Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-19
last STRONGHOLD
# ON AISNE FALLS;
@ FRENCH SWEEP ON
Nivelle's Army Rushes three
~ Miles North of River Dur
~ ing Heavy Fight.
iENGLISH PREPARE
FOR NEW ATTACK
sFeverish Preparations for
Big New Offensive
J. Against Lens.

Germany has thrown nearly quar-
ter Of a million fresh troops into tne
fray on the 6O-mile sector on tne
western front between soissons ana
Auberive and still is unable 10 chech
the French advance.
Both north of the Aisne and In tho
chamnaene. General Nivelles forces
are pressing forward. The last strong
hold of the Germans on the Aisne was
taken with the capture of the Vallly
hrid rehead Yesterday and their Wav-
erinR lines continued last night to De
pushed rapidly northward.
From Chavonne, on the Alsne,, the
French have driven more than tnree
miles north Of the river. despite des-
Derate resistance of Won Hinden-
burg's reinforced armies.
Champagne Successes.
In the Champagne the successes OF
the French are equally striking. They
have driven a great wedge more tnan
three miles deep into the German hhe
between Rheims and Auberlve ana
last nights attack netted General
Neville's men several important
heights in the Moronvilliers region.
Many Guns Taken.
Two more German batteries were
captured in the Moronvilliers fighting.
Previously the taking of Is German
guns in the new French offensive had
been reported, so that the number OF
cannon wrested from the Germans
must now be nearing the 100 mark.
The tone of the whole French Of
fcial communication Is notably con-
fident. The complete repulse OF every
German attempt at a reaction Is un-
equivocally claimed and the successes
A. Ynnnf10nad
having been achieved on "a great
scale"
British Preparing.
While the French are thus driving
forward the British are Quiescent, so
far as the official accounts show,
awaiting their turn tt, strike the other
flank on the Hindenburg line. That
notable activities, are in pr9grete- be-
hind the British front In sprepAraaon
for the renewal of the attack on Lens
and st. Quentin and the other threat
ened points In the line, however, Is
certain.
The French have so far taken more
than 1900 prisoners IN their offen-
eive. At last accounts the British had
taken in excess of $4,000. SO that the
combined offensive Of the two armies
thus far has resulted in the capture
Of more than $1,000 men, or the
4A05S04 pA4 y Va WV 0SAA AAAA$~AA vs. s~S>S~~~'
German Line Shaken.
Paris, April 19.-That section OF
Won Hindenburg's granite wall which
runs from Scissors to Rheims has
been shaken to it's foundation by the
terrific blows Of General Nivelle. The
French have the whip hand now and
the Germans are still staggering from
the great rebuff dealt to them or
Monday.
The French soldiers who won the
first line have been relie~gS BY fresh
formations and the second phase o1
the battle has begun with renewed
vigor.
Unaffected by counter attacks II
some places and the sturdy resistance
offered everywhere, the French have
gained substantial advantages ant
have driven forward with such speed
hat the Germans have been obliged
! 3 abandon many guns.
Fail to Stem Tide.
I The enemy made a desperate effor
TO stem the tide between Juvincour
and Berry-au-Bac. This is the weakes
point in his line, being devoid O.
natural defenses. Thirty thousand O.
the best German troops were hurled
forward here in q furious counter at
4, tack, but the move had been foreseel
kAA SAA0 T OAASAA 3 uiI6 "OAO ASouys al
illery and machine guns smashed
wave after wave Of the green-clat
soldiers until finally the attempt wa!
given up after awful carnage.
100000 New Germans in Line.
Paris, April 19.-The German
threw 12 new divisions against tn
French between scissors and Auberiv
last night. The war office announce
they were unable to check the often
sive Of the French.
The French continued to make pro
gress north Of Vailly and Ostel, not
withstanding violent German attacks
The successes of the French in tn
Champagne were followed by furthe
advances in the region OF Moronvil
Heres. Several important heights an,
strong positions were taken.
Two more batteries Of German ar
tillery were captured on the front be
tween Scissors and Auberive.
Twelve German divisions at wa
strength constitute a force of 226, 100
men. 'a
Germans Deny French Gains.
Berlin, April 19.-The battle in tn,
Champagne, northwest Of Auberiv,
yesterday continued into the night
says today's official announcement
This morning the fighting increased
la ~ 80 ~.