The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-18
Trcp< Are "StaliinS."

London. June 17.--Atl the way be-
tween the North sea and the Swiss
horder the allies and the Germans are
sstaIling"
The big battles of the year are still
to come. Everybody knows II. But
nobody knows where. This Is the les
son the Germans learned on the User
and on the verdun. the aiiies IN the
Ehamra gne on the Aisue and at Ar
ras: That no offensive can be pushed
home to Its ultimate purpose for the
big break through" unless IL comes
absolutely and completely as sur
prise--so much SO that the only OPP
Eonent cannot find time 10 throw hts
reserves in men and guns into the
sectors attacked.
Not the slightest inkling must he
given the enemy precisely in what
front the great breach Is to be CT
whole front must be continuously
bombarded with equal force until
everything lis ready for the big blow,
That's what is going on IN tire west
today. Hindenhurg is doing II 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 launch =
ed, a 'kfnk'' In the lines is straighten-
ed out, and all the while reconnoiter-
ing parties are darling forward into
the opposing line. returning with
prisoners from whom, even when they
are unwilling some valuable pointers
are always obtained.
To-day interest ceatAyed uron the
Frsnco-German front There the Ger
mans gave signs of showing their
hand-hut signs may have been part
OF the hluflng 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 sector. There are three
subdivis ons--Hrst. from Cerny to Ber-
ry-au Bsc: second. from Berry-au Bac
TO Naurcy: third, from Nauroy to Au-
herive, In each Of these the crown
princes heaviest 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
T~utons show Activity.
II was on the eieven-rr7ile front. be-
tween Cerny ard Berry au- Bac. that
the Teutons in the last twenty four
hours developed more than ordinary
activity. They were massing troops
TO the northeast of Cerny. under cover
Of terrific gunhre. But the French
observers were on the Job. without r.
moments delay. the seventy ives"
were put into action. Their murderous
hall squashed the Teuton organizations
in the making. No infantry attack
developed A little later on. the crow n
princes cannon, as II TO get even for
the check at Cerny. let loose an earth
shaking drumhre on the French posi-
tons on Hurtebise farm. This farm.
the real key to the road of the La
dies In sore spot with the Germans
There is every Indication that they
mean TO get 1t back Late this after
noon the guns were still roaring The
French however. answered shell for
shell. Incidentally. the farm Is the
sAme from which Marshais Ney and
Drouot, 1903 years ago. elected Blue
cher, while Napoleon looked on. The
French mean TO live up 10 the tradi-
tons
Otherwise. thsrs wete~ onfy raids On
the Franco German front Petain's
scouts made quick dashes into Teutor
positions in the Woevre and In the
vosges, returning with prisoners.