Evening star., 1916-05-08
FIGHTING ALMOST EQUALS
THE OFFENSIVE OF MARCH
Crown Princes Army Attempts
Turning Movement in Region
of Dead Man Hill.
NEW MAN COMMANDS FRENCH
Gen. Robert George Nivelle Sue.
ceeds Gen. Petain, Who Has Been
Promoted to a Higher
Command.

LONDON. May S.-The Ger
mans are continuing the furious
offensive at Verdun which gained
them important ground both east
and west of the Meuse yesterday.
They made no further advances
during their attacks of last night,
however. Paris declares, and, in
fact. lost part of the territory won
at the outset of their renewed
drive in force on the defenses of
the fortress.
The principal German gain Sum
dav was northeast of Verdun,
where a footing was gained in the
French first line on a front of
500 meters between Haudromont
wood and Fort Douaumont. Dur
ing Sunday night French attacks
drove the crown princes forces
from one of the occupied trenches
south of Haudromont. Near
Hill ,o4. northwest of the fort
ress. the Germans were ousted
from communication trench oc-
cupied during yesterdays drive.
Rivals March Offensive.
PARIs. May s.-After seventy-seven
days OF battle the Germans are max
ing new attack before verdun. with
another formidable army. Fighting al
most equal in violence to that of the
beginning of March is in progress on
both banks of the Meuse.
The principal effort of the Germans is
being directed against Dead Man hill.
Following the Napoleonic policy of at
tempting to turn what cannot be car
ried by frontal attack. the Germans.
with a whole army corps. made the as
sault by way of the ravine between
crush in the French line along a front
of one and one-half miles. The ground
there is favorable for attack. and the
French commander. aware of the
weakness of the position, placed one
Of his best trained army corps at that
place.
Battle Still Is Raging.
This corps disposed Of the initial at
tack without oeding any important
ground, but the battle still Is raging,
and according to the latest advices the
result will not be known till some
time today.
East of the Meuse the Germans de-
liyered four attacks on front of 1000
yards. each advance being made by a
different Prussian regiment. The fight
ing there is as fierce as on the other
eide of the river, and inconclusive
Fighting continued with great violence
throughout last night Furious Ger
man attacks near Hill 3o4 were broken
by tho French. the war office announced
today The losses of the Germans are
described as extremely heavy.
Drive Germans From Trenches.
Inc froNCh AttdCAeu east OF f1lL oO4
and drove the Germans from a com
munication trench which they pene-
trated yesterday. East of the Meuse
there was g. series Of night engage
ments. The Germans were driven
from trench south Of Haudremont
which they occupied yesterday. and
thirty men. including two officers. were
captured.
The offensive movement yesterday
covered front of two kiiometers be-
tween Haudromont wood and Fort
Douaumont. costing the Germans i'm
portant losses.
Other Developments Of yesterday are
described textually as follows:
The night passed quietly on the re-
nsinder of the front except in the
region Of the wood OF Remieres and
the wood of Joury. west of Pont-a-
Monsoon. where our artillery was very
active.
Two German aeroplanes have been
encounters in the region of Verdun
one Of them fell not far from Ornes
and the other seriously damaged. was
compelled 10 land south OF Azannes"
New Man in Command.
Cen. Robert George NiveIIe has been
appointed 20 direct the local operations
at Verdun- He will succeed Gen. Henri
Philippe Petain, who has been pro-
NOTED I" Cnmmandant in chief of the
group OF central armies Ia the sector
between scissors and Nerdun.
Cen SiNelle is a man of sixty. He
comes from Tulle. in the correze de-
partment Gen NiVeIle is one of the
d discoveries Of the war At the-oui-
treaL Of hostilties h. was in command
Of the 5th Regiment OF Artillery. Gen.
Jonre soon singled him out for a lead
ire role. He was promoted 10 be gen
ersl OF brigade October "a. 1914. and
shortly after was placed in command
Of the 6lst Infantry Division Decem-
Ger %. 1915, ne received his three
stars. and AT the same time was ap-
pointed commander Of the Sd Army
Corps.