Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-11
GERMANS KEEPUP
TERRIFIC ASSAULT
0NVERDUN FRONT
Paris Admits Loss of Another
Section of Trenches West
of the Meuse.
BRITISH LAUNCH ATTACK
NEAR ST. .ELOI, FLANDERS
Berlin Says Engagement in Belgium
Resulted in Repulse of At
tacking Forces.
FRENCH CONFIDENCE GROWS
Belief Expressed That the Crown
Princes Furious Efforts Mark
Beginning of the End of
Great Verdun Battle.

LONDON, April 1.-The
German assault on the defenses
of Nerdun still is centered on the
all-important key position of
Dead Mans hill, west of the
Meuse. Advancing from Cor
beaux wood, the Germans last
night succeeded in gaining Sec
ton of French trenches. Other
wise, the French war office an
nounces, they were beaten back
with heavy losses.
In the sector between Douau-
mont and Vaux, which has rela-
lively the same strategic impor-
tance east of the Meuse, the Ger
mans also renewed the attack.
There, the French report saws,
they gained no success.
Berlin reports today that last
night British troops made
strong hand grenade attack
against German positions south
ol St. Eloi, near Ypres, but claims
the attackers were repulsed.
British Report Of Fighting. =
An official sfaterpapt ;rsuad 1,z+ a,-.n
ing by the British war Office gave the
following account of fighting on the
St. Eloi front:
LIST night at St Eloi our troops at
tackled and captured the mine crater
remaining in German hands, and by
further attack succeeded in establish
ing themselves in German trenches run
ming southwest from the above crater.
To-day there has been artillery ac-
tivity about La Boisselle. Angres. vier-
STRAIT. St EIoi and Ypres. There was
some mining activity about La Bos-
selie. Eoclincourt and Givenchy."
Regarded as Supreme Effort.
Paris regards the present attack of
the Germans on Verdun as their su-
preme effort in this greatest of battles
French commentators suggest it NAV
mark the close of the Verdun cam
paign. whatever the outcome. The gen.
erai offensive launched Sunday. over a
thirteen-fnile front. is represented as
one Of the heaviest blows struck bv
the Germans in the war
According to official French adyices
CHe defenders of Nerdun have held firm.
except at one point in the region OF
Dead Mans hill. where the Germans
gained 500 yards of French trenches II
is now reported from Paris that the
main onslaught has diminished in ex-
tent, being limited to front of about
two miles between Cumieres and Hill
No 3G4, west of the Meuse.
Berlin views the VerduD operations
confidently, pointing to the ground
gained in difficult region and the
losses inflicted on the French. The
statement is made by the Overseas
beginning of the battle more than sS.
6o9 French have been captured. 1t also
is said that about twenty-five square
kilometers of ground has been occu-
pied west of the Meuse.
Gain Footing in Trenches.
PARIS. April II. PIP p.m.-On the
west bank of the Meuse the Germans
made an attack last night on Dead
Mans hill. advancing from Corbeux
wood. They obtained footing in a
few small elements of trenches, the
war office announced this afternoon,
but otherwise were repulsed.
East of the Meuse the Germans at
tackled trenches south of Douaumont viii
lase. but were beaten back with consider
able losses. There was violent lombard
nent Of Douaumont and Vaux
The tex of the communica ton follows:
Official French Report.
"On the left bank of the River Meuse tn %
Germans yesterday evening delivered an
attack against our positions at lie Morte
Homme. This activity was accompanied
by tine use of flaming liquids The at
tack was made from the Corbeaux wood
and was checked by our curtains of fire
and the fire Of our infantry. excepting the
east. where the enemy secured footing
in a few small elements of trenches
on the right bank of the Meuse the
Germans endeavored last night to ex-
pei us from the trenches taken by us
during the. past few days south of the
village of Douaumont This endeayor
also saw the Germans making use OF
jets of flaming liquids. 1t was met with
q sanguinary check.
There has been a violent bombar I'd
ment in the region of Douaumont and
vaux. and I'm the Woevre district there
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