Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-24

but the French advanced line still
holds good possessing the greater part
of Hills 320 and 321. These fresh
strokes of the German battering ram
are regarded in authoritative quarters.
1t is understood. with perfect calm.
They will in no way, it is pointed out
here. prevent expected developments;
on the contrary. they are likely to
hasten them.
Object of the Germans.
The object of the German commander
Is to secure control of the Vaux ravine,
without which it is impossible for him to
force back the French advanced line and
begin an attack upon the main line of
forts between Souville and Tavannes The
ravine is closely boxed in by the Caillette
woods to the north and Chapitre wood to
the south. and hill 320, where the French
position forms its root to the west. Ger
man attacks here met with certain
measure of success, but at heavy cost and
their footing is by no means sure enough
to prevent their being dislodged by count
er attacks. which it Is believed the
French will not fail to make.
East of the ravine, however the
enemy made no headway whatever.
Here the French lines which command
the approaches to Souville are under at
tack. They rest on three woods. Fumin
to the left, Chenois to the right and
the wood running from Vaux fort to
the slopes of Souville on the center.
The last-named wood is the objective
of the Germans, for, since it runs out in
the salient toward Vaux fort, all their
other attacks are subjected to flank
ing fire from it. They succeeded in OBJ
tanning a footing in this wood Wednes-
day night after four costly attacks,
but lost a large part of their gain
Thursday. Further attempts made yes
terday were defeated by the curtain of
fire of the French artillery.
Official Report of Conflict.
The text of the latest French state
ment follows:
ION the left bank of the River Meuse
there has been continued great activity
on the part of the artillery in the Avo-
court wood. at hill 3O4 and at Dead Man
hill A German attack with hand
grenades upon our positions at hill 304
has been repuIsed.
"On the right bank of the river the
battle continued with ferocity all last
night on the western portion of this
front. Our counter offensive move
ments. conducted with vigor. made it
possible for us to recapture in the vicin-
ity Of hills 800 and 321 a large portion
Of the ground recently lost there by us
and to drive the enemy back as far as
the outskirts of the Thiaumont work
This the Germans still hold.
THE fighting became particularly
violent in the outskirts. of the village
Of Fleury.
Between the woods of Fumin and
Chenois our counter attacks put US
again in complete possession of those
trenches which the enemy occupied
during the night of June -21-22 The
bombardment of the enemy was an
swered with energy by our batteries
and this fire was maintained with in
tensity from the River Meuse to point
to the east of the Chenois wood
According to the latest information
as to the result of the German offensive
actions yesterday evening on the right
bank of the River Meuse, these move-
ments were conducted by the enemy in
superior numbers, six divisions taking
part. =
'.At Eparges the Germans have caused
the explosion of three mines, but no
damage resulted"