New Britain herald., 1916-12-29
GERMANS STRIKE
ON VERDUN front
Capture Part Of French Trench -
Won MaCkenSen Advances
RUSSIANS IN DISORDER

f5falla, important Grain Center rs I'm
der Fire-Hopc is to Clear Dobrud-
ia of Defenders and Close Danube
to Russians.
Striking back at the French in the
Nerdun region, but on the bank of
the Meuse opposite the scene Of the
recent French successes the Germans
made strong effort last night to pen
citrate the French lines between Hill
304 and Dead Man Hill, the two dom
mating eminences northwest of the
fortress.
The attack was broken up, the Ger
mans succeeding in gaining a foot
ing in only one trench south of Dead
Man Hill.
The activities around Verdun have
been the only breaks in the mo-
notony of winter trench warfare along
the Franco Belgian, front. The bat
; tie of the Somme admittedly is in a
state of suspense, because of the bad
condition of the ground and unfa-
vorable atmospheric conditions, &C
cording to British authority.
From Runlania, where the real ac-
tivity of the war now centers, Field
Marshal Won Mackensen is keeping up
his thrust for the line of the Sereth
in Moldavia, driving the Russians be-
fore him in none too good order, the
German reports intimate. Latest ac-
counts placed the left of Won Macken-
sens line beyond Rimniksarat, near
the Ruzeu-Fokshani railroad line
while his right apparently is drawing
close to Braila, at the Danube end
of the trunk line from Buzeu.
Braila, important as a granary and
provisioning depot, is meanwhile re-
ported under fire from across the
Danube where the Bulgarians, with
German and Turkish assistance are
vigorously assaulting the Matchin
bridgehead. The apparent hope is to
clear Dobrudja completely of Rus
slams and effect a permanent junction
with the Teutonic forces in Wallachia
at a point where the lower Danube
will be closed completely to Russian
uses and the way opened north of the
river for a possible advance into Bes-
sarabia, just beyond which lies Odes-
so.
The latest peace movement has
been made by Norway, Sweden and
Denmark, the three Scandinavian
governments having sent a joint note
to the belligerents.
French Report.
Paris, Dec. 80, Noon.-German
troops last night delivered an attack
In strong force on a three kilometer
front between Hill 304 and Dead Man
Hill, northwest of Verdun, the war
office announced today. The French
the attack, but one of the French
trenches south Of Dead Man Hill be-
ing penetrated and this only by few
hostile troops.
The attack was delivered after long
and violent artillery preparation.
North Of Verdun, or the right bank
of the Mouse, a strong German recon-
naissance was dispersed east Of Har-
daumont.
The text of the communication
says:
ION the left bank of the river
Meuse. after the intense bonn bardment
reported in the announcement of yes
terday and which grew even more,
the Germans late yesterday afternoon
delivered a strong attack along a
front Of more than three kilometers
! against our front to the east of Dead
man HILL
This attack was broken by our
curtain of fire and the fire of our
infantry and machine guns.
"On the right bank Of the river
we have dispersed a strong German
reconnaissance east Of HardaumOnt
work.
1.-The night passed quietly on the
rest Of the front.
'Flight Lieutenant Hertoux brought
down on the 81 Of December his six
teenth enemy airship.