In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 30, 10 May 1916, Page 5

In the West.

"AS YOU WERE." FIERCE GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. SITUATION ON THE MEUSE RESTORE TO NORMAL. [Onitkd Phbsb Association.] (Received 8.35 a.m.) Paris, May 9. The enemy on Monday, despite a deciminating cross fire, repeatedly renewed their assault on Hill 304. A Pomeranian regiment, regardless of terrific losses, fought obfitinately and fruitlessly for hours. Finally, after their expulsion from the ravine, the enemy attempted to outflank us by an attack towards Hill 287, but it failed completely. i The situation on both banks of the Meuse now is the same as before the last renewal of the formidable German offensive.

: THE FIGHT FOR HILL 304. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS. | ' : "••..<.-. Amsterdam, May 9. j A German communique claims the cap'ure of the' whole network of French trenches on the northern slopes oi Hill 304, and states that the Ger* nian lines have pushed up to the hill itself. Pans, May 9. A communique reports: The bombardment of Avocourt Wood and in the whole region of Hill 304 has continued with undiminishing violence. Our curtain of fire stopped an attack on Hill 287, west of Hill 304. Since Wednesday the. German batteries have concentrated a deluge of metal on Hill 304 and Mort : Homme, and the slopes, (of the 'littl&'.tftltayi between*. front line of trenches, was|tqm and battered;-out of shApe; saps wereffijled up, A neither food nor »' munitions could pief | sent to the men holding the post. ; Tli© i late bombpdment exceeds in feisty aiythin||||et seen'. -After; foijty-eighif hours the French ady'aii-, cea\ JThe/trencfies no longer «xist, all, Chat i{lefit being an isolated shellora : . , ter, wh v eisin..the remnants of. the front line of -troops sheltered, carrying with them machine-guns and ammunition. They dug-in themselves, and finally the hail of missiles ceased. | The Germans, believing that noth- , ing living existed, advanced, but they had no softfter emerged m the open than- from a- dozen directions' the French machine-guns opened, and the assault soon spent itself. All the G*lmajs&^^ gained in a couple of shells wept salients. CHKO.it A«' VJ"«'Jvi>;-.

The Crown Prince,, on Sunday,.delivered two blows? r on<a on?the west, and the other on the easit bank of the MeuseV Fort}- thousand men were sent again to the eastern declivities' of fiill 304, which is separated from Mort Homme by scrubcovered ravines. The French subi jected the slopes of Hill 304.t0..5uch a 'fierce fire that the Germans deemed it prudent not to attempt an attack' I on the east bank. j Three violent German assaults resulted in the capture of five hundred yards of the French front line beI tween Haudromont and Douaumont.' There was most desperate fighting throughout Sunday night. Fresh German regiments were brought up and launched, one after another, but they were powerless to beat down the stubborn defence. | At daylight the French made a t fierce counter-attack and cleared the Germans from the ravines between Hill 304 and Mort Homme, and ,also from the Haudromont area. • SATISFACTORY ALLIED REPORT. (Received 9.45 a.m.) Paris, May 9. A communique states :—The enemy maintained a night-long violent bombardment of the trenches on Hill 304, and an attack at three, o'clock in the morning was completel repulsed. Our counter-attacks on the right bank of the Meuse drove out the enemy from the remainder of the first line elements north-westward of Thiaumont farm.

RUSSIAN PRISONERS ESCAPE. WELCOMED ON WESTERN FRONT. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Paris, March 9. One hundred and sixty-three Russian non-coms and men who were made prisoners by the Germans and were employed on various works on the French front escaped. They received an ovation on reaching the French lines, women offering them flowers.

atsa ALLIEB PROGRESS REPORTS. • The High Commissioner London, May 9 (4.10 p.m.) Between the Oise and the Aisne, way repulsed a coup-de-main directed oni our works south of Autreches. 1 In the Argonne, in the region of | [Solante, we took two small posts, the occupants of which had been We also occupied several craters ia& front of these posts. jjj j On the left bank of the Meuse, th# enemy during the night violently hom& ■ barded our trenches at Hill 304. J& German attack launched at 3 a.m. completely repulsed. »3r On the right bank of the Meuse, our counter-attacks during the night enabled us to drive out the Germans from some of our first line" elements, which they occupied north-west of Thiaumont farm. There has been an intense bombard- j ment of our .lines between Douaumont and Vaux, and in the regions of Erx and Cliatillon in the Woevre. A lively exchange of grenades took place in the Forest of Apyemont and in the Fecht valley in the Vosges.