New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-10
Evacuate Salient to
North of lie Mort
HOmme.
GERMANS SMASH
VAINLY AT LINES
Succeed in Gaining Only
Slight Hold Near Avo-
court in Terrific Assault.
LRr Obi. 10 IN, Trihun.

BY Cabs 10 The Tribune J
London, April 9.-Repeating the
evacuation of Malancourt last week.
the French last night abandoned
Bethincourt. After a months de-
fence. as heroic and as vain as at the
former village. the pinch Of the Ger
mans on three sides Of the salient be-
came no longer bearable. For the
last week it had been borne only by
the unconquerable will Of its French
defenders.
rs the elimination of perhaps the
fiercest days fighting west Of the
Meuse, Paris tonight announces a
withdrawal to a new line from Avo-
court to Cumieres. Running along
the wooded slopes to the west Of Hill
304. the backbone Of the whole
French defence in this sector, the
new intrenchments skirt the south
ern bank of the Forges Brook short
distance and then bend southwark
toward Cumieres.
Line Breaks in One Place.
The whole fury Of the German as
sauIt on Vaux last week has now
been transferred west Of the Meuse.
Around practically the whole arc
like line the fighting to-day was most
violent. The Germans abandoned
the new open formation they had
tried at Vaux and in the Caillette
wood and hurled forward wave after
wave of troops in the old massed at
tack.
Only in one place, Paris reports,
did they succeed in penetrating the
first line. That was in the wood
northeast Of Ayocourt, where tenn
porary footing was gained. The
French quickly dislodged it.
While this attack was in progress
on the west side Of the salient the
Germans launched second along tho
front Of lie Mort Homme-Cumieres or
the North. II was no more successful
than similar assaults attempted on this
same front three weeks sgo.
The Germans formed in tho protec-
ton Of the Cumieres wood, as before
they had been marshalled in the Bois
des Corbesux As they debouched In
close formation they were met with
whitening blasts from French guns
on the heights. The piles OF dead be-
came the breastvorks behind which the
living sought shelter.
Attacks Spread East Of River.
BEGINNING before dawn. these as
saults lasted. without any lessening m
throughout the entire day.
As the shattered regiments were
hurled back on their trenches fresh
troops leaped into their places, 70
melt away in turn before the French
curtains OF fire.
The lighting spread 20 the east Of
tho Meuse also, but apparently with
out any definite objective. Douaumont
and Vaux were again subjected 20 ter
rife bombardment, but II assaults were
planned they we're kept IN check ~
French guns.
"The premeditated evacuation Of ths
salient" said the PARIS
statement. (which was carried out last
night. had enabled us 20 establish a
continuous line, beginning at the Ayo-
court corner and running along the
frst woody slopes 20 the west OF hiil
3O4. then along the southern bank OF
the FORCES brook 20 the northeast or
Haucourt snd reaching our positions
A little to the south Of the crossing
~ the roads Of Bethincourt-Esnes
and Bethincourt-C -Chattsncourt.
"The whole line was violently at
acked By the enemy, but withstood
he fercest onslsughts.
"On the front OF lie Mort Homme-
,umieres the German attack met with
sanguinary setback. The attacking
olumns. which debouched IN close
ormation from the Cumieres wood.
rere caught under the fire Of our
,itrailleuses and artillery and dis
ersed. leaving behind hundreds or
odies on the ground.
"All attempts against lie NOT,
Tomme were also repul.ed. with heavy
osses.
"a simultaneous offensive movement
gainst our positions Aetween the AYo-
ourt wood and the Forges Brook me.
With fierce resistance on the par, o,
ur troops, which everywhere repusea
he enemy. Finally the enemy. through
N attack against one Of our WORKS 20
he northeast Of Avocourt. at the SCUM,
I'm outskirts OF the wood. succeeded
nomen.arily in gaining foothold IN
mr. trenches, but were thrown ous AZ
nee through a counter attack.
"To the east OF the Meuse the enemy
r.;lierv was very active against our
'rganizations at the Cote du Polvre ana
n The region OF Douaumon.-Vaux, as
veil as on the whole OF our second line.
,ep, in check by our fire curtains, the
infantry attackers we're unable t" de-
'ouch.'