The sun., 1917-01-27
GERMAN CHECK
BEFORE VERDUN
French Claim to Have Re-
gained Most of Ground
Lost at Hill 304.

LONDON, Jan. 26.-Small success re-
warded a violent attack the Germans
began late yesterday west of the Meuse
at Verdun. Though they took 500 prs-
oners and ten machine guns. they pene-
trated the French trenches at only one
point. on Hill 304. and this morning the
French counter attacked strongly and re-
captured most Of the lost ground
The German assault. made by troops
ders of Gen. Won Francois. commander
in front of Verdun since the Crown
Prince went to Alsace. was especially
Violent according to to-nght's French
official report. Hand II hand fighting oc-
Cured at some points, in which both
sides lost heavily.
Though the Germans claim success
only on Hill 304. they attacked at four
points on front of five miles west OF
the Meuse. of which the hill is only a
part From Avocourt to beyond Dead
Man Hill. a region made famous by the
Crown Princes fruitless spring often
sive. the Germans attacked, and every
where but on Hill 3O4 were repulsed
with losses. The German statement
makes it appear that some of the at
tacks We're diversions. but the French
account is different.
Last night the French made their first
counter attack, which was a failure, Ber-
lin announces. A bulletin from German
headquarters tonight says that more
French counter attacks were repulsed.
but the French statement denies this
and says a violent counter attack" did
the work.
Ohicial Statements.
The Verdun fighting is not only the
most important Of the day. but of the
| past month on the western front Of
| fcial statements follow:
| German-"Army group of the Ger
| man Crown Prince--On the west banl,
/ of the Meuse, in the sector of Infantry
Gen. Won Francois. under command OF
! Lieut.. Gen: Won dem Borne. Westphaliar
and portions of Baden regiments, as
sisted by artillery, pioneers and mine
throwers. stormed French trenches or
| Hill SO4 on front OF 1000 meters
The enemy suffered sanguinary losses IL
hand to hand fighting and left in oui
hands, in round numbers, 500 prisoners
| among whom were twelve officers. W,
captured ten machine guns
AT night the French launched /;
| counter attack, which failed
'fnteTpTlSes on l1eau Nan Hill ant
northeast Of Avocourt brought the de
sired result
French-"According to recent reports
the attack carried out yesterday by tn,
enemy on the left bank of the Meus,
was especially violent. Several German
regiments took part IN the fighting
which at some points was in the natur
of hand to hand combats.
"This morning through violen
counter attack in the region Of Hin 80
our troops recaptured most of the ele
ments into which the enemy had pene
trated.
ARTILLERY fighting has taken place OF
the right bank of the Meuse, in TIN
region of Bezonvaux-L -Louvemont, on tn
Woevre, in the sector Of Regnievile an,
on the sector OF Veho, to the east o
Lunevilie."
French Version of Attack.
The French day announcement fol
lows:
ION the west bank of the River Meuss
after violent bombardment, Germa
forces yesterday evening delivered at
tacks upon four points Of our front be
tween Avocourt Wood and "A point [
the east of Dead Man Hill. but the
were repulsed by our curtain of Are an
, by the fire of our infantry and our ma
|
chine guns.
"Our assailants were compelled I
make their way back to their trenche!
, with the exception, however of certai
detachments which were successful 4
Denetrating some of our advance
trenches in the sector of Hill 304. Th
enemy during this attack suffered yer
heavy losses and left numerous dead |
, front of our lines, particularly in Ave
2 court Wood.
I During the course of the night Gel
man troops undertook several surpris
I attacks upon some of our minor Dos
! tions, but these failed under the fire {
our men located to the north of Chill,
7 south OF the Somme, and to the nortl
4 east Of Vingre, between the Disc and N
r Aisne,
I "In UVpe- Alsace near Largitze
Q after "A spirited b..rdment. forces ,
{ the enemy came out of their trenches
0 two points. Our ARTILLERY fire put
definite check to this endeayor"