Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-30
CROWN PRINCE is DRIVING
HARD AT DEAD MAN HILL
Assaults Weakest Point Of French
Line in Neighborhood Of
Cumieres Village.
BRITISH FRONT IS sHELLED
London Reports Heavy Artillery
Activity at Several Points and
Mine Warfare Elsewhere
on the Line.

Ou tAC 4JluS.
Fresh troops in large masses
are being thrown by the Germans
against the French lines north
west of Verdun, and twice with
in the last twenty-four hours Gen.
Nivelle's forces have been COM
PEELED to give ground.
The weakest point in the
French defense appears to be in
the neighborhood of Cumieres,
between that village and Dead
Mans hill, to the west. This line
was dented by the Germans for
distance of more than 900 yards
in the third of series of violent
assaults yesterday afternoon.
French Admit Retirement.
Last night the Germans re-
turned to the attack with fresh
division, and Paris admits that
in the face of this drive the
French were forced to retire
slightly along the Bethincoure-
Cumieres road.
The German attacks apparently
were equally violent along other
sectors Of the front west Of the
Meuse, but, according to the
French war office, nowhere else
were the crown princes men able
to gain ground. East of the river
heavy artillery fire in the region
of Fort Douaumont is reported.
Germans Use Fresh Troops.
PARIS. May 80, 1901 p.m.-A strong
attack was made last night with a
fresh division of German troops on the
verdun front west of the Meuse be-
The war office statement of today says
there was a slight French retirement
on the Bethincourt-cumieres road.
All attempts of the Germans to gain
ground on the remainder of the posi-
tions under attack were repulsed.
The Germans maintained heavy artfl-
lery fire west of Fort Douaumont.
The text of the statement follows:
"On the left bank of the River Meuse
the bombardment was continued yes
terday evening with redoubled vio-
lence between Dead Man hill and
Cumieres. Shortly after this activity
the enemy directed very strong at
tack upon all our positions in this Soc
tor.
Enemy Assaults Checked.
I'm this fighting a new division. re-
Gently arrived on the scene. took part
On our left all the assaults of the
enemy upon the slopes east Of Dead
Man Hill. where our lines are establish
ed. were checked by our fire. Further
east, in the vicinity of the Caurettes
wood. the enemy, after several fruitless
endeavors. in which they suffered heavy
losses, compelled US to retire from some
Of our advanced trenches south Of the
road between Bethincourt and cumi-
eres. The Germans. on our right in
spite of repeated efforts. were not sue
cessful in driving US away from the
southern boundaries Of the village Of
Cumieres. The bombardment continued
with intensity throughout the night
"On the right bank of the river there
has been very spirited artillery fight
ing in the country west of Fort Douau.
mont.
The night passed in relative quiet
on the remainder of the front"
British Trenches shelled.
LONDON. May 3o-The following
oniciaI communication was issued last
midnight:
During the past twenty-four hours
the enemy artillery has been very act
i've on certain portions of our front.
particularly between LaBassee canal
and Arras The enemy bombarded our
borhood of Loos. The bombardment
was particularly heavy in the early
morning and continued Internationally
throughout the day on all tactical
neighborhood of Arras. and as far as
Vaast, also were the
scenes of intermittent and heavy con-
centrated bombardments We re-
ing hostile batteries.
In the region of Loos mines were
sprung by the enemy, but without dam
aging our defenses. On our right the
re-entrant in our line about Mametz
and Fricourt has been the scene of
some artillery activity. but not of
serious nature. On the left our front
from zillebeke to Hooge and the VI
cinity of Elverdinghe has been heavily
shelled. North of Hooge our artillery
preached a hostile parapet, destroying
3 machine gun emplacement. Our guns
caused considerable damage to the en-
emy at various points in addition to
engaging hostile batteries.
There has been no infantry action
during the last twenty-four hours.
The fne. sunny weather has been suit
able for aerial work. and much sue
oAssful work has been accomplished
by us. Few German aeroplanes were