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Show GERMANS REPORT CAPTURE OF I FRENCH POSITIONS AT VERDUN I Salient in Lines West of the Meuse Being Pounded on Both H Sides by the Crown Prince Troops French Best Their H Adversaries in Hand Grenade Combats German H Submarines Continue to Sink Merchant Vessels H and Passenger Steamers Daily. I Berlin, April 8, via London, 3:38 p. m. The war office rM announced today the capture of French positions more than H two kilometers wide in the Verdun region west of the Meu9e. H Paris, April 8, 2.41 p. m. It was officially announced H today that a French submarine has sunk an Austrian transport M in the Adriatic. The salient in the French lines west of the Meuse, with the village of Bethincourt at its sharp angle, is being pounded on both sides by the crown prince's troops which in their last drive succeeded in making a new dent in the line southwest of Bethincourt Bethin-court The success was achieved near Haucourt village, the important position posi-tion lost by the French on Wednesday, Wednes-day, the Germans gaining a footing In two small field works between Haucourt Hau-court and Hill No. 287, which lies two-thirds of a mile to the south of the village. On the other side of the salient there also has been sharp fighting, but, according to Paris today, the advantage ad-vantage here was with the French who bested their adversaries in grenade gren-ade combats between Bethincourt and Ohattancourt A German grenade attack near Fort Vaux was repulsed by the French, whose positions east of the Mouse have been subjected to intermittent bombardment An Austrian transport has been sunk in the Adriatic by a French submarine, sub-marine, Paris announces officially. There Is no let up in submarine activity. ac-tivity. Added to the list of vessels destroyed are the steamer Chantalla, of 4949 tons, and the Braunton of 4757 tons and the schooner Clyde of Whltestable. Paris, April 8, 2:15 p. m. The Germans Ger-mans renewed their attack south of Haucourt In the Verdun region last night and gained a footing in two small field works between Haucourt and Hill No. 287, the war office announced an-nounced today. Fighting with grenades between Bethincourt and Chattancourt turned to the advantage of the French. East of the Meuse there was intermittent inter-mittent bombardment of French positions posi-tions Near Fort Vaux the Germans made an attack with grenades and were repulsed. The text of the communication follows: fol-lows: , , "In the Argonno there has beon fighting at Fille Morte where we exploded ex-ploded two small mines with success. At hill No. 285 we havo occupied the southern side of a mine crater created cre-ated by the explosion of a German mine. Germans Renew Attacks. "West of the MeuBe tho Germans last night renewed their attacks against our positions south and east of Haucourt At this latter point in spite of repeated efforts the enemy found it Impossible to dislodge us. "We poured out upon him a murderous murder-ous fire which caused him heavy losses. loss-es. Footing Gained by Enemy. "South of Haucourt the Germans succeeded in winning a footing In two small works between Haucourt and Hill No. 287 which we had occupied. occu-pied. "Southeast of Bethincourt there has been continuation of tho fighting with hand grenades in the communicating tronches on the road between Bethincourt Bethin-court and Chattancourt, which resulted result-ed In some advantage to us. "East of the Meuse there has been intermittent bombardment of our positions. po-sitions. An nttack with hand grenades gren-ades against one of our trenches of the Vaux fort was repulsed by the French fire. "In the Woovre the night passed quietly. "In the Vosges a reconnaissance In an endeavor to occupy ono of our small posts at Langenfeldkopf, south of Somdernach, was dispersed by our artillery." Berlin, April 8, via London, 6:10 p. m. The German government is able to announco that no German submarine or warship was responsible for the explosion which damaged the British steamship Sussex. The statement follows: "Western front: On the left bank Df tho Moubo Sileslan and Bavarian troops took by storm a strong French pplnt of support south of Haucourt rboy captured the entire enemy position posi-tion on tho ridge of Termiten hill, extending ex-tending over a width of more than :wo kilometers. A counter attack attempted at-tempted early thlB morning failed ;ompletely. Our losses were slight rhose of the enemy, owing partly to .he treacherous behavior of some, R-ere very heavy. In addition to those, fifteen officers and 699 mon ivere captured uninjured, including ; lumerous recruits of the class of 1916. "On the bills cast of tho Mouso and: in the Woevre the artillery was act H ive on both sides. H "On Hilsen ridge south of Sonder- H nach in the Vosges a small German IH detachment came upon an advanced H French position, the occupants of H which were killed, with the exception H of thirty-one men who were captured. IH The enemy's trenches were blown up. H "Eastern front: Russian attacks IH yesterday were limited to a narrow H front in the sector south of Narocs H lake. They were repulsed easily." IH Dutch Ship Not Torpedoed. IH London, April 8, 12:40 p. m. Reu- H ter's correspondent at The Hague tele- H graphs tli at Germany has informed IH Holland that the Dutch steamship Pal- jH embang, sunk near Galllper lights last H Monday was not torpedoed by a Ger- H man submarine. It is said no German H submarine was In the vicinity at the H time. IH Steamer Strikes Mine. H London, April 8, 12:20 p. m. The H Dutch steamer Rijndijk which was H reported 3'esterday damaged off tho H Scllly Islands, stnrck"&nlme, 'according H to Lloyd's, which today reports here H as now in harbor with her holds full H of water. The Rijndijk was bound H from Portland for Roterdam. H Turk War Report. IH Constantinople, April S, via London, IH 12.45 p. m. At army headquarters H today the following statement was is- IH sued: H "Mesopotamlan front: There wero H no events of importance. H "Caucasian front: Unimportant en- IH counters occurred among reconnoiter- jH ing parties in various sectors. In H these fights we captured sixty Rus- IH "Dardanelles front: On April 4, IH eight enemy aeroplanes flew over Gal- M lipoll. Captain Buddarke attacked IH them and shot down one which fell IH into tho sea and sank." Incapacitated Men Returned. IH Berlin, April 8, Wireless to Sayvllle. H Dispatches from Christiannia say H that the Norwegian government has IH agreed with the German, British, H French and Russian governments that H men belonging to the navies of bel- IH llgorents who, under international IH law, are subject to internment In Nor- IH wjiy, shall be permitted to return H homo In case they are incapacitated IH for service by poor health. H Imports to Be Curtailed. H Paris, April 8, 10:05 a. m. Alexan- jH der Rlbot, minister of finance, has sub- H mlttcd to parliament a bill authoriz- H ing the government to suspend by de- H crce the importation of any products H that may be dispensed with in order H to diminish French' obligations abroad. M The purpose of this legislation Is to IH improve the foreign exchange sltujv IH tion. H ( oo |