ieres, had been broken by the terrific attacks of the
enemy.

The crown prince's army, which had been badly punished and suffered
heavy losses in this area in March, renewed the attempt to capture
Mort Homme and Hill 304 in May, 1916. It was evident from the
elaborate preparations made to possess these points that the Germans
considered them of first importance and that their conquest would
hasten the defeat of the French army.

CHAPTER XLVI

BATTLES OF HILL 304 AND DOUAUMONT--THE STRUGGLE AT FLEURY

It will be recalled that on April 9, 1916, the crown prince had
launched a general attack on the whole front between Avocourt and the
Meuse, the capture of Hill 304 being one of his chief objectives. The
onslaught, carried out on a huge scale, was a failure, and another
attempt made on the 28th also collapsed. Since then the Germans had
been held in their trenches, unable to engage in any action owing to
the vigilance of the French artillery gunners.

On May 3, 1916, the Germans began a violent bombardment as a prelude
to another attempt to capture Hill 340. On the following day, about 2
p. m., their assaulting waves were hurled against the French positions
on the counterslope north of the hill. The bombardment had been so
destructive that large numbers of French soldiers were buried in the
trenches. The active defenders that remained were not strong enough in
numbers to repel the masses of Germans thrown against them, and the
slopes were occupied by the enemy. During the night there was a French
counterattack; it was directed by a brilliant officer of the General
Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Odent, who had at his own request been
assigned the duty of defending this dangerous position. Rallying the
men of his regiment, he threw them against the foe. The French
succeeded in reaching the edges of the plateau facing northeast. This
advance was not gained without considerable losses, and during the
charge Lieutenant Colonel Odent was killed.

On May 5, 1916, the Germans after an intense bombardment, in which gas
shells were lavishly used, tried to turn Hill 304, and also attacked
the Camart Wood and Hill 287. On the northern slope of Hill 304 the
French trenches were so badly damaged that they could not be held. But
the Germans, caught by the French artillery fire, found it impossible
to advance. Having failed to reach the plateau from the north, an
attempt was made through the ravine and behind the woods west and