New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-26
Trenches Near Douau-
mont and Quarry
Retaken.
PUSH AHEAD
FROM CUMIERES
French May Evacuate lie
Mort HOmme and
Hill 304.
lRr C.hls % The Tribune !

London, May % Further French de-
fences at Verdun crumpled to-day un-
der the hammering of German blows.
With Fort Douaumont again firmly
rripped, the Germans turned their at
tention to the trenches on either side
These had fallen with the fort before
General Nivelle's counter stroke on
Tuesday. To-day they were recapturcd,
as were the auarres at llaudromont, IN
which the French had also establish d
themselves.
West of the Meuse the struggle has
grown in intensity. Their hold on the
Douaumont ridge regained, the Ger
mans have again concentrated on the
reduction Of lie Mort Homme and Hill
3O4 across the river. The French made
three attempts to-day to recapture Gu
mieres. stormed night before last. Ber-
lin saws that all the attacks failed. The
Germans also gained trenches IN the
neighborhood of the Haudromont wood.
Cumicres is important because II
links the German lines east and west
Of the beuse. In German hands u also
helps prevent the fanklng fire on troops
operating on the east bank, which is
the larger objective also in the capture
Of lie Mort Homme and Hill 304. Once
these are taken, and with a wedge a -
ready driven in at Douaumont, the Ger
mans can resume their frontal assaults
on the main line of the fortress.
NAV Evacuate lie Mort Homme.
The Germans have already advanced
south OF Cumieres and are now striy-
ing to rout the French from the Cau-
rettes wood. II they succeed the moose
will be pulled tighter about lie Mort
Homme. Already exposed to attack
from three sides, il would place the
Germans almost in the rear of the
height. Evacuation by the French
would then be almost necessary.
Indeed. military opinion in Paris is
now generally agreed that evacuation
Of lie Mort Homme and Hill 304 can
not be much longer delayed. Both are
outposts from the real first line of de-
fence west OF the Meuse- the Charnay
ridge and their sacrifice would not
ieopardize the safety of the fortress.
German shells for days have rem
dered both heights practically unten-
able. There is scarcely the vestige OF
a trench left on either, though by the
marvellous concealment Of their guns
the French have managed TO prevent
the Germans from occupying them.
The value of these positions has been
chiefly in enfilading German posts on
the left bank of the Meuse.
II the French withdraw from these
hills. the Germans will be able to ad-
vance the attack west of the river to
the same stage as at Douaumont. The
Cbarnav ridge, on which is situated
Fort Bourrus, will be their objective,
wbiIe by working 10 the southwest
through Avocourt they WILL seek TO
flank this line and cut the only railway
still serving Verdun.
Germans Take Gambling Chance.
Whether the Germans accomplish
this. of course, depends upon how much
strength they have eft after the
stupendous exertions OF the past week.
Their expenditure of shell alone has
excelled anything previously seen IN
the war. And, taken together with the
extravaganza Of the Austrian artillery
in the Tyrol. il is taken TO mean one
~ two things. Either the Central
Powers are gambling desperately to
break the Allies power of launching
2nv offensive this year, or their own
reserves are much greater than has
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