Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-04
GERMANS ADMIT
FRENCH ADVANCE
ON VERDUN FRONT
Berlin Report Comedies
Enemy's Gain On Dead
K Mans Hill
BRITISH PRESS ATTACKS

BERLIN, May l-French troops have
succeeded in getting foothold in the
German positions on lie Mort Homme
(Dead Mans HID.
Official admission of the French success
at Dead Mans Hill, northwest of Verdun,
was made today by the war Office
simultaneously with the French drive
In the Vertlun sector the British have be-
gun TO press home violent attacks at the
northern end of the line.
The British have delivered a thrust
against Lens the strategic railway town
held by the Germans in northern France,
but their attempts to advance ended in
failure, the War Office report stated.
Enemy aeroplanes bombarded the Bel
gian seaport of Ostend, held by the Ger
mans, this morning, but did no damage.
One of the raiding aeropanes was brought
down.
PARIS, May 4-French troops last
night extended and consolidated the gains
they made in yesterdays fighting on
Dead Mans Hill, northwest OF Nerdun.
It was officially announced today.
The French positions were improved
while violent bombardment was going
on in the whole region west OF the Mcuse
from Avocourt to Cumieres. The War Of
flee reported that German losses were
heavy in yesterdays fighting on the Dead
Mans Hin sector.
on the east bank of the Meuse bonn
bardments occurred around NauN, but
there were no important infantry clashes.
East OF st. Mhiel, south of Nerdun,
French troops repulsed strong enemy
reconnaissance party aimed at French
post in Apremont forest.
French artillery not only is backing UP
the British front in northern France, but
IA - ,Ns hat tor of ha
line held by the Belgians, today's official
statement revealed During last nights
fighting French gunners destroyed Ger
man works at the Grand Dune along the
Belgian seacoast, blowing up n German
munitions depot
Following is the text of the COM
munique:
In Belgium our artillery fire
destroyed enemy organizations in the
region of the grand dune and caused
the explosion of ammunition depots.
West of the Meuse there was
violent bombardment of all the sec
tors. There was a hand grenade COM
bat in the forest Of Avocourt.
In the course of the night we eX-
tended and consolidated our gains
around lie Mort Homme dead Mans
HID.
1t has been confirmed that the
enemy's losses were very considerable,
mostly as a result of our artillery
fire During the bombardment two
Germans fled into our lines. declaring
that they were the sole survivors of
the trenches which the French had
been shellng.
East of the Meuse there had been a
violent cannonade in the region of
Vaux.
In the Woevre district our artillery
carried out severe concentrated fire
upon the enemy positions.
At Eparges we exploded mine
near our trenches.
To the east of St Mihiel n strong
accommodating party of the enemy
tried to reach one of our posts in the
region of Apremont but was repulsed
The night was calm on the rest of
the front.
One of our battle planes gave battle
to two German machines in the region
of Douaumont.
One of the enemy airships was shot
down and the other fed.
LONDON, May "A Reuter- dispatch
from Amsterdam says that 1t Is reported
on good authority that the civil pOpula-
tion has begun to evacuate Metz