, 1916-05-27

the Austrians in their present offensive. The
Austrian heavy guns are much more hume
rous in this region than those OF the ltallans
but they have not beeu able to overcome the
we'll organized Italian defences which thus
far have checked the Austrian advance along
the whole Isonzo line.
Paris, MAY 23fd-The Official communica-
ton issued by the War Office tonight reads:
In the region of Verdun, the German coun-
ter attacks took Oh a character of extreme
violence along the whole of our front with
out it being yet possible to specify the consl-
derable electives engaged.O On the left bank OF
the Meuse, after a bombardment with large
shells all the morning, the Germans launch
ed on several occasions their assHultlhg mass
es against our positions to the east and west
of Dead Mans Hill. The first attack moved
down by our artillery aud nachiue-guns fire,
was repulsed with sanguinary losses without
the enemy having been able to reach our
lines. A second attack, likewise desperate
about Z O'Clock in the evening succeeded IN
gaining q footing in one of our trenches to
the west. An immediate coun. e%f-attack COM
pletely drove out the enemy.O On the right bank
i'll the re gion OF H~audremont, Douaum0nt was
all day the theatre of n murderous struggle.
The Germans multiplied their assaults which
were preceded each time by very powerful
artillery preparations. Despite all these eff
forts the positions conquered by u yester-
day were maintained in their entirety, NOTABLY
in fort Douaumont. In this region more
than 800 prisoners remained in our hands.
The usual cannonading took place on the
rest of the front. In the region Of Tur-
nes a German aeroplane, struck by the
machine-gun fire of one of ours, was
brought down i'll our lines. Near Benu-
mont an Aviatik, seriously hit in the
course Of an aerial flight, fell within the
enemy lines in the region of the Linge river.
One of our pilots, attacked by three enemy
aeroplanes, brought down one of his adver-
saries and drove the other two to flight. Bel
gian communication There was a violent
artillery duel east of Rnmscapelle. In the
region of Dixmude, i'll regulation for the
bombardment of our positions by German
trench guns, we executed destructive fire
against the enemy works and batteries.
London, May 23rd-In moving the vote
Of credit for G30O, 600, 600 as has been fore
casted in the House of Common to day,
Premier Asquith commented that this was
the eleventh vote since the beginning of the
war and the second for the current financial
year. The total granted this year, he added,
was therefore 5000, 600, 900 making u grand
total of 60, 1872, 0OO, 600. In proposing the
vote of credit, Premier Asquith laid before
the House OF common an account IN some
detail of Governments recent financial oper-
atoms. He took up the period between
April LIST. and May 2Oth. stating that the
actual outlay during those fifty days was
9241 ,OOO, 600. Expenditures for the Army,
Navy and munitions in that time accounted
for 914O, 600, 900, loans to Allies and Domini-
ons for ETA, 500, 900 and outlay for food
supplies, railways and miscellaneous items
917, 500, 900. Eliminating the payments to
the Bank of England in respect to advances
abroad for which allowances had been made
in the previous votes, the daily average ex-
penditure had been reduced to e. 600, 900.
There had been no Increase but a slight de-
crease in expenditure for the fighting forces.
The total outlay was somewhat larger mainly
on account of loans to the Allies aud Domini-
ons. The average expenditure for the Army
the Navy and munitions, Mr.. Asquith con-
tinued, was just under 93. 900 900 daily.
Speaking of loans to the Allies, Mr.. Asquith
said that without that financial assistance it is
literally true that the combined operations of
the Allies could not be prosecuted with sue
cess and efficiency. The House would not
grudge an addition to expenditures in order
that the whole financial, naval and mill
tary fabric upon whose cooperation work
the success of our joint efforts depends
sh0uld ho kant i'm q state Of aficiancp The