New-York tribune., 1916-07-12
Gain Footing in Damloup
Battery and Fumin
Wood.
FRENCH CAPTURE
TRENCHES IN VOSGES
Clear Out Positions In Sur
prise Attack-Lose in
Lorraine.

London, July lin furious assaults
along the Verdun front, from Fleury TO
a point east of Chenois, the Germans
to-day gained a footing in the Dam
loup battery and in the French lines
/ in the Fumin Wood Admission OF this
progress BY the German forces is made
in to-night's French official statement
/ Preceding their assaults with vio-
lent bombardment which lasted all day
yesterday and increased IN intensity
until 4 o'clock this morning, the Ger
mans launched attack after attack on
the positions in this sector. East OF
Fumin Wood their first onrush was sue
cessful in winning them a foothoid IN
the French advanced trenches. but a
counter attack drove them out again
before they could consolidate their new
ground.
Repeated attacks against the same
positions were broken up by the
French curtain of fire and machine
guns with severe losses to the Ger
mans, but they finally obtained a hold
on parts of the Allied lines, from which
the French were unable to eject them.
Germans Gain in Lorraine.
In Lorraine the Germans were also
successful in penetrating badly dam
aged French positions over front OF
200 yards.
In the Vosges, north of La Fonte-
nellie. a French surprise attack enabled
them to pierce the German first line
trenches and clear out supporting
position.
"On the right bank Of the Meuse,
says to-night's French statement, "ihe
Germans this morning renewed their
attacks on the front of the Fleury sta
ton, the Vaux Wood, Chapitre and
Chenois.
after several fruitless attempts,
which cost him heavy losses, the enemy
succeeded in gaining footing in the
Damloup battery and in some elements
of our line in the Fumin Wood. The
bombardment is being maintained in
tensely in the whole region.
"On the left bank there was less ar
tillery activity. The usual cannon
aiding occurred on the rest of the front.
"Our bombing squadrons have been
active. On the night of July 10 and
IL 220 shells were dropped on various
railway stations, where activity was
reported, particularly on those at Hay
La Fere and Chauny."
Attacks in Fumin Wood.
An earlier official statement read:
"On the left bank of the Meuse there
were severe artillery engagements in
the sectors of Avocourt and Chattan-
court. To the right of the river the
bombardment yesterday of our posi-
tione from Fleury to a point east OF
Cherois was redoubled in intensity
At 4 o'clock this morning the Germans
delivered an attack over the whole
front thus bombarded
East of Fumin Wood and Chenois
Wood the enemy gained foothold IN
our advanced trenches, but Immediately
was elected entirely by counter at
tacks. Elsewhere our curtain OF fire
\ and our machine guns broke up the at
tacks Of the enemy. The bombardment
continues in this region.
"West of Pont "a Mousson a surprise
attack delivered by the enemy against
one of our trenches west of Mortmare
Wood was broken up completely.
"In Lorraine, after spirited artillery
preparation, the Germans attacked the
salient in our line east of Reillon and
succeeded in penetrating portions OF
our first line over a front of 2OC
metres.
Mine Attack Repulsed.
"In the vicinity of Veho the enemy
attempted by the explosion of four
mines TO destroy one of our trenches
He was checked by our FIRE and driven
back. leaving dead and wounded. We
occupied the craters OF the German
mines.
an the Vosges, south Of Lusse, al
attack of the enemy was broken uT
with grenades. North of La Fontenelle
a surprise attack on trenches of the
enemy enabled us 10 penetrate hrs'
line trenches and support trench
which we cleared out. We brough'
back some prisoners.
The German official statement says
"Very lively artillery duels occurred
in the region of the Meuse. On the
remainder of the front there was in
creased artillery action at places. The
enemy made several unsuccessful gas
attacks. Patrol and reconnoitring de
tachments of our enemies were very
inactive and were repulsed every
! where.
Near Leintrey, in Lorraine, a Ger
! man detachment, after an extensive
mine explosion, penetrated badly
damaged French position and took sixty