Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-18
Germans Lhse First Line
Positions Between Rheims
and Champagne Front.
GERMAN LOSSES IN
DAYS FIGHT 10000
french Gain Grip on Some Second
lsns Trsnehss il Region Made His.
esrie BY Grsat Offensive ef 1875
Aiths On Smaller Scale Than Men.
lays Success. French Victory 10 No
Less Important, ..J

hattie front was extended for another
twatvs miles today when the French
drove the Germans from all Of their
trst line positions and part Of the sec
sond line from Rheims and tho Cham
payne front. The victory was staged
4 on the ground which saw the great Of
1 fensiye OF 1915. and the German loss is
eAtimated at 10000 killed, wounded and
prisoners.
The invaders were well placed along
series Of wooded heights, varying in
height from 600 to 500 feet and run
5ning north along the main road from
RAelms to st. Hilaire-le-Grand. The
Germans were well aware that an at
tack uAs coming and had made full
! Prspara4isa ssevit.
VI 1he French attack. however. was de-
hvsseds with such skill and vigor that
tils defenders, disheartened by q long
spfsaiminary hornbardment, broke
erpsnA ma the whole line fell into the
hanls ~ tho French.
II seWd Liss psoatratsd.
ae hJl1llissIss ths impstns
H. the aftackers carried them clear thru
stlas iirst line into the second line which
ssee.tered at Mont Haut. This sum.
init. $50 feet high, was stormed.
In the meantime on the scissons-
Rheims front the French troops are
/ busy organising captured ground won
In tho first days battle and concen-
t5ating positions.
The latest French victory, while on
u smaller scale than that of Monday,
~ m equally important success. Both
sections attacked had been left alone
hitherto because Of the natural strength
fNthe German positions. The French
command held that an assault could
only be successfully undertaken when
Overwhelming resources had been ac-
scumulated.
WI The general in command Of the right
center had been planning the attack
for several weeks and had left nothing
to chance The chiefs under him had
nothing TO do but follow instructions to
the letter.
Desperate Counter Attacks.
Progress was made by the French in
their attacks last night east of Scfs-
sons. The capture Of Chivy Is an
snounced. The French pushed on to the
northward, reaching the vicinity Of
{ Bfaye. .en-Laonnois.
The Germans made three desperate
counter attacks In the Champagne last
night. They were checked by the
French with hserious losses. Since Mon
day the French have captured up
ward OF $4,000 unwounded Germans In
the Champagne large numbers Of ma
chine guns and twelve cannon, includ-
ing three Of large caliber have been
captured.
From their new positions the French
now look down upon Moronyillieres and
SNauroy This Moronvilliefes chain Of
sslIiliat was regarded by all French sol-
l diers who had ever been In the section
- virtually impregnable and fts cap-
tire aauped the liveliest satisfaction to
everybody. z
The 7S's followed the infantry rapidly
and were soon in action. They caught
slarfe bodies OF the enemy massing with
S$the object OF making diversion and
sdccimated them To the onlookers such
:t.arnage had not been seen since the
action OF Charne Gap at the beginning
s0f the war.
FSl Of Auberive Speedy.
On the right wing the struggle was
4 equally to the advantage Of the French.
Auberive, on which the left wing Of
sthe Champagne offensive OF 1915 broke.
fell speedily. The French made espe-
cIaliy good progress north Of Anber-
I'VE. In the section east Of Vaudesin-
court. Hill liz was stormed, as well as
~ small wood east Of the hill which
4 sWas q regular nest Of German machine
runs. s .S 81. II
Z Aty certain points the advance was
s1fcse upon four miles in depth. Latest
news reaching Paris says the battle
sepntinued until late in the night. the
\ snermans attacking without success
According to Information from re-
fSab,s source the double offensive OF the
I e,rftishs north OF ArraA and OF the
4 esNnch al the Aisne disarranged the
German plans. Won Hindenburg, It
sWsas said. waa preparing an offensive
! ! ekainat Riga and another against
4 ss;,!!e lille on the western front he
NJ y 6lanninE one drive on Calais on
kSs Md ana another against Paris.
4 M " Snch and British attacks have
I M III y bring all the men: II 4