New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-13
Omen New Offensive Near
Hulluch - ASsail
BelgianS.
TWO USER ATTACKS
ARE REFUSED
French Recapture Trenches at
Hill S04-Foe Routed at
Haudromont.

tondon. May 12.-After long prepare
.o, the Germans have launched their
,sssult on the British front. Berlin
,,,ounces tonight the storming OF sew
.r.I lines OF British trenches near HUI
,n.b north Of Lens. The War Office
,sr, admits the loss Of about 500 yards,
hat declares that part was subse-
ouently recaptured.
Al the same time two attacks were
made on the Belgians holding the User.
Although they were the first movements
,,.s,,pted by the Germans on this sec
az IN months. the Belgians were fully
prepared. Both attacks were beaten Oh
with heavy losses.
IN the west bank Of the Meuse the
yrspeh have taken advantage Of the
l,,kenirg OF the German attack to
,,rncb counter moves Of their own. Sew
s,sl trenches on the west slope Of Hill
sn4 we're retaken to-day, while an in
tense artillery fire raging about lie
Mort Homme indicates that another as
sault is soon 10 be delivered in that
sector.
Only east Of the Meuse, about Naux
and Haudromont, have the Germans at
tempted any advances to-day. These
were promptly checked.
Great New Battle Opening.
Observers here link the diminishing
attack AZ Verdun with the offensive
against the British and Beleians as the
opening phase Of new battle. For sew
eral weeks such a move by the Germans
has been anticipated. It has been known
that approximately 100000 troops
mostly composed of this springs ievies
have been massed against the British
lines.
This attack was DELAYED. however by
the failure TO capture Verdun on sched-
ule time. The great masses Of heavy ar
tillery which had been accumulated
about the French fortress could not be
released without giving the advantage
to the defenders.
About ten days ago the Germans did
attempt to transfer part OF the. guns,
together with troops, 70 the 8Tt.is..
front. The movement was Immediately
detected by the French airmen. General
Petain at once launched an offensive
which not only caused the Germans TO
abandon their plan but forced them 70
concentrate additional troops TO hold
their previous gains. In the mean time
they lost their foothold in the Calllette
Wodo and many trenches about lie Mort
Homme.
The attack at Hulluch to-day comes
al one Of the most exposed elbows"
o. the British lines. Lens, which is the
next British objective in an advance
on Lille, lies only three miles away. To
forestall any such attempt the Germans
are seeking TO recapture the positions
thew lost in the British offensive last
September. Here and at HODGE perhaps
the bloodiest fighting of the whole war
has taken place and bids fair to be
repeated.
Machine Guns Captured.
Southeast of the Hohenzollern re-
doubt. near Hulloch." says the Berlin
Official. German battalions from the
Palatinate yesterday stormed several
lines Of a British position. Up 20 this
time 127 unwounded prisoners have
been brought in. Several machine guns
we're taken. The enemy suffered heavy
losses. especially during a futile coun-
ter attack
on the Meuse district there has been
lively artillery fire by both sides Aside
from feeble attempt by the French IN