New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-01
KAISER TIGHTENS
GRIP AT vERDUN
lie Mort Homme Nearly
Surrounded-Chattan-
court Menaced.


London, May 3l.-The German coil
has been drawn tighter about lie Mort
Homme and the fate of the position
tonight hangs by thread. further
to the south the Germans have pene-
trated nearly to Chattancourt, almost
AZ the base of the Charnay ridge itseli'
Desperate French counter assaults
have sought to relieve the increasing
pressure on lie Mort Homme. Ihey
have been only partly successful y
valiant charge this afternoon did sue
ceed in wrenching loose one OF the
bands on the southwest slopes OF the
hill. But other attacks on the CumiereS
side last night failed to break their
grip.
The situation at lie Mort Homme
does not worry the French as much as
the new developments near Chattan-
court The evacuation of the former
has already been discounted. Ihe
breaking through to the Esnes Road
has not. Paris's guarded admission
that German troops ain fog sue
ceeded in approaching the Chattan-
court station reveals results for the
German blows that are portentous. IL
asserts. however, that they were driven
back 10 the outskirts Of Cumieres.
Fresh Crescendo in Attack.
Last nights assaults, in which most
Of these gains were made, almost eX-
celled in violence even the past cres-
oendos Of this fercest battle in his
tory.
II the Germans succeed in entering
Chattancourt, except for the French
salient at lie Mort Homme and Hill
8o4. they will hold practically the
whole territory north Of the Chamnay
Ridge. At Avocourt they already hold
the other end Of the road cutting
across the sector, like cord, to the
Meuse. They have progressed down
this TO the vicinity of Esnes, midway
between Avocourt and Chattancourt.
Each day makes it increasingly evil
dent that. cost what it may, the Ger
mans .re resolved on the captlre OF
Verdun. Irrespective of its military
value. they have concentrated men and
guns there on an overwhelming scale.
II is known, also, that the Germans
have postponed the offensive against
Riga and the Dvinsk, which von Hin
denburg was anxious 20 launch TINS
spring. The troops and artillery con-
centrated FOR their purpose have large
" been withdrawn and sent to the
French front. Thus, too, the troops
massed opposite the British for
months, either in anticipation of Cen
eral Haig's advance or to prepare for
one Of their own, have been trans
ferred. Many of these have been sum
moned in such haste TO replenish the
ranks at Verdun that the whole
trim OF more than two hundred miles
was made by motor transport
"On the left bank of the Meuse'
saws the French statement. there was
violent bombardment with shells o:
large calibre in the region OF AyocourI
and Hill 304.
"In the afternoon, in a SPIRITED al,
tack. our troops gained possession OF
a German work strongly organized on
the slopes to the southwest OF lie MOTT
Homme. We took 220 prisoners, IN
cluding five officers. and captured seven
machine guns. ~
"On the slopes southeast Of lie Mort
Homme a surprise attack last nlght
enabled US to capture twenty-five prls-
oners.
ION the right bank there was great
activity of the two artillery forces be
tween the Meuse and Fort NauX, bur
no infantry action
An earlier report said;
ION the LEFT bank OF the River Meuse
, ferocious battle took place yesterday
and last night between Dead Man Hhl
and the Meuse. The enemy, al the con-
clusion OF a bombsrdment Of unheard
Of violence which had been gong on
for two days, delivered repeated and
oontinu.e on page s. column :