New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-05
Pave Way for Advance on
Laon; Reduce Rheims
Salient
British Forge Ahead
Toward Douai Defence
German Efforts to Check
Rush on FIindenburg
Line Fail


troops have captured the important
town of Craonne, on the eastern end
of the Vauclerc Plateau, together with
points OF support east and north of
it, while between Berry-au-Bac and
Rheims they have occupied the first
line German trenches in the direction
! Of Fort Brimont, over front of about
two and half miles.
Thus far 100 prisoners have been
counted from the first operation and
500 more have been brought in from
the second.
Craonne Bastion OF Laon
Craonne mas been one Of the chief
detectives of the French in their Of
[ fensive on the Asne. The town stands
: well protected on the north side OF
/ tho Chcmin-de Danes. the road run
ming straight across the Craonne and
/ Vauclerc plateaus. II may be consid-
cred the southeastern bastion Of Laon,
on which the whole HindenburG line
swings. and the fall Of which, accord
inc 10 military critics, would force
German retreat to the Franco Belgian
frontier.
Craonne has formed shallow salient
in the French lines since the resump-
tion Of the offensive. Efforts to turn
tho Germans out by forcing a way
,cross the Chemn des-Dames 70 the
cast proved vain. To-day's victory
however. clears the way for a major
cncration against Laon from the rear
The French advance toward Brimon'
is directed to the same end, though IN
cidentally General Nivellc hopes to re-
duce the salient in which Rheims
stands. But If Brimont falls, another
defence in the-rear of Laon is gone
and the French can press unlmpedet
across the Suppe River. The fact that
raon is already under the fire OF the
French long range artillery is mos'
significant.
Tho French struck while the Ger
mans were heavily occupied with the
British on the Arras battlefield. II
had been evident from the attacks IN
the Champagne, calcu!sted TO threaten
tho Nopent and L'Abesse positions. IN
wbich the Germans still stand. that the
French were bent on reducing the
soIient at the extremity of which
Rheims lies. 1t was on the Brimon'
side of the wedge, and to the north oi
that fortress, that the French delivered
their blow this afternoon.
The German report is silent on the
attack on Craonne, indicating that th'
movement on the French front did no
extend westward beyond Berry-au-Ba
which is six miles away. IL is admitted
however. that from Berry y-au-Bac tc
& point six miles northwest of Rheims
the artillery preparation increased t'
a pitch Of great intensity" while the
German batteries played over "hlleC
enemy trenches" According to the
night official from Berlin, the attacks
were repulsed.
French Active in Champagne
The French also have continued theli
activity in the Champagne. Paris re
ports new progress in the wood ives
Of Mont Cornillet, the repulse OF Ger
man grenade attacks and gusts OF artIi
lery fire near Moronvilliers.
For several days the French have
been exerting pressure in the VerduT
sector. Prisoners were captured to-day
in two surprise attacks at Dead Mar
|, Hill and in the AvOcourt wood. =
German thrust west of Dead Man HI.
} was promptly checked.
French air pilots yesterday account
ed for five hostile airplanes. and three
more which were reported as damaged
are now numbered among the. de-
stroyed. Berlin reports many raids BY
German fiers and states that tie Al!ie'
have lost ten machines.