New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Take Trenches After
Fierce Assaults in
AvOCOurt Section.
SEEK TO CUT LAST
VERDUN RAILWAY
British Now Hold Crest of Nimy
Ridge as Result of Lam
cashire Victory.

London. May 10 A fresh German
assault is rising to its crest at Nerdun.
This time the blows arc being deliv-
cred at the point o. the wedge into
the French lines west Of the MeCse.
Established firmly on Hill 20i, from
which Berlin claims the French have
not been able TO dislodge them, the
Germans are now turning their atten-
ton to tightening the moose about the
fortress at Avocourt
Here, the German War Office asserts,
trenches have been captured in the di-
rection of Esnes, though so far the
French have blocked all efforts TO adj
vance in the Avocourt Wood itself or
to recapture the redoubt. The Germans
also strengthened their position at Hill
3O4 by the capture of a small fort on
Hill 2S7, Immediately to the northwest.
Two fresh divisions were brought up
by the Germans for these assaults.
They were composed mostly of young
recruits Of the Class of 1916, never
before under fire. Although they ad-
vanced bravely in the face of the muir
derous fire poured upon them by thou
were unable to shake the lines against
which so many other regiments had
been shattered.
Preparations : for Big Assault.
Elaborate preparations have been
made by the Germans for the resump-
tion of the assault in this sector. More
than score Of roads have been cut
b.. y
of the Avocourt-Esnes highway, and an
other tremendous concentration Of
heavy guns arranged to blast through
10 the last railway connecting Nerdun
with Paris. For days shells have been
searching out every foot of this
ground. preparatory to grand assault.
The French, however, are quite ready
when il comes.
The action Of the Loyal North Lam
cashires and the Lancashire Fusiliers
on the 10th. il developed to-day, was a
sngularly brilliant attack, and gained
strategic point-the crest OF the re
doubtable Vimy ridge the possession
Of which means the command OF the
plain of Lens.
Since the British took over this sec
ton from the French in the early stage
of the battle Of Verdun the Germans
had been holding stubbornly the van
tage of the higher ground and infict-
ing heavy casualties on the British.
After a successful explosion of mines
Just after dark the Lancashires, who
are made up largely of cotton oper-
atives from Manchester. rushed from
their trenches TO the lips OF the
craters.
British Now Have Advantage.
Every detail in the programme Of the
operation, from cutting OF machine
guns out of action, bringing up sand
bags with which to build new breast
works and defending the position by
means of bombs, was carried out sue
cessfully.
Morning found the Lsncashires thor
oughly intrenched against retslia-
tory German bombardment. They had
connected their old line by communi-
eating trenches six feet deep. Slight
casualties were the cost of the nights
success. The value of the ground
gained is not to be judged by the $50
Yards of front taken. but by the fact
that the Lancashires are no longer on
the down side of the slope, with the
Germans above them.
"To the west of the Meuse," says the
Berlin statement, eve captured French
trenches on both sides of the road from
Haucourt 10 Esnes, extending to the
southern corner of the Canard Duck
Wood. Nine officers and 100 men we're
taken prisoners.
"A new attack by the French against
Hill 304 broke down. with very consid-
cradle losses to the enemy.
East of the Meuse the artillery fire
on both sides increased temporarily to
great violence
The French version as reported by
the War Office is as follows:
"On the left bank Of the River Meuse
Yesterday evening German forces re-
newed their attacks in the vicinity of
Avocourt Wood and Hill 304. These at
tacks were of extreme violence. In
them participated large numbers of
men belonging to the divisions recent
resulted in failure
Artillery Fire Again Rising.
"The enemy found it impossible to
dislodge us from our positions IN the
Avocourt Wood and 10 the west Of Hill
3O4. Nevertheless, on the centre the
enemy were able to occupy a small
work TO the south of Hill 2S7. Several
endeavors to continue their progress
at this point were definitely checked by
the French fire. On the northeast slope
of Hill 304 an endeavor to recapture
the small fort taken by US yesterday
resulted in failure"
A later statement said:
"On the left bank Of the Meuse
the artillery struggle continues very
violent on the front OF the Avocourt
Wood. Hill 304 and in the region of lie
Mort Homme. The enemy made no at
tempt to attack in the course of the
day.
ION the right bank Of the Meuse and
in the Woevre the artillery has been
moderately active"