The Detroit times., 1917-01-27
French Claim Recap
ture Of Trenches;
Germans Deny Story
THOUSANDS SLAIN
IN TEUTON CHARGE
Bitterest Fighting of
War Rages In Freez-
ing Weather

With all Europe In the grip OF ths
coolest weather OF the winter, the
most bitter lighting OF the last three
months was still in progress today
around the war-scsrred slopes OF Hill
504.
Paris reported artillery combats
with destruction OF German defensive
works IA the object OF the lre. Last
nights statement has asserted that
practically all the positions which the
Germans by an assault of probably
10000 men snatched from the French
defenders yesterday. had been wou
hack, but Berlin's official version to-
day was that the French assaults had
Judging from both the Paris and
Lcrltn statements. however, the fight
ing today around Hill 304 is confined
FIR the most part to artillery IRA
Presumably the French are seekipg "a
blast away the trench occupied by ad-
versaries in the new positions. Such
fire may possibly DO In preparation
of fresh French counter attacks to-
night
BERLIN (via Sayville wireIess).
Jan. 2T.-French attacks thruout
last night and this morning against
positions on Hill 304 won yesterday
BY tho Germans were fruitless, to-
days official statement declared All
such assaults broke down with san.
culinary losses TO the attackers.
The statement also detailed fight
ing around the Comtres Heights and
the Meuse bend west OF st. Mihiel
The statement said.
Unsuccessful night attacks of
French against positions on height
SO4 captured by us was followed in
the morning hours by further at
tacks which likewise broke down
S:mguinarily
OF other operations on the west
ern front the report said.
'-Southwegt OF Dixmude q Bel
gian OUTPOST OF ten men was cap
tured with no losses 20 our forces.
PARIS, Jan 27.-Spir'ted artillery
combats marked the continued stTug-
gle for supremacy around Hill 304
today between German and French
forces, the Official statement declnr-
cd The French fire was directed
with destructive effect against Ger
man works The same sort of light
ing was IN progress around Es-
parges
Fighting OF great intensity. over
battle ground every inch Of which
has long ago been accurately map
ped and ranged sor artillery has
marked the removed struggle about
Dead Mans Hill and Hlll S04 Ad'
vices today indicated that the
French have wrest "a back from the
enemy practically all ot the ad
vanced positions which the costly
German assault Of Thursday night
had won.
A delugc Of artillery FIRE. a food
OF machine gun bullets and nerce
hand-,o hand fghting has again torn
and soaked the soil OF the two hills,
already furrowed and hlackened by
dozens OF previous battles OF pre-
cisely the same sor'
Paris reported the belief today
that the concerted assault vas an
attempt by the Germans 20 asoer-
tain whether the French were pre-.
pairing an attack CA the west bank
Of the Mpuse following their recent
euccessful offensive ON the east.
where Gen Nivplle celebrated his
departure from Vcrdun and az
sumption OF general command by
bold stroke The attack cost the
Germans thousands OF men. The
slopes Of the Two hills offered no
protection at all to the advancing
Teutonic columns and The etecu-
tlon OF the French guns were ter
rife. Paris estimated today that
six full divisions. or 10000 men
were used by the Germans in thes
assault
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