New-York tribune., 1917-05-04
Cut Old and New German
Defences on Front of
Twelve Miles
Teuton Reserves
Are Moved Down
Suffer Severe Losses in
Counter Attacks on
Oppy Line

london. May g. The British at
,,cked to-day on a front OF over twelve
miles and cut both the old and the
new HindenburC lines. The capture
o. the village OF FrcSnoy by the Ca
rsd,srs ruptureS the Oppy switch-line
sssr IFS northern pivot. The advance
q the British between Bullecourt and
CroiNlIc, pierces the original Linden
turg hnc. near Queant. the southern
bsstion on which the Germans arc
sov building their new defence sys-
Ten.
Though the battle was fercest and.
tor the British. most successful on its
ssnss. the lighting was intense over
The whole front The Germans used
heavy reserves or men and guns and
,speatedly attacked at every lost or
threatened point as far north as Loos,
suffering severely under the conccn-
,rsted fire OF the British artillery and
mschine-guus. and losing several hun
dred prisoners. General Haig's bat
teries we're so disposed they were able
70 play over the hostile forces both as
they formed for attack and during
the actual assault
Regarding the success on the south
trn flank Of the battlefront. the Brit
ish night report says: In the face Of
obstinate resistance this morning our
troops penetrated a sector of the Hin
denburg line west Of Queant. and have
maintained themselves there all day
sgainst constant and powerful counter
attacks"
Hindenburg Line Pierced
The old Hindenbure line ran from
Q8esat in a northwesterly direction
toward Arras. Between Fontaine-les-
CrOisilles and Bullecourt the British
penetrated and rolled up about six hun
dred yards Of this system. This is
dose 70 the new German emergency
trench system from Queant northWard
10 Drocourt. Work on these defcnccs is
proceeding with feverish haste. accord
.ng 20 prisoners. and the stubborn re-
sistance the Germans are now Offering
Is 70 prevent the necessity OF their Oc-
eupying tho new line before II Is ready
for prolonged defensive action.
Throughout this region the lighting
gas furious. Apparently the British IN
the forenoon swept through Bullecourt
and Chcrisy almost 10 Riencourt. The
nssscd German counter attack drove
them out or the two villages again. but
lot ss far as the lines from which they
lad started. just above Bullecourt they
succeeded in holding their gains and
established themselves firmly IN the
German intrenchments. Also. near
Cherisy. after the positions had
aanged hands frequently. there was a
ra gain for Haig's men, who are now
tstndc the Arras- Cambria bank Of the
SaDe
Canadians Take Fresnoy
The attack on Fresuoy. at the other
end Of the front. was delivered by the
Canadians from ArleuX-en-Gohelle,
which they recentlv captured. Not only
Fresnoy. but two miles OF intricate
enemy trenches north and south Of the
town, were stormed. The Canadians
advanced against determined resist
anee. but continued 70 make progress
gatl Their detectives were won. The
German counter attacks broke against
usm without forcing them back.
Though the capture Of Fresnoy de-
sifoys the usefulness Of the so-called
Oppy line. the town Of Oppy itself con-
tnues % mold out. The British at
isek there only amoGnted 70 a recon
aslssance Do force. the German ma
eaine Gun nests being too numerous
and German barbed wire remaining
i siill uncut IN the gulles. II was iound
Nat the Germans had even mounted
Machine guns ln trees. The British
command. unwilling 10 make the sacrl-
Ice which the stOrmiug Of the town
seBid entail. withdrew the troops TO
1eir old lines on the edge Of the VII
age. while the British batteries took
y once more the task Of smashing the
saehine gun emplacements and wire
scisnglements
However. d solid footing was gained
. the hostile trench system north or
sspy which is now flanked on both
aces in pocket which the Germans
aahot long maintain.
Fresh German Divisions
"A correspondent at the front tele-
i raphs: "Tne Germans are hghtlng
sah desperate obstinacy. Several new
/ sSsions have been identified al dit
4 i,fent parts Of the front showing that
es Germans continue 70 use Their
'iaiegic reserves Counter attacks,
sealiy on a formidable scale, deyel-
epeo promptly opposite every point
4 siefe we gained ground. The enemy
ssaptured some ground at Gavrelle,
~ ne counter attacks generally were
sesen up By our artillery fire. which
rs maintained with almost incredible
sisnsity"
me British attack. at a moment when
seemed a. though a deadlock had
- established. was over wider area
~, last Saturdays battle. The critics
g'sFe the effort must IN no sense be
sHttood as an effort 20 break
.saga, but merely 20 storm certain
sons, the capture OF which
,.snylhens the British line for further