Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-16
GERMANS FAIL, DESPITE
TERRIFIC GUN ASSAULT
BY HENRY WOOD

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN THE
FIELD, July iG.
The most terrific bombardment Germany
has yet concentrated against the French
lines was massed Saturday night in a des-
perate attempt to force back General Pc
tain's troops from new positions around
Moronvillers crest. which they had won by
a new style of surprise attack.
Today. with the consultations Of the
French lines effected in subsequent fight
ing, the French grip on Moronvllers was
tightening with viselike hold In fury for
this inclosing pressure the Germans Satur-
day night shelled several villages in Cham
pagne five or six miles from the front II
seemed as though this fire was solely to
vent German rage at the French success.
The shells fell in many villages where Red
Cross ambulances were stationed including
8. section OF the American ambulance corps
waiting to go to the front for wounded.
All the Americans escaped unharmed.
The Champagne struggle began early in
the week with extensive preparations for at
tack by the Germans The French defend
ers were fully apprised Of these prelimi.
nares. They saw construction Of new
trench from which the German attack was
destined 10 start They knew that three
new divisions Approximately $4,000 men),
including the Seventy fourth Hanover Regi-
ment, had been brought up into line. The
Hanoverians were to bear the brunt of the
assault. lneN Knew lUeSe ATTACKING troops
had been rehearsed back of the line for the
part they were to play in the struggle.
Then the French egan preparations of
their own for an attack For three days
the French artillery roared out prepara-
tory fire. Late Saturday evening this
preparation decreased. The French pur-
posely timed the slackenng fire to deceive
the Germans into thinking an attack was
imminent. But the usual attacking hours
passed Along toward 1880 the Germans
began to figure that there was no assault
coming. The enemy hauled down their OBJ.
servation sausage balloons, apparently con-
WINGED that the day ending in tran
qulllity.
Suddenly, at 7:45, the French reopened
n redoubled artillery bomhardment Al
most simultaneously the French infantry
leaned out of their trenches.
Across the line the Germans tried hastily
to shoot up their observation "sausages'
in an endeavor to find out what was hap
pening. But before the balloons could
reach heights sufficient for observation the
French had won their victory. Ioilus held
the tops of both Monts Teton and Haut--
exactly the objectves planned for them.
Within less than five minutes the Ger
mans, with the gigantic artillery concentra-
tion which they had massed for their abor-
tive attack opened the most terrible bonn
hardment | have yet witnessed anywhere
along the French front. The SUBMITS of
oped in seething smoke. The sides We're a
living furnace Of burning grenades. inCend-
airy shells exploding munitions caches and
flaming materials generally.
Into this literal furnace the Germans
launched their counter-attacks. The desper-
ate character of the fighting which ensued
was apparent from the countless rockets
that famed into the skies. French and
German troops both sent them up, signaling
advances and retreats, calls for lengthening
or shortening of the barrage fire, a change
in artillery ranges and other fluctuations
Of the battle. Night fell on this scene.
but the darkness was hardly noticed in the
flaming OF the rockets ana explosions. It
was as light as day.
The Germans finally gave il up, They
let the French hold tight to their gains.
Before morning the pous had concentrated
their positions and grpped still tighter their
hold on the Moronvilers crest dominating
the entire Champagne front