GERMANS ATTACK WITH INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 699, 8 May 1916, Page 7

GERMANS ATTACK WITH INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE

FURIOUS ASSAULT ON HILL 304. SLOPES OF HILL NOW A NEUTRAL ZONE. (Received May S. !).4. r > a.m.) PARIS, May 7. A semi-official report states: —The incredible violence of the German attacks on Hill 304 failed to overwhelm the French. The battle has been resumed during the last 48 hours with a fury unknown prior to the attack on Verdun. After repeated failures to capture Hill 304 from the rear, the enemy attempted a flank movement, involving a frontal attack on the northern slopes. There was an intense bombardment by guns of the biggest calibre., The French batteries replied vigorously. The Germans at some points readied the front French lines, but the northern slope is now a neutral zone, the French occupying the summit, and the Germans being at. the bottom. The German bombardment continues to be sustained with intensity. The infantry is not moving, this being due to overwhelming losses. ; INTENSE BOMBAEDkENT OF FRENCH LINES. ENEMY STILL HAMMERING AT VERDUI . The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, May .7 (3.20 p.m.). A French official message says:—South of the Somme, on Saturday evening, the Germans, after intense artillery preparation, attacked our trenches south of Lihons. The attack was arrested by our curtain of fire, and was dispersed before the enemy reached our barbed wire. At Verdun there is continued violent bombardment of Hill 304 and in the region of Haudremont and T-hiaumont. At St. Mihiel we repulsed a strong enemy reconnaissance attempting to carry one of our small posts east of Dislee.