In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 1 June 1916, Page 5

In the West.

THE BATTLE OF VERDUN. FIGHTING FOR CUMIERES. [United P« ess \ssonATinv.i Paris, May 30. Yesterday’s German attack on Mort Homme and Cumieres was the most powerful yet attempted, the enemy using fresh divisions, with appalling losses. Our withdrawal on the Beth-ineonrt-Cunlieres road was only one hundred yards in depth. Amsterdam, May 30. A Gorman communique says: We captured the entire French positions between the southern ridge of Mort Homme and Cumieres, capturing thirteen hundred prisoners. Our aviators attacked the enemy destroyers at Osterid. THE FIGHT FOR CUMIERES. ENEMY MAKE HO HEADWAY. The Higli Commissioner reports; London, May 31 f-1.5 p.m.) To the left of the Meuse, there was a sanguinary combat yesterday, and in the course of the night between Mort Homme and the Mouse.

Following up a violent bombardment lasting two days, the enemv launched repeated concentric attacks on the trenches cast of Mort Homme and Cumieres. Everywhere the enemy was repulsed with important losses. In the region south of Ceurettes Wood, the French front line of trenches were completely levelled hv tlm bombardment and were evacuated. South of Cumieres. the German attacks made in two sides of the village succeeded at first in throwing us hack in the direction of the station at Chattancourt, but lively counterattacks allowed us to oust the enmy up to the borders of the village. Some parties of Germans who glided along the Meuse favoured by fog until they reached the upper end of Chattancourt station, were completely annihilated hv onr fire. On the right hank, artillery combat is intermittent. In Haute, in Alsace, the enemy, after intense arlTuery preparation, attacked our positions on a front of about 2200 metres east of Seppois, taking foot in some portions of our trenches, but were immediately thrown out by a counter-attack.

AFTER MONDAY’S DOUBLE BLOODY DEFEAT. EXHAUSTION OF ENEMY RESERVES. COMPLETE FRENCH CONFIDENCE (Received 10.30 a.m.) Paris, May 31. Semi-official.—The enemy’s powerful general operations against the whole of the Mort Homme-Cumieres region followed Monday afternoon’s double bloody defeat at Mort Homme and Hill 304. The Germans succeeded in taking (doubtless temporarily) some portions of the first line trenches by throwing a whole division upon a twomile front. Participating in this action were fresh troops drawn from another part of the western front, which proves that the exhaustion of his reserves compels the enemy deplete the quiet sectors. The French look on the final result of these costly blows with absolute confidence.

RECORD OF FIERCE FIGHTING. ATTACK AND COUNTER-ATTACK. (Received 10.5 a.m.) I*avis, May 31. A communique states: fierce lightng day and night occurred from Mort iomme to the Meuse. After a bombardment of unprecedented violence or two‘days, the enemy repeated then oncentric attacks by largo effectives gainst the trenches east ‘of Mort iommo and about Cumieres, hut very where w© repulsed the enemy, .iflicting heavy losses, but south of aiurettes Wood we evacuated the first me of trenches, which the bombard! .tent levelled. German attacks soutli .f Cumieres were made from both sides f the village, firstly rolling us back a the direction of Chattanconrt staion, but strong counter-attacks drove ho enemy back to the outskirts of lie village. Some German detachments vho crept along the Meuse in a fog nd got near the station, were annihilded. The enemy, after intense artilery preparation, invaded our trendies east of Seppois, but a counter-at-,ack quickly drove them back.

decorated for heroic feats London, May 30. ' Among the long list of deeds for the latest honors nothing is more no table than that of Second Lieut. Campbell, of the Engineers. The Germans dug a mine and primed it with over a ton of high explosives, ft only required the lighting to the fuse, but apparently the Germans were awaiting a favorable moment. Campbell out into the gallery and removed the entire charge. He has been awarded tho Military Cross.

Another fine story is that of Sec-ond-Lieutenants Lord Donne and Walker, who, in aeroplanes, sighted a Fokker a thousand feet below. They dived, Walker firing at sixty feet range, while Donne headed straight at the Fokker. Doth opened fire and shot away the Fokker’s wing, and the craft fell into the British lines. Both aviators have received the Military Cross.