Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-13
SEVENTH GREAT ASSAULT ]
AGAINST VERDUN IN VAIN
French Beat Back Masses Of Ger
man Infantry on Right Bank
of the Meuse. j
ARTILLERY DUELs KEEP UP
Heavy Bombardments Are Reported
All Along the Great Battle
Front in the North
of France.

LONDON, July I3, 3:32 pm.
Fighting continues at various
points along the battle front in
the region of the River Somme. in
France, but there has been no
change in the situation on any
part of the British line since the
report last night from Gen. Haig
that he had recaptured the ground
lost to the Germans the night be-
fore, and that the. British now
hold all of Mametz wood. Two
German attacks against Contal-
maison were repulsed.
Attempts of the Germans to
raid trenches west of Wyschaete
and south of La Bassee canal
were frustrated, according to an
official statement issued by the
war Office this afternoon. The
British still are, engaged in clear
ing the Germans from fortified
positions which must be taken
before the general offensive can
be renewed.
Todav,s Official Report.
Today's official statement, timed at 3
o'clock this afternoon, says:
Heavy artillery duels were in prog
ress in certain sectors of the battle
area since the last report, and fighting
continued at various points on the
front, but there was no change in the
situation on any part of our line.
West of Wyschaete and south of
La Bassee canal the enemy attempted
to raid our trenches, but he was driven
off in each case by our fire.
Despite unfavorable weather. our
aeroplanes have been constantly at
work Hostile machines were active,
but all their attacks on our aeroplanes
operating over the German lines were
missing"
New Assault on Verdun.
The renewed efforts of the German
crown prince at verdun temporarily
are taking precedence in the public
mind over the battle of the Somme. The
recent attack by the Germans before
Verdun is the seventh great onslaught
with dense masses of troops since the
operations began some five months ago.
The Germans have made a slight
gain. but apparently this has not less
ened the confidence of the French in
their ability to hold fast. They still
have three solid lines of defense, which
must be penetrated before the German
objective can be gained
Infantry Gets a Rest.
PARIS, July 13, Noon-There was no
infantry fighting of Importance last
night on the Verdun front or over the
portion of the Somme front held by
the French, today's official report says.
artillery engagements oc-
cured in the Somme sector. In the
yicinity of Souville, Chenois and La
before Verdun, a heavy bonn
,ardment was maintained by the Ger
mans.
In the Champagne the French pene-
rated a salient of the German front
md took prisoners Two German raids
n the Argonne were stopped by the
French fire.
The statement follows:
"There have been intermittent artfl-
ery exchanges along the front Of the
liver Somme.
.In. the Champagne district we pene-
rated a salient of the German line in
he vicinity of Prosnes ana brought
Jack some prisoners.
''In the Argonne two surprise at
acks delivered by the enemy upon the
,orthern and eastern portions of the
It La File Morte we caused the explo-
ion of a mine and then occupied the
southern side of the crater.
Heavy Night Bombardment.
"on the right bank of the River
feuse there has been no infantry
lighting. During the night, however,
hare was an intense bombardment in
he sectors of Souville, Chenois and La
1aufee.
.sJn the vosges an attack by the enemy
non one of our trenches south of Car
mach has been repulsed after spirited
with hand-grenades'
Last nights report gave the following
ccount Of yesterdays German assault at
'erdun:
.On the right bank Of the Meuse the
Germans undertook this morning strong
efort in the direction Of Fort Souville :
bout 10 o'clock. after intense artillery
reparation q strong attack with ef- I
.ctiyes Of six regiments debouched from
he village Of Fleury and the Vaux and
hapitre woods. Notwithstanding the
iolence Of the assaults. which were
lunched in massed formation on a front
slatively narrow, the enemy succeeded.
I the cost of enormous losses, in gaining
nly . little ground In the neighhoghood
the Chapel Of Sainte Fine. q Re In
lrssctdon q he Fleury and vxnx $3ad.