Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-21
Gen. NiveIle Makes Further
Gains Where Enemy Front
Turns Toward Rheims.
FIGHTING IS SPREADING
IN CHAMPAGNE REGIONS
British Capture Gonnclieu, Toward !
Cambria, More Than Mile Near. v
er Won Hindenburg Line. 4

Gen. Nivelle maintains his unrelenting
pressure against the enemy at the most
vital point of his defenses = the sharp
angle at which the German line running
south from Lens. turns east toward
Rheims This angle has already been
crushed in to an appreciable extent and
is in imminent danger of being entirely
shattered. The heavy toll of prisoners
taken by the French mounts steadily day
by day. giving strong support to the
claims made in London and Paris of the
deterioration Of the German morale.
Three great obstacles stand in the path
of Gen. Nivelle. The first is the formidable
and sinister Brimont plateau, the height
from which the German guns have poured
their shells on the Rheims cathedral The
French are at the foot of this plateau.
and, by double fianking movement. are
endeavoring to cut it off on the main
German line
The second great barrier is the almost
similarly situated Fort de Malmaison,
which stands between Gen. Nivelles
troops and Laon, on the road from Laf>
feux. The third obstacle Is the Upper
Coucy forest. a densely wooded plateau
which held up the French in their initial
drive from scissors.
Push Toward Brimont Plateau. :!
Last nights progress by the French
was chiefly in their movement against
the Brimont plateau. They gained
ground here in grenade fighting east OF
Courcy. Similar progress also was
scored south of Juvincourt. in tho
Berry-au-Bac region, northwest OF
Rheims.
The fighting has spread further east
in the Champagne. the French report
indicates. Important accommodating ac-
tivities are reported in the region OK
Maisons de Champagne.
South of the main area of the ArraD
| battle front the British last night de-
| livered q stroke in the direction OF
zeaucourt. they captured the village of
Gonnelieu. more thanA mile nearer the
German line between Cambria and st.
Quentin. The place was taken after
| sharp fighting. Gen. Haig reports. ;.
Latest French Report. y
PARIS, April 21.-The latest oficiaf
statement follows:
North Of the Aisne the artillery ight<
ing was active in the regions of NanS
teuil-le-Fosse and Hurtebise. We took
100 more prisoners yesterday on this part
of the front.
East of Craonne and north of Rheims
the night was marked by violent ar
tillery actions. We made progress in
grenade fighting. particularly to the
south of Juvincourt and east of Courcy.
I'm the Champagne we inflicted losses
on enemy troops which made an at
tack on Mont Haut west of Maisons de
| Champagne. French detachments PEN
etrated the German lines and brought
back forty prisoners.
The night was relatively calm over
| the remainder of the front"
Artilleries Active. u
The war office communication Of lase
night says:
Between St. Quentin and the Oise
there has been great activity by both
artilleries. particularly in the region to
the north of Grugies.
THE day was calm south OF the Disc.
ITO the north of the Afsne our troops.
ilarassing the enemy, have continued 10
progress toward the Chen,in des Danes.
We have occupied the village of Sancys
German Attacks Repulsed.
About o'clock this evening. after
very violent preparation by their artils
lery, the Germans launched an attack
with large electives on the region OF
Allies and Hurtebiz. which was broken
by the fire of our artillery and machine
guns and completely repulsed. The ar-
tillery fighting in this region contin~
ueS very active.
"In Champagne we have captured sew
eral important points of support in tEe
grove of Moronvilliers. notwithstand-
ing the stubborn resistance of the enc
emy.
10000 Prisoners Taken
I'VE have made. since the IGth OF
April. between scissors and AIberive.
more than 10000 prisoners. The num-
ber of guns we have captured during
the same period and which have been
counted up to the present exceeds 100.
I'm the Argonne. after sharp fights
ing, our detachments penetrated up to
the second enemy trench. They found
a great number of German dead.
There is nothing TO report from the
remainder of the front.
Belgian communication: a recon<
naissance attempted last night by the
enemy in the region of Stuyvekens-
kerke was dispersed by our FIRE Pris-
oners remained in the hands of the Bel
yians During the course of the day
the artillery activity has been great
in the region of Dixmude and Steens
Straete.
British Continue Gains. u
LONDON, April II. 1:45 p.m.-Tha
official statement of today reads: i
I'VE captured the village of Comes
lieu last night after sharp fightings
.aking also a number of prisoners.
IAN enemy party attempted to enter
our trenches in the neighborhood os
but was repulsed. i
.Artillery fire continued on both sides
at a number Of places during the
night"
Berlin oficial Report.
BERLIN, April 21, via London. sos
n om.-"Yesterday afternoon" says tho
,fticial statement issued today by the
German army staff. strong artillery
bring was commenced on the whole
River Aisne front. and also in the
On the Chemin Des Danes
and in the Champagne enemy attacks
Jailed"
Between Loos and the Arras-Camf
q A . = /