Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-04-19
Is Greater Victory Than Som
me Offensive Viewed From
Point Of Destruction to En-
emy's Armed Forces-Bat-
tie Front $50 Miles Long.

aa- k1C 44VAe A~V NAsASO aAeVAAos
(By the Associated Press1
Paris, April 16, Delayed, April
17.-Germany suffered another
crushing blow upon the western
front when 40 miles Of the
strongest parts Of her line were
wrested from her with an esti-
mated loss of nearly 100000
killed, wounded and prisoners.
All France halls the victory as a
brilliant demonstration of the
skill of her generals and the
courage of her troops.
Measured by the amount OF
territory freed, the victory does
not compare with the Somme Of
fensive, which opened a month
ago, but viewed from the amount
of destruction done to the en-
emy's armed forces and the dam
age to his military prestige, it is
a far greater success. Here there
can be no question either of a
previously planned retreat or 4
surprise. The enemy expected
an attack and made every prep
aration to defend it.
From Soissons to Craonne the Ger
man line runs along series of hills
of an aggregate height Of 500 feet
with deep valleys between. The at
tackers advanced up the valley under
cross fire from each flank but the ar
tillery curtain on a new plan invented
\ by q, British general was go effective
sths7 the 6peratIo was carried az at
less cost than might be expected.
The weak point t>of the German line
is from Craonne to Rheims, where
the ground is more level. Here the
.attackeE4 made more progress s,4 and m
danger OF a rupture of the line be-
came go imminent that the Germans
threw in all available reserves. The
reserves we're .smashedasb by the French
field artillery, which kept close on
the heels of the waves Of infantry.
The result of today's operations is
that the great western battle is now
under way along a front Of close to
$50 miles, more than one-third of the
mighty line from Switzerland to the
sea.
Along the 150-mile-front battle
line the French and British are push
ing the German army in titanic
struggle for mastery of the western
front. Stepping into the fray after
the British had been hammertng the
German line in the Arras region into
bits for week, the French struck
along 25-mi1e front along the Aisne,
carried the German positions to an
average depth of from two to two
and one-half miles, captured more
than 10000 prisoners, and main
tained all the ground won. ;;::3s. 8
Last night, after the great success
of their initial rush. General Nivelle,s
forces occupied themselves with con-
solidating new positions and resist
ing German counter attacks. All Of
these assaults were repulsed and in
the Allies region, west of Craonne,
the Germans suffered heavy losses.
Their total casualties in the first "a
hours flghting are estimated at 100.-
900 men. h
Both the British and French re-
ports today indicate that the continu-
alton Of the operation is being ham
pered by bad weather. Nevertheless.
the British pushed forward between
st. Quentin and Cambria. advanced
east Of Epehy to LePombois farm.
within two and one-half miles Of Le-
Catelet. where they threatened to cut
the St. Quentin-C Cambrai main line Of
communication. IF
The strategy Of the Anglo-French
attack has been worked out in COM
plete harmony by the stan Of the two
, armies. The dispatches indicate en-
tire coordination for placing and
timing the blows delivered, 90 as to
insure their greatest possible effec-
tiveless. .s
Ia . broad way, It may be Judged.
the French now have for their inn
mediate objective the isolation ofsthe
s.impottant raiiMay center pf Laon tp
:turn the southern eHd eHd 3 s<pf TIE Hinden-
burg line. The Britisl hsye
pierced this line: atS tho northern end