New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-22
British Hold
HindenburgLine
For II Miles
Germans Suffer Severe
Losses as Both Allies
Gain
French Win New
Grip in Champagne
Take 800 Prisoners; Teuton
Divisions Swept
Back

London, May 2l.-Com5ined press
ure by the British and French in the
last twenty-four hours has resulted
in further absorption of the Hinden-
burg line on the Arrss front and a
renewed grip by the French on the
German defences Of the Champagne
heights.
Sir Douglas Haig reports that be-
tween Arras and point mile east
OF Bullecourt, distance Of eleven
miles, the Germans now retain
only 1000 yards OF the Hindenburg
line. Paris reports that last night
several lines of German hill trenches
were seized in the Moronvilliers sector,
east Of Rheims, together with most Of
the observation posts and 500 prison.
ers. Berlin admits gains by the Allies
in both regions.
Both the French and British
bulletins emphasize the German losses
in these operations. The trenches cap
tured by Petain's men were filled with
dead, while on the British front two
German divisions were used up with
out being able to stop Haig's attack.
"All information received" says the
British communique tonight, "con-
firms the severity of the German
losses in the recent fighting in this
area"
Bullecourt Ftanked
The 1000 yards of the Hindenburg
line which the Germans still hold on
the indicated front lie Immediately
west of Bullecourt. which was con-
ouered from the east in the direction
of the main German positions. II is
aanked on both sides. When the Brit
ish occupy this small remaining
stretch there will be nothing in the
way of permanent fortification between
them and the Wotan line on the south
bank OF the Scarpe River, with the eS-
ception of mile spur of trench that
runs northwest from Queant, the juno
ton of the old line with the emergency
system. When Haig's forces strike for
the Wotan line a new period OF strategy
will have been inaugurated on the
Arras battlefield.
The main point, however, is that the
British continue to move forward. Inc
capture of a village here or trench
there. though of tactical value, is not
the great issue. The relentless pressure
- I,Ta af,es
upon the Germans is. British ADVANCE
however slow, means that all the uei
man mass attacks, with their iaVish
sacrifice of men, have failed and that
Haic retains the initiative, with the
ability to exact further payment IN
man power from Hindenburg, and uiti-
mately to impose his strategy upon
the German leader.
German Tactics Changed
: Since Bullecourt was lost to them
the German tactics have changed. Ihey
are no longer assembled IN l0hg
trenches, as on the Somme. Wha'
trenches they do hold are almost OBJ
liberated. The fighting is mostly in
the open. They do not fling IN their
former close counter attacks, but meet
the British with machine gun crews,
established in concrete emplacements..
afterward launching their reserves If
the machine guns fail. Their field can
non are also using new shell, which
explodes laterally and sprays the
ground with metal over considerable
area. Every week. however, shows
net gain for the British. Neither new
devices nor new tactics have stopped
them. c,
The French operations in the Cham
pagne materially improve the lines
there and increase the threat against
the German positions overlooking
Rheims, but Hindenburgs immediate
peril is from the British, who nave
crushed through his main defences on
practically their whole front.