ON THE MEUSE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15604, 31 May 1916, Page 7

ON THE MEUSE.

NOW OR NEVER

FRONT.

AFRICA.

(667 th DAY OF THE WAR,)

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

|THE BRITISH FRONT.f

HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS

ACTIVITY NORTEC OF ARRAS

The High Commissioner reports: —

LONDON, May 29 (11.20 p.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: —

'•During thc'last 24 hours tho enemy's artillery was very active on selected portions of our front, particularly between tho La Bassoe Canal and Arras. In tho town and neighbourhood of Arras and as far as Nem'ille-Saint Vaast, thero was an intermittent, heavy, concentrated bombardment.

"Tho bombardment of our first-lino support trenches in tlio neighbourhood of Loos continued all day. "Our gvtns replied effectively, and in some cases silenced hostilo batteries. Our gnns considerably damaged enemy ivories at various points on the front." ON THE MEUSE. DESPERATE STRUGGLE CONTINUES. GERMAN ATTACKS CHECKED. PORTION OF TRENCH LOST. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, May 29 (4.20 p.m.). South of Roye. the French artillery destroyed German organisations m tho first lines in the region of Beuvraignes. West of tho Meuse there -was artillery activity on both sides in the course of the night. Yesterday evening, at seven o'clock, a German attack debouching from Crows' Wood (north-west of Cumieres) was completely repulsed by our curtain of artillery and infantry fire. A sccond attack at midnight equally failed. East of the Meuee it -was relatively calm, except in the region of Fort Vaux, where the artillery fire was very lively. In Lorraine wo dispersed a strong Ger. man reconnaissance in the Parroy Forest. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrig-Hl.) LONDON, May 30 (1.35 a.m.). The French official communique says: ''West of the iMeuso, all day yesterday, the enemy intensely bombarded, with sholls of largo calibre, our first and second lines from Avocourt Wood to Cumieres. "During the afternoon the Germans violently attacked our positions on Hill 304. They were repulsed the first time with appreciable losses.' Tho enemy rcnewod the effort later, and experienced a sanguinary chock. Enemy gatherings reported west of Hill 304 | were dispersed by the fire of our bat- j teries. "Between Mort Homme and Cumieres a strong attack debouching from Crows' Wood was broken by our curtain of fire, except at one point, where the enemy gained a footing on a front 300 metres in one of our advanced trenches north-west of Cumieres."

GERMANY'S SUPREME EFFORT. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" Serviced.) (Received May 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Thero is no abatement in the fighting on the Verdnn front, but even if tho Germans make a further advance, there is no reason to think that tho French are likely to loso their grip of the situation, which, it is unanimously agreed, is well in hand. Further terrific fighting is expected, bccauso everything points to tho intention of tho German Staff to leave nothing undone to smash France. Military critics agree that the enemy knows that ho must succeed in tho war either this year or never. Mr J. L. Garvin, editor of the "Observer," thinks tho Germans will attempt to attain peace with all or some of tho Allies in 1916 in order to save their War Lord's prestige Ixsforc the risk of the final penalty becomes imminent. • It is reported that the Germans are, more and more, changing their tactics by sparing their men and using their heaviest guns to batter and flatten out the French trenches. When they think they have succceded they send out parties to reconnoitre. If tho trenches are still occupied they contiiruc their bombardment, but if the trenches are abandoned they occupy them.

GERMAN ATTACKS CHECKED.

HEAVY BOMBARDMENT ON BRITISH

SUCCESSES IN GERMAN EAST

LAST "WEEK'S STRUGGLE

THE MORT HOMME FAILURE

(By Cable. —Pren A#»oci»tioii.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 29. The Paris correspondent of tho "Daily News" says tho Crown Prince manifestly wanted to settle Mort Hommo once for all, henco tho importance of the assault on Cumieres. Though the village, which lies in the valley, is not of itself important, an advance lrom it would have threatened tho enstern slopes of Mort Homme, and perhaps turned tho second French lino at Chattancourfc. Four divisions (approximately 80,000 men) were einpioye-d on the west bank of the Meuse lrom Sunday to Tuesday. Simultaneously three divisions (approximately 60,000 men) wore cmj ployed in attacks on the right bank, j Columns were hurled east and west of | Mort Homme, one after another. All were cut up by curtains of artillery | and machino-gun fire. There were sixteen attacks on Monday between the Avocourt Wood and the river. Fifty thousand men assaulting Mort Homme and Hill 304. It proved a useless butchery, for tho French never wavered, and tho Germans lost 15.000 killed and wounded. ONE HUNDRED DAYS. PARIS, May 29. President Poincard visited Verdun on the hundredth day of tho battle. SAVIOUR OF PA HIS. GENERAL GALLIENI'S DEATH. PARIS. May 2:). The lato General Gallieni was about to undergo an operation. He was extremely wo'-iii, and unable to lake nourishment. The doctors tried blood transfusion bnt without avail. General Gailieni was regarded as the saviour of Paris. During tho critical days of August. 1914. h 0 rushed 80.000 men of the Paris Garrison from Paris to tho battle front, and turned the tide in the great straggle on tho Marno in favour of tho French. STEEL HELMETS. » 1 LONDON, May 29. In the House of Commons, Mr H. J. Tennant, Under-Secretary for War, said he believed sufficient steel helmets had been issued for all troops under shell-fire in France. Tbo percentage of head wounds was 12.35.