New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-21
But Counter Attacks
Expel Them from
lie Mort HOmme.
BATTLE SPREADS
TO WHOLE FRONT
British Lose Trench at
LoOs-Belgians Repulse
User Crossing,

London, May 20.-Again the Ger
man assault is in full tide against
Verdun. For a fourth time the
huge battering machine directed by
the Crown Prince is attempting by
sheer weight to pound to pieces the
stubborn defences that so long have
barred the approach to lie Mort
Homme and Hill 304
Not since the Germans in March
first planted themselves on the
slopes of the former height has
fighting reached the intensity and
magnitude that it did to-day.
Tomorrow will begin the third
month of the attack. II seems
as if the Germans sought to cele-
brate it by a striking achievement,
like the capture Of one of the French
bastions west Of the Meuse.
The attempt came just near
enough to succeeding TO make its
final failure the more disappoint-
ing. The Germans captured many
sections Of first line trenches at lie
Mort Homme. They pushed on to
the second line. 1t was almost with
in their grasp when the wave broke.
Only the crest of it flowed, as
through crevices, into the French
trenches. The rest retreated into
the sea of helmets whence it came,
leaving the sandy slopes above little
mounos of motionless bodies.
French Reestablish Old Lines.
And when nightfall came. except at
a few places, the French we're reestab-
lished in their old lines. The "Poilus"
were hunting the old places they had
made comfortable in the "shell-proofs,"
while between them and the enemy hal
fallen an impenetrable French curtain
of fire"
The assault took place on practically
the whole front about lie Mort Homme.
II began on the western and northern
slopes after a tremendous lombard
ment Then it spread to the east and
the south, taking in Haucourt and Hill
3O4, against which separate attacks
had already been launched.
German possession of the Corbeaux
wood made their attacks on the east
the more formidable and the French
trenches first gave way there. The
Germans had hardly succeeded in es-
tablshing themselves before brilliant
counter attack dislodged them.
On the west the German advance was
more costly, and French guns did ter
rible execution on the troops as they
swept up slope stripped naked BY
artillery fire. Those that succeeded in
penetrating 20 the second line were
finally forced to retreat in disorder.
New Effort in Woeyre.
At Ayocourt, where yesterday the
Germans sought to recapture the re-
doubt, the attack was suspended. The
artillery fire. however, continued un-
ceasingly. II has begun also in the
Woevre, where, with the drying OF the
marshy ground, the French are expect
ing a new effort.
Along the Anglo-Belgian front tho
German activities also increased, al.
though they did not reach the volume
of full attacks. The Germans did sue
ceed in Wrestling an advanced trench
from the British southwest Of Loos,
but it was promptly retaken. They
likewise attempted to cross the User
near Dixmude, but were prevented By
Belgian alertness.
As in all the recent battling at Yer
dun, observers here are at loss 20
explain the German objective. They
have too deep respect for the ability
of the Kaiser's staff to believe that
the assault IS being continued without
hope Of victory, as has been declared
in many quarters. Great as may have
been the political motive in detxrmin-
ing the assault. they believe that mill
tary reasons are predominant in its
continuance.
Eerdun Compared to WARSAW.
To justify this position a compari-
son OF the situation at Nerdun and
Warsaw is cited For nine months
Won Hindenburg, despite the opinion
OF most military observers in Europe,
persisted in his attempt 10 close the
ring about the Polish capital His
problem, with his distance from bases.
was even more difficult than that faced
by the Crown Prince. Yet he succeed
ed. And when a thing has been done
once, the Germans, If II is essential
20 their plan, are the last people In
the world to count the cost OF yepeat-