The Washington herald., 1917-06-18
ARTILLERY DUEL
RACES IN WEST
Allies and Germans Are
Preparing for Big Bat
ties Of the Year.

my NGWN SeTNlCe.N
LONDON, June li.-TrOOps OF the Ger
man crown prince today chipped OF
part OF salient in the French posi-
uOns north Of Monument within the
sector OF Hurtebize Farm. the strste-
gtc key to Ladies Road" They sue
ceeded in biting their way into the
horizon-blue line, which was defended
with heroic stUbboTnness- In sharp
counter thTusts the French managed TO
oust the invaders from the greater
part Of the trenches that had been
penetrated.
The German attack was preceded by
terrific dTUmfire.
All DAY long the Teuton heavy guns
have been honey-cOmbing the French
positions, not only in the Hurtebize
sector, but also around Cerney, south
east of I.aOn. Here, however. German
persed by the French fire.
Rheims has been under steady shall
fire for several days, the Paris night
Communique states. There have been
several casualties in the cathedral
city. Not less than u 600 shells have
been thrown into Rheims.
On the Anglo-German front the Ba-
varian crown prince this afternoon
began a sudden cannon TRADE against
the British lines around Croisenes
southwest Of Lens and at several vital
points between Ypres and Armentieres,
oNAAs AAAAAN " VI LIS ANNGlk EAE-
cesses.
British fiers yesterday bagged seven
German machines, the night report
announces. Two British machines
failed to return.
That no offensive can be pushed
home to its ultimate purpose, the big
break through" unless IL comes as
a surprise-so much so that the op-
ponent cannot find time TO throw his
reserves in men and guns into the
sectors attacked.
Not the slightest inkling must be
front the great breach is to be ef-
fected. Therefore, practically the
whole front must be continuously
bombarded with equal force until
everything is ready for the big blow.
That's what is going on in the west
today; Hindenburg is doing IL on the
French front, in the Champagne and
on the Aisne: Sir Douglas Haig On
the front between Ypres and Lens.
Now and then local attacks are
launched, ''kink'' in the line IS
Strengthened out, and all the while
reconnoitering parties are darting
forward into the opposing line, re-
turning with prisoners from whom,
even when they are unwilling, some
valuable pointers are always obtained
Interest centered upon the Fran
co-German front today. There
the Germans gave signs Of show
ing their hand-but signs may have
been part Of the blUffing game both
sides are now playing. This front is
about forty miles long. from Cerny,
southeast OF Laon, TO Auberive,
eastern pivot OF the Champagne Sec
tor. There are three subdivisions !:
first. from Cernay to. Berry-Au- Bsc:
second from Berry au Bac 20 NGuroy;
third, from Nauroy TO Auberive. In
each of these the Crown Princes heav-
lest artillery has been displaying its
top capacity ever since the French
drive was checked. In one OF these
sectors the French look for a big
counter thrust.
II was on the eleven mile front
between Cerny and Berry au Bsc
that the Teutons IN the last twenty
four hours developed more than ordi-
nay activity. They were massing
troops TO the northeast Of Cerny,
under cover OF a terrific gunfire
But the French observers were on the
Job. Without q moments delay the
"seventy-fives" were put into action.