Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
French HOLD FIRM
IN vERDUN REGION
Germans Using Picked Troops
in Tremendous Attacks
Along the Meuse.
ALSO STRIKING ON AIsNE

The scene OF heaviest fighting on the
western front Is now the verdun sector.
Over the same ground on which they
met with such a serious check at the
hands of the French last year tho Ger
mans are making serious assaults with
picked forces. For the most part their
efforts have been nullifed by the
French. but the Germans succeeded in
the west slope of Dead Mans hill.
On the Aisne front also the Germans
are on the offensive. They attacked
last night near Verny and Corbeny.
meeting with a devastating French hrs
which all but annihilated their storm
ing detachments. Northeast of Cerney
they succeeded in gaining a salient
which had been leveled by artillery IRE.
Whether these operations marked the
resumption of a sustained offensive by
the Germans Is not yet clear. The Of
ficial German statement throws no light
on this subject, merely mentioning the
capture Of 500 meters of trench line
east Of Hill 304 and OF several French
lines south OF La Bouville farm. on the
Aisne front.
Germans Driven Back.
PARIS. Juno 3o.-The ofYiciai conn
munication issued by the war office to-
night reads:
North of St Quentin an enemy sur
prise attack on one of our small posts
In the region Of Gricourt was repulsed.
On the left bank of the Meuse the ac-
tivity of both artilleries was very great
between Avocourt wood and LIE Mort
Homme. All the enemy attempts were
driven back by our counter attacks. We
took about twenty prisoners. including
three officers.
Belgian communications: Last night
an enemy attack against one of our ad-
vanced posts near the ferryman's house
was repelled. The German artillery
straete and Het Sas.'"
British Progress Further.
LONDON. June 3o.-The Official re-
port from British headquarters In
France tonight reads:
Our troops again made progress
during the day south Of Lens and cap
tured further portion Of the enemys
trench system in this area, with a few
prisoners.
"A hostile raiding party was repulsed
this morning southeast of Couxeucourt
air yesterday between our airplanes
and large formations Of hostile ma
chimes. As a result nve German air.
planes were brought down and four
others were driven down out of con-
troll One other enemy machine was
shot down by hre from the ground. One
Of our airplanes is missing"
--4-raerman omcial Report.
BERLIN, June 30. via London (Brit.
ish admiralty. per Wireless Press):
The latest official announcement fol.
lows: Army group of Crown Prince
Rupprecht-The artillery fighting was
within moderate limits, owing to the
rainy weather, and there was heavy
firing at only few places. In the aft
a Igytt oh -.
airplanes flying at low altitude. broke
into our trenches southeast Of Armen-
there's. 1t was at once driven out by. Q
counter attack. Enemy detachments
back on several occasions. Our own
thrusts on the User and northwest OF
st. Quentin resulted in tho capture Of
several Belgian and French prisoners
Gains Are Reported.
Army group Of the German crown
prtnce-After effective preparatory fire
reconnaissance southeast OF Corbeny..
Assaulting troops forced their way int6
the rear of the French lines over
front of 1,200 meters. and in spite of O
solid defense blew up some dugouts.
They returned with large number Of
prisoners. In the evening Westphalian
regiments extended their gain of the
previous day east of Cerny. By a SUR
prise assault they captured several en-
emy trench lines south Of La Bovells
farm. The number OF prisoners was
increased appreciably. simultaneously
the French attacked twice with strong
forces near Cerny. They were repulsed
in hand-to-hand fighting.
Success Extended, u Claim.
THE gain achieved on the western
bank of the Meuse Thursday has been
extended on the eastern slope Of Hill
304. A Posen regiment stormed about
500 meters of French positions. and
storming detachments Of Brandenburxs
ers and Berltners took possession e.
enemy trenches in the ground stretch
ing from Bethincourt toward Esnes
Here Thursday and Friday SIS pris-
oners were brought in. The enemy of
fered stubborn resistance and his losses
were heavy. He increased them still
further by making futile counter at
tacks on the southeastern fringe OF
Avocourt wood and against the SOUTH
western slope Of Hill 304.''