Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-05-24
ITALIANS FORCED To RETIRE
Before Austrlans--FOrtifiet Positions
Taken by the French,

iaHS uuHlitleuly nave 1allen BACK IN
the Southern Tyrol before the Aus
, trian onset.
The course Of the operations is be-
ing closely watched in capitals OF
both the entente and central powers.
Military observers in Paris express
confidence that the Italian defense
Will prevent Austrian penetration
into the Vicenza plain, the apparent
, objective Of the attacking forces.
In the fighting about Verdun the
French. who have been restive under
German occupation OF parts Of the
dominating height known as Hill
304, northwest of the fortress, have
now succeeded in partly oustlng the
Teutons. Paris to-day reports the
capture Of German fortified posi-
ton on the northeast slope Of the
hill.
On the German side an attempt
was made by means of several at
tacks to capture redoubt at Avo-
court, on the French left flank, but
the assaults are declared to have
been repulsed with heavy losses.
Other operations in the Verdun re-
gion, according to the Paris after
noon bulletin, were confined to sue
cessful raid by the French on Ger
man trenches north Of Hill 2S7, west
Of Hill 304, and to heavy firing by
the artillery, which was active all
along this front during the night.
The French Report.
Paris, May 1S.-Following is the
official French statement:
Between the River Disc and the
-. ~ Aisne a strong accommodating
party Of the enemy, which was en-
deaVoring to approach our lines in
the neighborhood Of Ouennevieres
was subjected by us to a counter-at-
tack and dispersed, leaving some
dead upon the field where the encoun-
ter took place.
"On the left bank Of the River
Meuse, after a sp:rited preparation
by our artillery, the Germans endeav-
ored several times last night to cap
ture the redoubt in the wood of Avo-
court. Repulsed each time by our
fire, the enemy suffered very serious
losses. AS for us, we executed at a
point to the north OF Hill 2S7 at
about 3 o'clock in the morning a sur
prise attack upon German trench
The men occupying this position were
either killed or made prisoner.
"At this same time of day French
troops took possession after furious
engagement Of a small fort of the
enemy on the northeast slope Of Hill
304.
"On the right bank of the Meuse
and In The Woevre district there
have been reciprocal bombardments
During the night of May 1917
French aviators conducted numerous
bombardments along the front to
the north Of Verdun. For Instance:
Fifteen shells Of large caliber we've
thrown down upon an important de-
pot Of munitions between Raucourt
and Arracourt, ten kilometres (siX
miles) south of Sedan; five more on
the railroad station at Sedan, where
fire broke out, and fifteen on a de-
pot Of munitions not far from Azan-
nes. During the same night two
French aeroplanes threw down 80
shells on the railroad station at
Metz-Sablons.
"Aviators of the enemy during the
night threw down several bombs in
the vicinities Of Luneville Epinal and
Belfort. They caused material dam
age of no great Importance"
The German Report.
Berlin, May 1S.-Following is the
German official statement:
"Three further attacks by the
French against our positions on Hill
304 were repulsed early this morn
ing. During retreat through Esn es
the enemy suffered very heavy losses
In the surrounding open country
This refers to attempts to attack
made by a fresh African division
consisting Of mixed white and colored
French troops. An advance by weak
enemy forces southwest Of Reich Ac-
kerko failed completely. An enemy
aer0plane was brought down on the
eastern front east Of Kraschin."
Three German Ships Sunk in Baltic
London, May 1S.-The sinking OF
| two German ships by submarine
believed to be Russian, is reported
in dispatch from Stockholm. The
steamships were the Kolga, Hamburg
| for Stockholm, and the Blanca.
The steamships were torpedoeG
yesterday afternoon off the Swedish
island Of Landsort, in the Baltic
The Kolga was attacked at 5 D. m
being shelled by the submarine fol
20 minutes. Two members Of the
crew were slightly injured.
The Kolga was then torpedoed ant
sunk. Thirteen of the crew were
| picked up by Swedish steamer
-Four others, including the captalr
and second mate, are missing.
Half an hour later the Blanca wa:
shelled and then torpedoed. The at
tack occurred in the same vicinity a,
that OF the Kolga. The captain wa
taken prisoner. Two members of tn,
crew were injured slightly. The,
and the other members OF the crew
were picked up by the vessel whicl
rescued the men from the Kolga.
| HerN Also Down.