Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-22
Terrific Assault at Dead
Mans Hill Is Renewed
in Vigorous Style.
DRIVE GERMANS BACK
Hand Grenade Fighting
Around Avocourt Forces
Teuts to Withdraw,

Paris. May %, G2:15 p. m.)-French
grenadiers occupied several block
houses in Avocourt wood on the Yer
dun front in the course of severe
fighting last night. The struggle west
OF Dead Mans Hill was terrific. The
war office statement of this afternoon
says that the attacks OF German in
fantry were repulsed
The blockhouses in Avocourt wood
were abandoned by the Germans.
East Of the Meuse, infantry fighting
occurred at the Haudremont quarries
captured yesterday by the French.
The Germans attacked these positions
and, the statement asserts, were re-
pulsed with heavy losses"
French War Report.
The text OF the statement follows:
South OF Berry-Au-Bac French
forces exploded two mines with sue
cess at Hill 108.
In the Champagne district a gas at
tack by the Germans was without re-
suit. This emission of gas was in the
zone between the road from SOuain to
SommePy and the road from Sainte
Hilaire TO Saint Souplet. No sooner
had the cloud Of gas started than an
unexpected turn III the direction of the
wind drove it back upon the trenches
Of the enemy
IN bE la+r haT nh Of "a
infantry fighting continued last night.
In the wood Of Avocourt our grena-
diers secured some advantages and oc-
cupied several block houses evacuated
BY the enemy.
In the region west of Dead Mans
Hill the fighting has been particularly
feTOCiOus. Several tentative attacks
made by the enemy to further their
progress have been checked by our
curtains of fire and by the activity of
our machine guns. A vigorous attack
by our troops made it possible for US to
TeCapture Z portion OF the ground lost
during the night Of May 20-21.
On the right bank Of the Mouse the
Germans have delivered repeated coun-
ter attacks upon the positions at the
French yesterday. Each OF these ad-
vance movements was checked by our
curtain of fire and cost the Germans
heavy losses. In the outskirts of the
village OF NaUX a small operation eX-
ecuted this morning put US in posses
sion Of q German trench. AS Esparges
several German mines have been ex-
ploded but without causing damage to
the French position.
German Balloons Fired.
IN the region Of Verdun French
aviatOrs have attacked a number of
captive German balloons. Six Of these
balloons were sent down on fire. In an
aerial engagement one of our pilots
brought down German aeroplane. In
the vicinity Of Esparges two other air
machines of the enemy, attacked by
French aeroplanes we're brought to
earth, one behind the enemy lines at a
point near LlancOurt and the other be-
hind our lines at Fontenoy.
This morning aeroplanes of the enc
my threw down bombs on Dunkirk.
On the nights OF May 20, q and y,
several operations were conducted by
groups Of French aviators. Shells
were successfully thrown upon the
railroad stations at MetZ-Sabions, AVrl-
court and ROye, upon munitions depds
at Blacnes and Chappelotte; on blVou-
acks IN the vicinity of Azannes and on
the village Of Jimietz, where there had
been installed the headquarters OF the
commandant Of an important division.
Two OF our dirigibles have ralned
bombs on the railroad stations and the
railroad lines at Brieulles and Dun.
German War Report
Berlin, May 22.-German troops
stormed French positions on the east
ern spurs Of Hill 304 and maintained
them against repeated counter at
tacks which are saidNto have cost the
French great losses.
The following official statement was
issued today:
Western front: The French made
several futile attacks on our lines
south Of Haudremont and on the Yer
Don front. In the third attack the
French succeeded in obtaining a foot
Ing In the quarry near Haudremont.
During the night artillery was ex-
traordnariIy active on both sides IN
the whole sector.
Our air squadrons yesterday after
noon again attacked with great sue
cess, the harbor at Dunkirk. An en-
envy bIpIane fell into the sea. Four
Others were disabled and fell within
cur lines In addition to those men
TONED, First Lieutenant Boelke has
brought down his 18th and 18th hostile
aeroplanes, one south of Ayocourt ana
The other south of Dead Mans Hill.
This brilliant aviator has been pro
NOTED by the emperor TO the rank OF
captain in acknowledgement Of his