Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-16
Strategic Positions of Immense
Importance Captured With
Prisoners in fought
Engagement.
CRACK GERMAN UNITS
CONTEND FOR FIELD
Explosion of Rocket Depot
Adds BrilIiance to Spectacle;
Barrage Fire Fails to Stop
Supports.
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Grand Headquarters of the French
| Armies in France, July IA (by the
Associated Press. "A double victory
was scored by the French tonight
among the clump of hills known al
the Mononviliers Massif, to the west
of Rheims as the result of well-con-
ceived plans and brilliantly executed
tactics. The German prisoners taken
numbered several hundred, the exact
total not being computed when the
correspondent left the battlefield. but
the greatest significance is attached
to the ground captured which, al
though small in extent possesses i'm
mense Importance, as the Germans.
by having it snatched from them. lost
the only remaining observatories in
this region and will thus be greatly
hindered in future operations.
Observatories Are Taken.
Ihe hill group consists Of five
heights, Carnillett. Mont Blond. Mont
Haut, the Casque and the Teton. Be
fore tonights fighting the French
held all the crests, but the saddles be-
tween Mont Blond and Mont Haut
and tee Casque and the Teton were
occupied by The Germans, who were
able to watch the French movements
from these points of vantage.
The correspondent observed the
artillery preparation and the actual
battle from a point whence the entire
elump could be observed and the
pl osress of the troops could be-
viewed increasingly. Hour after hour
the guns of both armies belched
shells, but little noise could be heard
on the French side in consequences of
the direction of the wind which.
however, did not drown the constant
swish and rending of the air by the
passing projectiles.
Bombardment Is Heavy.
All around the ground was pep-
pered and immense clouds of yari-
colored smoke and the crashing OF
explosives told of the heavy lombard
ment.
The French knew that fronting
them lay strong German forces, for
three divisions had been recognized,
the Nineteenth Hanoverians, the Sew
enth Prussian and the Twenty-third.
The French infantry attacks at the
eztremities of the Moronvilliers
clump on the saddles began at tho
same time and were carried out with
such dash that the Germans gave way
everywhere or surrendered. At the
western end the advance attained an
average depth OF 200 yards along
half mile front, while at the eastern
End the average depth gained was
5000 yards along about a third of a
mile. But these small spaces con-
aimed all of the German observa-
ories.
Rockets Blaze In Air.
Immediately. dozens Of French and
German rockets, green, red and white,
dashed in the air, either calling for
lelp or announcing the results. Sim
a depot of rockets caught
ire and thousands of brilliant balls
If flame lighted the scene like a py-
'otechnic display, amid which seven
German observation balloons rose au.
laciously near the French line to in
the situation for the Ger
nan staff shut out from view by the
oss of observatories.
Prisoners meanwhile came pouring
nto the French lines and the German
'arrage fire opened, trying to pre-
ent the French from bringing up re-
nforcements to the front The inev-
table German counter-attack began
hortly afterward. but the effort to
rive the French from the positions
hey had won did not succeed.
Counter-attacks Anticipated.
The artillery fire was most intense
the early hours of the
light and further German counter
ttacks are to be expected.
In the meantime, Rheims, nearby,
uttered from the vengeance of the
ierman commanders, who also
helled small villages far in the rear
t the French lines as reprisal for
leir defeat Long lines OF children,
omen and old men taking refuge In
pen fields amid the darkness and
rain made a pitiful sight.