The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-01
FRENCH WIN GROUND|
AT lie MORT HOMME
Make Spirited Attack and
Take Strongly Fortified
Position.
CAPTURE 900 GERMANS
spcc,a, Cd1i, Despa,c1 20 TINS SIS

Special fn,tS DSSDTfG7 70 Inv SiN.
PARIS, May 3t-The French turned ON
tho Germans on the west bank OF the
Mouse this afternoon ana IN a spirited
assault occupicd = strongly fortified
German position on the southwest slopes
al lie Mort Homine, taking 22o prison.
err
The French assault came after n night
and day Of heavy fighting In this region
IN which the Germans. pursuing their
renewed offensive, had been the agrees
eors. B~egi-n'rC Yesterday afternoon I
terrific battle was waged ca the whole
front between lie Mort Hommc and the
meuse with the Germans making re-.
peated attacks. Preparations Tor these
German assaults had been I'm The making
Tor two days, the German batteries sur
passing their previous efforts "a the mum
Der OF large calihre shells they hurled
into the French positions.
In spite OF this rain OF ellis tho
French troops emerged from Their shell.
tiers when the German Infantry advanced
and drove them back. The artillery Are
mad levelled n first line French trench
south OF the Bots dos Caurettes. ives, OF
Cunieres. and the French had 10 aban-
don the trench. This was the only net
gain made by tho Germans as me result
OF the whole series Of artillery lombard
snents and infantry assaults
4, south or the village Of Cumieres tho
Germans, convergins upon the French
hnes from west and east ~ the village.
forced the French TO fan back along the
railway for the time he pg iu Tire direc-
ton OF the C~hattancourt station. TO tn.
east OF Chattancourt village. but q coun-
ter attack recovered the terrain lost and
al the end of the action the French were
back In their positions on the outskirts
of the village.
In connection with the German attack
At this point German attachments took
advantage Of the fog 70 make their way
along the river bank 70 IN. heig I a, the
Chattancourt station, presumably there
70 cooperate with tho forces operating
from Cumieres. French observers dis
covered the presence Of these de,ach-
ments on the Hank and the French 75s
wiped them out.
The official communicate issued by the
War Office tonight follows:
On the left bank of the Meuse
there was a violent ~bonlbardment with
shells OF large calibre In the region
Of Avocourt and Hill 30i.
In the afternoon. IN the course Of
q lively attack. our troops captured a
strongly organized German work on
the southwest slopes % lie Mort
m We made 220 prisoners. OF
whom Ave Mere officers. and took
seven mitrailieuses.
On the southeast slopes OF lie Mort
Homme a coup die main executed las,
night enabled us 10 capture twenty
fve prisoners.
On the right bank there was very
great activity on the part Of the ar
tillery OF both sides e.ae. the
Meuse and Fort Naux. There was no
Infantry action. Our batteries took
under their fire and dispersed enemy
cncer'-a'!ccs north c: IT,, Eois ,jes
Fosscs northeast o. Louvemontl
There was an Intermittent can
nonade on the rest Of the front. more
Intense In the region east of
Metz.ra' oAlsaccr. and the Hart.
mannsweilerkoTt.
a minor German offensive was under.
taken last night east ~ seppo.s. m
Haute Alsace. The attack. preceded h.,
violent preparatory artillery IRE. gained
. footing in some French trenches. but
. counter attack Immediately recovered
the positions.
The afternoon communicate was as fol.
lows:
On the lef bank az the Meuse fero-
cious battles took place Yesterday and
last night between lie Mort Hom,re
and the Meuse. The enemy, az the con-
cluslon Of a bOmhardmeni Of unhcard
Of violence, which had been going on
for W o days, delivered rtpeatcd aid
concentr'c attacks, IN which large
numbers or men were employed. upon
our rench cas-, Of lie Mort Eiolnme
and on certain ~ cur positions IA the
village Of Cumieres.
Everywhere our troops resisted and
repulsed the enemy, who suffered i'm
porta1t losses. Nevertheless. IN the
region south Of the Bots dts Caurettes
We were compelled t. eVacua,e our
frst line trench. THIS already had
been completely leve.Ied by the bonn
bardment Of the enemy.
South Of Cum,eres German attacks
delivered from two sdes Of the village
were successful In the pegining in
driving US bach In the direction or the
Chattancourt station, but : spirited
counte attack made il possible for US
70 forcc the enemy back 10 tho out
skirts Of the village Of Cumieres.
Certain German detachmruts which.
under cover Of a fog had made their
way along the Neuse a far as the
height OF the ChattauCourt station
were anuihilated by our IRE.
On the right bank az the river there
has been intermittent artillery fighting.
IN upper Alsace the enemy. after an
intense preparatory artillery fire. at
tackled our positions AZ q point about
1900 yards east of Soppo.-. rI,N $50
cured a footing ir some ~ our tyclnu..
but were at ono. driven out 10y our
counter attack.