The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-16
Germans Send Shells Into Vii
lagos Six Miles From
Front With Much
Fury
AMERICANS IN DANGER
Most Terrific Bombardment Against
French Lines In Attempt to
Force Troops
[By Henry Wood, United Press Staff
CORRESPONDENTS

[By Henry Wood, United Press STAFF
Correspondents
! WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD. July 16.-The most ter
rifc bombardment GeSEany has yet
concentrated against the French lines
was massed Saturday night in des-
perate attempt to force back General
Petain's troops from new positions
around Moronvilliers crest which
they had won by new style of sur
prise attack.
Today, with the consultations Of
the French lines effected in subse-
quent fighting. the French grip on
Moronvilliers was tightening with
vise-lfke hold. in fury for this en-
closing pressure, the Germans Satur-
day night shelled several villages in
G Champagne five or six miles from
the front. 1t seemed as though this
IRE was solely to vent German rage
at the French success. The shells
fell in many villages where Red Cross
ambulances were stationed, including
a section Of the American ambulance
corps waiting to go to the front for
the wounded. All the Americans es-
capped unharmed.
The Champagne struggle began ear
ly in the week with extensive prep
arations for attack by the Germans.
The French defenders were fully ap-
prised of these pre1iminaries. They
saw construction of new trench
from which the German attack was
three new divisions approximately
fourth Hanover regiment, had been
h mt fnn Tho
1ans were to bear the brunt Of the as
sault. They knew these attacking
troops had been rehearsed back of the
line for the part they were to play in
the struggle.
Then the French began prepara-
tions for their own attack. For three
days the French artillery roared out
a preparatory fire. Late Saturday
evening this preparation decreased.
The French purposely timed the slack
ening fire to deceive the Germans in
to thinking an attack was imminent.
But the usual attacking hours passed.
Along towards 1880 the Germans be-
gan to figure that there was no as
sault coming The enemy hauled
down their observation sausage bal
looms apparently convinced that the
day was ending in tranquility.
Suddenly at 7:45. the French re-
opened re-doubled artillery bonn
hardment Almost simultaneously the
French infantry leaped out Of their
trenches.
Across the line the Germans tried
hastily to shoot UP their observation
"sausages" in an endeavor to find out
what was happening. But before the
balloons could reach heights suffi-
cient for observation, the French had
won their victory. Poilus held the
tops of both Monts Teton and Haut-
exactly the objectives planned for
them Within less than five minutes,
the Germans with the gigantic artil-
lery concentration which they had
massed for their abortiye attack,
opened the most terrific bombardment
/ have yet witnessed anywhere along
the French front The SUBMITS Of
both Haut and Teton were quickly en-
veloped in seething smoke. The sides
were living furnace Of burning gre
nades, incendiary shells, exploding
caches and flaming mater
ial generally.
Into this literal furnace the Ger
mans launched their counter attacks.
The desperate character Of the fight
ing which ensued was apparent from
the coutless rockets that famed into
the skies. French and German troops
both sent UP, signalling advances and
retreats, calls for lengthening. or
of the barrage fire.
change in artillery ranges and other |
of the battle. Night fell
on this scene, but the darkness was
hardly noticed in the flaming of the
and tha exD1OsiOns IT was
light as day.
The Germans finally gave it up.