The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-23
Germany Has Found Nothing
but Setbacks in French Battle.
Losses UnequaIed Since Attack
on Vaux in. April, 1915.
FIGHT FOR POLITICAL EFFECT
Attack Delayed Until Day That
the Reichstag Met.
French Dominate Every Plain
in Northern Champagne.

With the French Armies in the
Field, July 23.-Germany has found
the Chemin des Danes another YER
dun.
To today. five days of continuous.
herculean assault by the crown
princes troops have brought them
nothing except losses unequalled by
the German troops since the attack
on Vaux, in April, 1915. From the
viewpoint of quantity and quality of
effectives employed, the endless sue
cession Of the attacks, fierceness of
the 24-hour a day fighting and the
German losses, the Chemin des Danes
fighting has not been equalled since
that Verdun campaign around VauX.
The unyielding resistance of the
French must also have brought just
as bitter reflections to the Germans
as they felt at Verdun There is very
Indication that the enemy staged its
nssa u1t on Craonne, the California
Classmates, Hurtebise. Cerny and Bray
with the idea that the crown prince
would be able to telegraph the reichs-
tag by Thursday the news of a great
victory ON the western front.
The German militarists figured that
a victory report would strengthen
their power with the German pariia-
ment and result in an immediate vote
on the war credit bill.
For Political Effect.
Prisoners examined today revealed
this scheme. They said the attack had
been planned early in the week but
was delayed until the day the reichs-
! tag met for consideration of the war
credit bill. In the meantime special
picked 'stosstruppen" were brought
up to make the victory doubly Sc
cure. The Germans included in these
picked troops the crack Fifth division
If the Prussian guard, whose famous
Queen Elizabeth grenade company in
cidentally was practically wiped out
by French bombers in the fighting
that followed
The German assault was launched
ut 7;10 Thursday morning. Great
masses of troops were thrown for
ward. The density of the attackers
kilometer's width (about two-thirds of
mile) four complete regiments par
ticipated Approximately 5000 men).
Always Fresh Wave.
When the first .Javes of the Ger
man troops melted away there were
always fresh waves to dash forward.
Regiment after regiment was sent to
the slaughter until 1890 at night.
Then came an artillery preparation
4 succeeded in the darkness by a new
and gigantic attack. The French met
these new waves in hand-to-hand bat
I tie that lasted thruout the night The
I check to the crown princes plans was
complete.
But the German commanders per-
sisted. Daily and nightly attacks are
continuing even today along the en-
I tire Chemin des Danes front
4 The reason for these supreme eff
forts is easily appreciated when it is
understood that unless the enemy re-
takes Chemin des Danes before the
next strategic retreat" they must
drive the French from the priceless
observatories on this highway. From
these dominant positions the French
would be able to see the details of
such retreat. 1t would be fatal to
undertake such a move in plain view
This same tactical plan explains the
endless German attacks around Nor
onvillers crest, further to the east
The French there dominate the entire
plain or northern Champagne. 1t is
here the Germans must eventually fall
back.