, 1916-05-27

night undertook Il powerful Ou5uSl'e aCllou
TO he east of Dead Mans Hill. After hnnd
to hand fighting, the enemy penetrated at
the cost of important sacrifices into the vii
lage of Cumieres as w Il as into one of our
trenches Immediately 20 the west of this
point. Recent information sets forth that
the forces employed by the enemy i'll the re-
pion of Dead Mans Hill since the 21st Of
May exceeded three divisions. On the right
tank of the Mouse, there have been prepara-
tions on the part of the artillery and success
sive nttncks of great violence. In the region
of Haudremont and at Douaumont, IN spite
of furious assaults the enemy has been sue
cessful III securing a footing III ouiy n small
part of Il trench to the east of the Fort.
This has been accomplished without count
ing the cost in humun lives. All endeavours
against our positions to the west Of the Fo:t
aud upon The Fort itself, have been checked
bv our fire. In the W0evre district, there
have been bombardments in the sectors OF
Elk and Moulainville.
Paris, May 24th-The Official communica-
ton issued by the French War Office to-
night reads: On the left bank of the Meuse,
the infantry action continued east OF Dead
Mun's Hill. Several times our artillery fire
stopped the enemy who hal attempted to
debouch from the village OF Cumieres. In
the course of the afternoon, a spirited coun-
tpr-uttack enabled us to tetake trenches
situated on the southern outskirts OF the
village. Gu the right bank, the lombard
ment was redoublel in the region Of Fort
Douaunont, on which the enemy h'd parti-
cularlv set itself. Furious attacks, with two
Bavarian divisions newly arrived on this
front. succeeded each other all day. After
several f~ruitless attempts ana enormous loss
es. the enemy succeeded in reoccupylngt the
remains of The Fort. Our troops hold the
immediate approach. About the same time
an attempt to flank our positions IN the Ca1l-
lette Wood completely fai ed under our gun
fire and the fire of our infantry. There is
no event of Importance to report on the rest
of the front. The Belgian communications
reads: The artillery actions on both sides
were rather feeble, except IN the region OF
Dixmude, where we carried out u destructive
fire against the German defensive organiza-
tions-
Rome, May 24th.-The following Official
communication was issued to-day In the
Lagarina valley yesterday the whole of our
front on both sides of the Adige river was
subjected to q furious bOmbardment. An
enemy column which was attempting to
advance in small bodies from Lizzana toward
Marco, was stopped by oar artillery ire.
During the evening an attack along the
Valarsa in the direction of Monte oil Nezzo
was held by US. Between the Terragnola
valley aud Astico, there was the customary
bombardment The evacuation of the 20 ina
and the Astico has now been effected IN
perfect order. Our troops are Strengthening
their positions on a protective line OF the
Arsie,o basin. We destroyed our artillery
which it was impossible to withdraw. Be-
tween the Astico and Brenta rivers, the
enemy yesterday commenced a strong pres
sure against our positions. In the Sugar"
valley the retirement Of our troops on
their principal line which commenced on
the twenty-second, continues slowly aud
orderly. In the Carnia there has been
q violent artillery duel in the upper But.
Along the remainder of the front, there
is nothing important to report. Enemy
~aviators threw bombs on the station at
Della Carnia, causing some casualties aud
material damage.
Rome, May 24-The Austrian offensive on
the Trentino front and the furious efforts of
the Germans to gaiu a decision at Verdun,a are
explained in a semi-oticial statement pub
lisled here as the result of a concentrated
effort on the part Of the Central Powers to
prevent an expected simultaneous attack by
the Allies ON oil fronts. "The central En-
pires'' says The statement. 'wish to prevent,