New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-03
Advance Southwest of
Fort-StOrm Wood,
Reach Village.
FRENCH MOVE ON
WEST OF MEUSE
Capture Trenches il
Woods - Canadians
Get New Chief.

London, June 2.-The new German
offensive east of the Meuse, ccntring
on Forts Douaumont and Vauy, has al
ready carried the German flag nearer
Verdun in two days than assaults OF
weeks had taken it previously. Yes
terdsy the attacking forces wrested
from the French the southern portion
Of the Caillette Wood, part Of vii
Iage near Damloup, southeast Of NauN,
and moved almost in the shadow OF
Fort Vaux, through which they hope
to force a path to the inmost defenceS
of Verdun.
The Germans sesm bent on carrying
their new offensive TO successfui
conclusion at any cost. There vas no
pause in to-days Attacks, carried out
with msssed columns Of infantry
which suffered frightful losses when
they were caught under the FIRE OF the
heavy French batteries. As soon as
the crest of the German wave snat-
tered itself against the French cur
tain Of fire the French forces swept
down upon the enemy in counter at
tack, winning back, in most cases, the
positions temporarily penetrated by
the besiegers.
Realizing that the way to Verdun
through Douaumont and NauX IS
shorter than that through Cumieres
and lie Mort Homme, the Germans have
apparently concentrated more forml-
dable forces on the right bank of the
Meuse than they have yet gathered to-
gether in the region to the west. IL IS
believed here that the Kaiser is stalking
his all on the sudden breaking through
Of the French defences by this old
route. discarded several times for the
approach from lie Mort Homme.
French Win in Caurettes Wood.
While the Germans were finging
every ounce of their strength into the
fight about Douaumont the French sal
lied forth on the left bank Of the Meuse
and captured trenches Of the enemy
south of the wood Of Caurettes, pene-
trating one hundred yards into the
communicating lines.
British forces west of Givenchy won
n temporary success, but we're driven
hack TO their own trenches after a
band to-hand struggle with the Ger
mans. The FIRE of the Canadians on
the west front is reported TO be dam
aging the enemys defences to an enor-
nous extent. The Canadian corps are
now under the command of Lieutenant
General Sir Julian Byng, X. c. NJ, who
has succeeded Lieutenant General Sir
Edwin Anderson.
con the right bank Of the Meuse,'
says to-night's French official state
ment, "the Germans attempted against
our positions between the Naux pond
end the village Of Damloup a powerful
offensive action, which lasted the whole
Of the GAY. Continuous attacks, car
ried out by compact masses, followed
one another in this region. The mag
nifcent resistance of our troops with
stood the efforts Of the enemy.
German Losses Fearful.
"To the west of Fort NauX our coun-
ter attacks against every German at
tack stopped all progress by our ad-
versary in front OF the Naux fort,
which the Germans were bent on carry
ing al any price. The fighting reached
unprecedented violence. The attacking
columns were moved down by our guns
and machine guns and suffered enor-
nous losses.
THE German masses which we're
coming TO reinforce the battalions en-
gagged in the fighting were caught un-
der the fire of our heavy batteries.
They retreated in disorder as far as
Dieppe.
foot of the Cote de Meuse. the enemy
succeeded in penetrating a village. the
largest part of which Is IN our hands.
The artillery fighting continues very
violent on the whole OF the right bank
Of the Meuse.
con the left bank Of the Meuse there
has been great activity on the part OF
the two artilleries in the sector OF hill
3O4 and between lie Mort Homme and
the Meuse."
French Win Trenches.
The early French statement said:
"In the Argonne there has been
fighting with hand grensdes IN the
Vauauois sector, at Courtes Chaussees
and File Morte. We caused the eA-
plosion OF several small mines, which
inflicted damage upon the subterranean
works of the enemy.
"On the left bank OF the River Meuse
counter attack delivered BY our
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