The Washington herald., 1917-03-29
FRENCH Drive
DEEPER WEDGE
IN ENEMY LINE
Capture Important Positions
South of Strategic St.
Gobain Forest.
GERMANS CAPTURE 800
Center of Hindenburs Line Holds
Fim-Berlin Claims New
Gain.
(By the International News serviee.)

CBy the Interlatienal News serviee.)
London. March zsNThe French hit hard
today on the left flank of the Hinden-
burg line and succeeded in considerably
deepening their wedge, taking important
positions south Of the formidable st
cobain forest. where the Tentons are ex.
pected to make their stand.
The Germans, on their part. struck sud.
den blows IN the Champagne which. &C
cording to Berlin, were successful. Three
hundred French soldiers were takens pris-
onera
Tonight's German war office report re-
cords lively firing activity in the
Champagne and on the west bank Of the
Meuse Werdun 'front.'. 1t announces q
success on the Anglo-German front neal
Croiselles and northeast Of Bapaume,
giving no details. however.
The center Of the Hindenburg line
fronting st. Quentin, still holds firm.
Berlin asserts that heavy losses were
inflicted during the last twenty-four
hours both on the British and French.
when the British took the battered VII
lage Of Degnicourt, the British losses, ac-
cJrding to the German war office. we're
particularly heavy.
1000 British Dead.
o The successful manner in which our
troops there are accomplishing Their
task" says the statement, ''is illustrated
by the fact that between Legnicourt and
Morchies. about 1000 British dead were
counted"
On the same day, a belated German Of
ncial report says, eleven entente aero
planes were shot down by the German
flyers. Dunkirk was again bombarded
from the air, fires being observed by the
raiders.
The British push registered new pro-
gress today.
A storm Of wind and raid, thick blan-
kets Of fog and swamps Of mud that have
taken place Of highways. have proved
futile reinforcements to the Germans. The
turning movement Of Gen. Nivelle Is max
ing steady progress, despite the resis-
tance of the Germans north of the Aisne.
Now that Couchy forest has fallen into
their hands. the French are taking St
Gobain forest. This dense patch OF wood
land has been strongly fortified by the
Teutons. Lying on elevated ground. IL
forms one Of the most powerful defenses
Of Laon.
Advancing on AnIsy.
South Of st. Gobain forest. the French
are advancing upon the German strong
hold OF Anisy, which lies on the Laon-
Scissors Railroad. There has been vigor-
Gus night fighting and cannonading
around Anisy. especially in the seetioB
of Margival and Vregny and VaiIly.
The capture of Equancourt, Longa-
vesnes and Lieramount by Gen. Haig's
men has greatly strengthened the Brit
ssh front. All had been fortified by the
Germans and were strongly defended
with picked men and machine gun pla-
toons, but they fell before the savage as
saults Of the British.
British and French engineers, following
upon the heels of the armies, are work
ing wonders in the construction of new
highways, railroads and bridges De-
spite the ruthless destruction carried
out systematically by the Germans and
the bad weather. the Anglo-French pio-
neers keep up communication with the
rear so that a steady stream of food
medical supplies, ammunition and guns is
ever going forward. German prisoners
say that the order for the devastation Of
the country came from Won Hindenburg
himself.