The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-21


Verdun.
The attack. which was preceded BY
artillery fire more than usually violent.
was made simultaneously on tho whole
sector of the French front which has
lie Mort Homme as its centre. After
fighing through the rest of the afternoon
the Germans were left In occupation of
some elements OF French advanced
trenches on the northern slopes OF I.e
Nor. Homme and to the west OF the
height.
Momentary success also was gained by
the attacking troops east OF the hill. but
the counter attack which the French
launched all along the line Immediately
after the first German rush drove the in
vaders out OF the positions they had
gained.
On tho northern slopes and west OF the
height the German gain was not made
until the attack had been repeated time
and again under an extremely heavy fire
from the French artillery and infantry.
Finally the attacking waves drove over
the first French line and pushed on to
the second line trenches. But as they
reached the latter they came under so
terrific fire from the French 75s and
mtrailleuses that they wavered and fell
back in disorder. at certain points re-
tanning possession OF the French first
line. on the rest OF the line retreating to
their own trenches.
Germans Try to bend Line.
On the west OF the front attacked the
German movement was a repetition of
previous attempts to bend the French
lines back in the ravinc between lie
Mort Homme and Hill 304 Through
which runs the Bethincourt brook) TO
make two sharp salients with Hill 304
at the point of one and lie Mort Homme
at the point OF the other az a preliminary
TO the capture Of both heights and the
beginning OF operations against Esnes
and Hill 3l0 south of the village The
German artillery maintained a terrific
boinbardmen; OF the French positions on
Hill 304 and in the Avocouyt region, to
the southwest
The communicate issued by the War
Office tonight follows:
Northwes, of Rove our artillery cam
nonaded enemy provision depot. where
several fires s;ar,ed
North of SoIssons two strong Ger.
man reconnaisances were ii snerscd nv
owr erc
In N. rh.una~re . co,,p do mai, on.
abled us 10 panetrate the opposinR lines
nor,hwcst ~ Observation-Disclosures and IN
cloar g., ,:orr,an french ali Tho occu-
n
made prisoners.
on the left bank OF the Meuse, fol-
lowing a bombardment Of extreme vio-
lence, the Germans directed this after
noon an attack on a wide front on the
whole region OF lie Nor; Homme. In
| the sector cast of lie Mort Homme the
| enemy, who had penetrated momen-
tarily our first lines. was driven out
/ with serious losses by lively counter
attack by our troops.
In the sector west and on the north
ern slopes of lie Mort Homme the
Germans. after series OF fruitless
assaults. which our barrage fire and
| our infantry fire made very costly to
| them. were able at the end OF the dav
| TO occupy some elements OF our ad-
| vanced trenches. Some enemy contin-
/ gents which had pushed as far as
| our second lines were taken under the
| violent fire of our cannon and fell back
| in disorder. leaving numerous dead on
the field
| There was great artillery activity In
the course Of the day In the region
OF Avocourt and Hill 3o4.
| There was an intermittent bombari-
| ment on the right bank the Meuse
and in the Woevre.
Aviation: One OF our automobile
cannon brought down German aero
| plane III tle Itkioh ot
The attack on lie Mort Homne was
@ ,ra,,s undsrtaken on the western from;
within the last twenty-four hours. OF
the other TWO attacks ihade last h,sIt'
/ one was o.rec'eu "s'"st -,
line horth Oh ipies III a. ~ ~ s".
| frequently n,aoe eio'' W s,oss tc
CahaI. ana 'he olner nc r,..
| H"''e'' ''' '
payne ,,..,
The attempt 70 cross the .seI .ana'
was made between elee,'s.I"eee anu ny.
Sas. when nave hsureu 80 pIo''lHent'!
In all the German movements nsals'
Calais. II broke dowh uhuer 'he bTi'ish
artillery and rine hre
| IN 're thaIhpas". .oNs' .'1 VI
fensive did not get peyond tne preiimi-
nary stages. owing TO the nre barrier
thrown out ny the Frehch artiliery' Inc
Germans began their preparations ny
discharging dense gas clouds on the 81
Hilaire-St. Souplet and the Souain-
Somme-Py roads. Infantry were ready
to attack under cover OF the gas. but
were unable TO leave their trenches.
Dunkrk and Borgues. Immediately TO
the southeast, were bombarded by Ger
man av!ators last night, six persons. In
GLIDING a woman. being killed and thirty
eight wounded. French aviators In re =
nrisal bombarded encampments behind
the German lines
| The Afternoon Com mu niQue.
nh, .,.r,oor ,or,r,,r,o,A - -.
ihe f"e
| toio"H'