The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-06-02
Fighting Particularly Heavy On
West Bank of Meuse
FRESH TROOPS ARRIVING
Austrians Are Coming to Relief
Of Germans at verdun
Front
UNITED Press Dispatch.I


Paris, France, May 31.-The crown
prince with hundreds of high power
guns is making the most violent at
tack on the Verdun defenses that has
yet been seen. On the west bank of
the Mouse, the fighting is particu-
larly heavy. French military critics
express the belief that the present
attack is the final supreme effort on
the part of the Germans to pierce
the French line of defense. The ar
tillery fire is tremendous. Never be-
fore has the world seen such an at
tack. 1t is understood that every one
of the kaiser's men that could pos
sibly be spared from other fronts has
been brought to the Verdun battle
front in a final desperate effort to
make the German campaign a sue
cess. Yesterday for twenty-five hours
trains kept arriving with fresh
troops, provisions. guns, ammuni-
ton and other war supplies.
Force Of Austrians Arrived.
It is reported that large force Of
Ahstrians has arrived on the east
bank OF the Mouse to assist in the
final assault. 1t is understood from
Swiss sources that Emperor Francis
Joseph has, requested the kaiser to
allow the Austrians the honor OF par
ticipating in the final and greatest
assault on the Verdun line. 1t Is
said that the Austrian attacks on the
Italians in northern Italy and in Ty-
iota
blind, to keep the allies from know
ing that Austrian troops were about
to be rushed to the Verdun front. 1t
is estimated that all of million men
are now gathered for the final rush
on the Verdun defenses.
French Are Calm.
While all of this news is being an
nounced in Paris, the French public
is perfectly calm. The French are
| confident that Verdun will be saved.
Even if the French should be driven
| back to their final line of defenses,
| nobody here doubts that the attack
| ers would meet the same stubborn
resistance as has many times brought
| them to halt and driven them back
during the campaign as far as it has
progressed.
French Lost and Regained.
j limited Press Dispatch.l
| Paris, France, May 31.-Yesterday
the French were driven by the Ger
mans from their positions east of
the Carutti woods and south of Cum
ieres back as far as Chattancourt.
This was admitted in an official
statement by the French war office
today. But it was also announced
that in night attack the French had
regained their lost ground south of
Cumieres.
The British Casualties.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatchl
London, May 31.-The British cas-
ualties in May were much heavier
than in either of the two preceding
months. The total from all fields of
operation as compiled from the pub
lished lists are 1,767 officers. 28,47O
men, total in March, including Of
ficers and men of 20,424; in April 20,
511.
French Driven Out.
UNITED Press Dispatch.]
Berlin, Germany, May 31.-The
French have been driven completely
out of the forests south of Cumieres.
The Germans today took ninety one
prisoners in this region.
Austro- Hungary, Capture,
| ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
Berlin, May 31.-The AustrO- Hun
garian troops operating west Of the
Arsiro in the Trentino district have
forced message across the Posina
river and have taken the heights on
the southern bank, says an official
statement issued at the Austro- Hun
garian army headquarters under date
of May 80. The capture Of the forti-
fled Italian works of Puntac and Or
din is also announced.
Austrians Make Capture.
UNITED Press Dispatch.1
Vienna, Austria, May 31.-The Aus
trian forces have captured the two
important towns of Asiago and AS
serio, which are on the main trave
line connecting Northern Italy with
the Alps. The stronghold OF Monte
Boldo has also been wrested from
! the Italians by the Austrians.
|