THE VERDUN AREA ATTACKS WEST OF THE MEUSE

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 97, 25 April 1916, Page 7

THE VERDUN AREA

ATTACKS WEST OF THE MEUSE

CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR THE CROWN PRINCE.

PARIS, 24th Aprii. Desperate attacks on Mort Homme on Saturday ended in crushing defeats ' for the Crown Prince's army. The latter was ordered that Mort Homme was to be captured at any cost, and three attacks were hurled against the position, with a fourth against Caurettes Wood as a diversion. The first attack on Mort Homme was_ delivered in a heavy rainstorm. The Germans, pushing forward with blind courage, rushed the trenches on the northern slope, but a counterattack drove them out. In the attack on CaureHes Wood the Germans squirted blazing liquid over the French. The latter were unshaken. Although torrents of fire swept over their trenches, they stood their ground, while the French machine-guns poured a- terrific hail into the masses of advancing Germans, causing them finally to retire a.fter appalling losses. It is l-eported that the Silesians lost 40 per cent, of (.heir effectives. ' LONDON, 24th April. A German communique says: We captured trenches west of Mort Homme and , south-east of Haucourt. (Received April 25, 9.30 a.m.) PARIS, 24th April. A communique states: We made progress by grenade fighting in the enemy communication trenches north-westward of the Caurettes Wood, and took some prisoners.