New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-06
Hindenburg
Tears Cap in
French Lines
Berlin Claims Victory Near
Rheims; Paris Mini
mics Defeat
Haig's Troopers
Still Advance
Germans Caught in Own
Wire Entanglements,
London Says

London. April 5-HindcnburC S'ru'N
bach hard at the French to-day. PICKED
German troops tore into the French
limo. northwest Of Rheims. on the
Aisnc Canal. and. according to Berlin
inflicted on the defenders a shattennG
reverse. taking 500 Of them prisoner.
The night report from Paris, how
ever. miuimizcs the defeat. The al
tack was thrown forward over a mile
and a half front but IL is declared 1t
was completely checked over the bulk
Of the line. Nivellc's soldiers forcing
their way back into their frst-hne
trenches almost at once. For those
portions Of trench to which the Ger
mans still cling the battle continues
and tonight the French are driving
home repeated counter attacks.
The operation was an example OF
what has been known as the linden
burg castle'-a chess term indicating
a secret concentration Of force behind
the line of retreat for the purpose OF
.tIiking on an unexpected front. For
several days the German heavy guns
have been hurting she'll into the neigh
borhood Of Rheims to such an extent
that the French command to-day
ordered q civilian evacuation of the
city. But the bombardment extended
a'mos, from the lower angle Of the
German retreat. above Scissors. clear
through the city
French Position dangerous
Between the village OF Sapigneul and
Godat Farm the French held positions
ON the left bank of the Aisne Canal,
from which d wedge m ght have been
thrown rorthWard into the German line
IL was for the purpose of driving the
French across the canal and using the
bank as d bulwark that the German
command decided on the attack accord
ing TO orders found on dead German
officers and prisoners who remained IN
French hands.
Large bodies Of the finest IGcrman
fighters were assembled. and when the
drum fire had become efficiently in.
tense struck swiftly and with initial
success.
Evidently. however, the victory was
not great enough 20 exert much lnfu-
eLce on the s.. Quentin front, where
the Franco-British pressure IS hourly
becoming greater, despite an eight-lnch
snowfall. and although the Germans
have parked a larger number Of big
guns behind their limos. These lines are
D. d
French rcconna arcc, carried out last
night north of Gauchy and Moy. Power
full iutrcrchmcnt- have been thrown up
BIS the Germans less than mile from
the southwest edge of the city.
British Still Advance
Northward 20 Arras. on the front held
by the British. the fighting grows more
bitter IT., the cavalry sklrmiShlng Of the
carly days Of the retreat gives way 10
advance guard infantry action. Never
thclcss. HaIg's troopers have reached a
point only two and half miles from
the Camhrai-St. Quentin road, and Tar
Their south have taken Rouasoy wood,
three and q half miles west Of the same
highway
Following stiff lighting, the British
have also captured the town of Bassc-
.
and three machine guns.
"Thc rctrcatiug enemy SAYS the Of
fetal statement. "Was caught in his own
wire cnlanglomcntS and suffered
heavily under our machine gun fire"
Haig's drive Is now al the edges OF
Gouzeacourt and Ilavriucourt woods,
y here sixty more prisoners two trench
mortars and five machine guns were
taken.
General Maurice docs not believe
either, that the Germans intend 10 or
can, hold ST. Quentin. Discussing this
to-day, he aid:
"St. Quentin is not a part Of the
Hndenburc line. and the surrender Of
this town viii not mean the breaking
Of the German position. Along the
northern sector of our advance the
enemy has reached a fortified line
where he is certain TO put up a fight.
But as our infantry comes into play
u is natural that the actions should
become harder. with more tangible re
suits u the way Of prisoners and ma
tcrial."
Withdrawal Improbable
The general added his belief that
the Germans would stand on approx
matcly their present line until driven
out. Documents found on prisoners
and dead Germans had convinced him
that tho Franco-British progress had
been much faster than anticipated.
However, he thought that a withdrawal
along the Belgian coast was imprOb-
able until terrific pressure had been
brought 10 bear.
Along the remainder OF the West
front there were sporadic, though often
sharp, engagements.