Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-01
FRENCH CAPTURE
WOOD At GREAT
COST To ENEMY
Maoy Germans Killed and
100 Prisoners Taken in
Daring Attack Near the
AiSne
.ncintad Press CorrespondenceO

Remind the French FROM III Nildiu-
emo Nav tg.--1he French troops
hat made big dent in the German
uae iust west Of Berry-au-B ac and not
s'r ram Rheims more than a year
ANA who had chafed under the
aocessiN of marking time there ever
NC especially since the battle OF
ycraun began, were allowed the sat
,sfaetion recently Of attacking little
a,ood the Germans still held there be-
,,roen the Aisne ana the little town
~ vnle-auxVois. This diversion de-
reopad an action Of considerable i'm
nortance that did not get into the Of
ficiaI communiQue. 1t has been de-
s,,ihad TO the Associated Press by a
staff officer
The wood. strongly fortified by the
Germans made il impossible. so long
as the Teutons held it, for the French
n reetifv and properly to consolidate
their front at that point. When the
attack upon Ferdun developed great
nrorortions it was decided to prepare
this operation, both as IA desirable inj-
nrnvement of the French position and
a.. a diversion. what would have been
considered an Unprecedented concen-
,ration Of artillery. both heavy guns
and field pieces. before the Nerdun
onerauons. WAS effected Immediately
hehind the front, while the infantry
burrowed deeper and deeper into
fbeir underground shelters. orders
werp given for the opening Of fire at
o'clock on the morning Of April 20
ard inc fire increased in rapidity and
intensity until 1 o'clock in the after
noon The Germans replying feebly
until the entire wood was being swept
and symptoms of an approaching at
tack became apparent. Then their
heav, pieces from the heights Of
cyaonne began q heavy Smelling of
the trenches from which an attack
hight have been supposed to orisi-
nate
irtillcry Preparation.
The French infantry well protected
from this Smelling in their deepened
dugouts, waited until the French ar
tilley heightened the ranges and
swept the approach trenches ana
soldiers quarters in the rear of the
German position At 4.30 the first
waye Of assaiants climbed out of
their underground shelters and threw
themselves into the wood. All the
Germans remaining in the first line
trenches were Killed or made prison
ers and the French line proceeded Oh
10 the eastern edge of the woods,
where they rapidly organized their
defeuses against the counter-attack.
At the same time special detach-
menls explored the interior Of the
wood, searching subterranean shell
tors in which German infantry had
sought refuge during the lombard
ment That operation was soon inter-
mpted; more than two companies or
German infantry that the French mad
passed over in their rush came out
Of their block houses and dugouts and
took the French infantry in the rear.
The attacking party was for a mo-
ment menaced with development, but
recovering from their surprise, they
turned their machine guns upon the
assailants and taking them in the
rear
second Wave OF Infantry.
just then the moment arrived for
the advance of the second wave. Of
French infantry. Rushing into tho
wood at double quick, this line took
The two companies OF German intan-
~ IN the rear, and the sitter now
got between two fires, instead Of sur
rounding The first line Of French as
sailans and were themselves enVel-
oped.
furious hand-to-hand struggle
ensned the Germans, seeing the des-
pefalion of their situation, tried to
escape from the woods to the north;
part Of them succeeded, but more
man l0o entirely surrounded, threw
down their arms and surrendered.
The search of the woods, then re-