New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-25
French Regain Hill 304 in
One Charge at
Dawn
Haig's Men Suffer
Reverse in Flanders
Canadians Continue AS.
saults Against Lens
Fortihcations

LONDON, Aug. PA sudden sweep
at daybreak carried Petain's storming
troops over the crest Of Hill 304 this
morning and established them in posi-
tions a good 1000 yards down the op-
posite slope. Thus the last important
stronghold which the Crown Prince
last year wrested from the French on
the Verdun front is once more held
by the armies of the republic.
The French advance between Avo-
court Wood and Dead Man Hill was
successful at every point, and in most
places the given detectives were sur
passed. Hill 304 and Camard Wood
were absorbed in a single charge. Be
tween Haucourt and Bethincourt the
average depth of penetration was one
and a third miles. In a simultaneous
operation the French line north Of
Dead Man Hill was extended two-thirds
Of mile TO the Meuse River south Of
Forges Brook Over a hundred prison
ers have been brought in.
The British armies, though engage
in heavy fighting throughout the day,
achieved no such success. In fact,
Haig's forces suffered reverse in
Flanders. losing some OF the high
ground they won Wednesday south OF
the Ypres Menin road in a series Of
violent German counter attacks upon
the Inverness Copse and Glencorse
Wood, where vigorous fighting still
continues, though a withdrawal of the
British advance guards is admitted.
Berlin says that all the trenches lost
in this sector were recovered and held.
A limited advance by the British
southeast Of St. Julien during the
night hardly compensates for the Ger
man success on the controlling ridge
east of Ypres, which represents one OF
the few effective enemy reactions dur
ing the month.
Hard Fighting at Lens
Bitter hand-to- hand fighting was also
in progress throughout the night and
day in the Lens area. According to the
British War Office tho Canadians now
hold the German positions northwest
of the Green Crassier, the great Stag
heap south Of Lens, which the Germans
had turned into n fort. This artificial
hill was stormed by the Canadians yes
terday. but unofficial dispatches say
they were finally forced back over the
TOD by the superior weight of German
gravcoats. Berlin insists that all the
trenches in the neighborhood OF Lens
were held against all attacks.
The first phase of the French often
siye on the Verdun front is now COM
plete. Hill 304, together with the two
peaks OF Dead Man Hill, controls all
the ravines and approaches as far as
Fort Douaumont, on the opposite bank
of the Meuse, and cuts the Germans on
from all observations OF French move
ments or concentrations.
The fall Of Hill 304 was foregone
conclusion when the French took Dead
Man Hill and advanced in Avocourt
Wood. The Germans were squeezed
out in much the same fashion as they
were expelled from Fort Vaux last fall
when the French reconquered Douau-
mont and Damloup Ridge, except that
on this occasion the results followed
more quickly. Douaumont was again
in possession Of the French on October
"a. 1915, while VauX was not evacuated
until November 3. Hill 304 was hanked
three days ago, and the Germans had
TO move out.