In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 43, 25 May 1916, Page 5

In the West.

VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACKS.

FRENCH CAPTURE OF DOUAUMONT. (Unithv Pki.» -.••uiuatiok Paris, May 21. A communique says: (jernu.ii coun-ter-attacks have assumed a v.olcat character on the whole of the \ erduu front, the effect of which it is impossible vet to estimate. Very large forces of effectives arc participating. After a morning’s bombardment on the left bank of the Meuse Hie Germans several times launched massed attacks on our positions east and west of Mort Homme. Our artillery and machine-guns swept away the first attack with sanguinary losse s and without the enemy reaching our lines. By a second attack at 7 o’clock in the evening the Germans gained a footing in one of our western trenches, but a counter-attack completely drove them out, AH day the Haudromont and Douaumont region has been the scene of a murderous struggle. The Germans multiplied their assaults, which were preceded on each occasion by a powerful bombardment. Nevertheless wo held all yesterday’s positions entirely, particularly Fort Douaumont. Three enemy aeroplanes wore brought down at various points on the 1 n other fronts. I When the French began to assault Fort Douaumont the artilleryists lengthened their fuses and increased in density the shejl curtain cutting off I the German advanced lines from support. The assaulters were the pick of the French army. The French lines are only 350 yards from the entiance to the fort, but, despite the fury of the preliminary bombardment, the j German defence remained formidable and it took the French an hour to ! cover the distance. The Germans i were dug in two deep lines of trenches ! before the fort itself, but the Fiench j cleaned up the first line in half an i hour.

Wave after wave streamed towards 'the' second Glne* and 'were tivice driven 'back from the broken entanglements. Then reinforcemfenfs were ordered out, and they went at the German line with a dash and carried all before them. The troops’then moved oh 'to 1 -the fort, whore an admirably co-ordinated movement frojm )( fhe f west, south, converging on the eastern column, roof a .^frouge^< resistance;. The advance .the Cailetto Wood was delayed at the looked-for time, though the whole position could be surrounded, so rapid was the French western and southern movement. Many of the defenders were caught between flanking and frontal attacks before they could retire. The fort was Sruined,‘ Jb>ut tlio garrison put up a dejtermh&cf defence in every corner and !in the cellar. The French, with bayonets and grenades, drove back the enemy towards the north-eastern corner, where the Germans made a successful stand all Monday night. The fiercest fighting has since continued.

’ Tho attack on Douaumont was dictated by the fact that. General Niyelle learned that the enemy was withdrawing troops to assist in the attack on, Mort Homme. General Nivelle concentrated enormous artillery opposite Douaumont unknown to the Germans. When the bombardment ceased the French infantry dashed out, singing snatches of the Marseillaise. The greater part of the fort was captured within ninety minutes, after great bayonet work. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. London, May 23. There hare been heavy movements of troops through Luxemburg for several days. Luxemburg is isolated from Belgium, the Germans forbidding entrance and communication. THE BATTLE OF VERDUN. LATEST PHASE FAVORABLE TO ALLIES. FURTHER FRENCH CAINS. ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES. GERMAN OFFENSIVE STOPPED. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Paris, May 24. Semi-official.—Tho battle of Verdun is becoming bitter. The latest phases are favorable to us. Furious counterattacks on the whole of our positions at Hill 304 failed, despite the infamous use of liquid fire. The assaults on Mort Homme subsequently wore equally unsuccessful. The enemy’s obstin-

ate and desperate couuttr-offonsive in tiie Haudromont-Donaumont sector led to further French gains and enormous enemy losses. The report concludes by pointing out that the German communiques persist in representing that the Germans are in occupation of Hill 301, whereas the French never lost the summit. Repeated efforts to take the French trenches from the positions on the east ride of the hill to those at Mort Homme failed. The truth is, the German offensive has been stopped, and it is considered important to show the German public, no matter by what mcans ) that the armies are still progressing. ON THE BRITSSH FRONT. FIGHT FOR VIMY RIDGE. London, May 2-1. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: There have been heavy bombardments on both sides about the Vimy ridge, aiid the situation is unchanged. There was an active enemy bombardment of the trenches between Koodge and Ypres and the Rentiers railway.

MORE NEWS WANTED. | I SCANTINESS OF BRITISH OF- . FICIAL REPORTS. (Received 8.50 a.m.) j London May 24. ; The Westminster Gazette complains of the scantiness of the B Irish official reports from the front, contrasting them with the French, communiques, which are much amph and making a similar complaint also aqaius: the daily semi-official explanations. The newspaper says that the public have a very real grievance, needing a 'strong protest. , THREE DIVISIONS ATTACK SIMULTANEOUSLY. VILLAGE,OF CUMIEREB PENETRATED. AMAZING ENEMY SACRIFICES. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Paris, May 24. A communique states: The Germans, under cover of a gas curtain, attacked westward of Navarin. but our curtain of fire drove them back to their trendies. The Germans attempted a pow- . erful night offensive eastward of Mort Homme, and there was a hand-to-hand struggle, and after heavy sacrifices they gradually penetrated the village of Cumieres, also the trench immediately to the westward. Over three , divisions attacked equally with violent bombardments, and attacks took place at Haudromont and Douaumont. Despite the enemy’s desperation and carelessness, after amazing sacrifices, , they only succeeded in occupying sections eastward of Fort. Douaumont. : The attacks elsewhere were broken. j

OFFICIAL NEWS. ENEMY MAKE LITTLE PROGRESS. AT EXPENSE OF COUNTLESS HUMAN LIVES. The High Commissioner reports: — London, May 24 (4.5 p.m.) In the Champagne, favored by gas, the Germans attacked and entered the French lines west of but were thrown back into their trenches by our curtain of fire. , , . . r ; Left of the Meuse the (piemans attempted in the course of the night a powerful offensive east of Mort Homme. Aftcw, foot-to-foot fighting, the enemy penetrated t af ,the cost of important sacrifice, Cumieres village and one of our trenches immediately, westward. Fresh information shows that the, enemy effectives employed | in the legion of Mort Homme since Sunday exceed three divisions. On the right bank of the Meuse, artillery preparation and attacks were both pursued with equal violence in the region, of Haudromont and Donaumont. In spite of. the car|yftge among the ■enemy, who spend; counties human lives,' the attack only 'succeeded in gaining a footing on some portions of the east fort.,

; All attempts made HgOtp' onr.jiOisi tions in the west fon itself were shattered,l»y e.e are. him ll■■ i iiriim'rrl ’ i 1 - -, 71 - t“ —rr