
"On the right bank a German attack
delivered last night upon our positions
west of the Thiaumont works was com
pletely checked by our infantry and ar
tillery fire. During a local operation
between the woods of Fumin and
Chenois we seized some elements Of
the German trenches"
The German statement says:
Fighting activity in the west on tn
fronts occupied by the British and the
north wing of the French army wa
important, and has been for the past
two days.
West of Dead Man Hill (Verdur
'front.' enemy nocturnal attacks failef
under our artillery and machine-gur
fire
"On the right bank Of the Meuse
during the evening, an attack by very
strong forces against our positions OF
Froid de Terre Ridge was complete
failure for the French. They were
everywhere driven back from our lines
in part by hand-grenade encounters
with severe losses"
The British official statement issued
at midnight reads:
1--WE carried out a number of sue
cessful enterprises last night at differ
ent points. Hostile lines were pene-
trated at ten different places. Our par
/ ties inflicted considerable casualties on
I the enemy and took several prisoners
Our casualties everywhere were very
slight.
THE Munster Fusileers and Anzacs
were particularly successful.
an connection with these raids there
was a good deal OF artillery work on
both sides yesterday evening and dur
| ing the night. Our artillery fired with
great effect, the hostile trenches being
! considerably damaged in many places
Four large explosions were caused by
our heavy artillery in the enemy's rear
guard lines between Pozieres and Mon
/ tauban.
. To-day our artillery was again &C
/ tive at numerous points and consider
/ able damage was caused TO hostile de-
| fensive works, notably near Longueval
! Gommecourt, Givcnchy en- Gohelle
north Of the Loos salient. opposite
/ Wytschaete and east OF Wieltje.
/ zone hostile kite balloon. in addition
/ TO those already reported, was de-
/ stroyed by our aircraft yesterday. max
ing a total Of six out Of fifteen balloons
/ attacked. The six were seen TO fall in
flames"