Milford chronicle., 1917-04-20
FRENCH SMASH
GERMAN LINE
Gen. NiVaIIe Strikes Hard Blow
in Champagne,
TAKES 10000 PRISONERS

1 British Forces Push Ahead In Region
of Lens and ST. observation-disclosures In
Two stronghOlds.
The great French attempt to break
through the German lines along the
western front is under way.
The French began their attack after
several days artillery preparation. be
tween scissors and Rheims. Several
German lines were carried and more
than 10000 Germans were taken pris-
oner.
The official announcement Of this
success. issued by the French war Of
fee describes the fighting as being Of
the utmOct violence.
With this operation the hot flames
Of war are raging over the entire west.
ern front, from the North Sea to the
Swiss frontier, on plans elaborated at
prolonged conferences between Gener
al Nivelle and Field Marshal Haig and
the war councils OF France and Eng
land. The results already attained
justify the conclusion that the supreme
military test Of the war is near at
hand
In their smash the French. between
Scissors and Craonne, took the entire
German first position, while to the
east of Craonne the French occupied
the enemy's second position south Of
Juviacourt. Further to the south, the
official statement says Nivelle's men
carried the French lines as far as the
outskirts Of BERN eTincourt and up te
ne Aisne Canal at Loivre and COurcY
"News Of the opening of the grea;
French offensive has spread like Wild
fire through the British forces" tele
graphs Reuters correspondent at Brit
ish headquarters in France.
At other sectors of the far-fung bat
tie line the entente forces pushed theii
lines forward, and even in Alsace
where comparative quiet has prevail
cd for months, the French penetrated
the German second line at several
points. In that region. as we'll as IN
Lorraine and the Champagne, the gun.
fire of the French is terr fic and the
German positions, taken in Sunday
nights assault, were torn up by the
high explosive shells.
Although British patrols have bseu
in the streets of Lens and General
Haig's men are in the outskirts Of 81
Quentin. the fall of neither of these
owns has as yet been officially an
The Germans, it IS apparent. have
sent III their reserves and are making
/ desperate defense to enable theiI
.ngineers to complete the destruction
If the mines and factories Of Lens
which might have been useful to the
lilies.
Despite the fact that all along the
inc between Lens and S. Quentin the
ierman resistance has stiffened. Gen
raj Haig reports the capture of Vile
et, which strsightens his line north
rest Of ST. Quentin, and announces
lrthe- progress to the northwest Of
ems.
Counter attacks. which the Germani
ave launched at Monchy and Lagnie
9urt suggest that the British are ap
reaching dangerously neor the new
erman Inc, which, according to un
Ecial account, the Germans had moi
ad time tc complete before the Brit
IN offensive was launched.
The official report from British head
larters IN France says the British
ave taken more than $4,000 prisoners
nce April Q, while captured material
clude1 1874 guns.
The British continued gradually ID
ider the second gap out in the Hin.
enburg line rorth of St. Quentin, hav.
2 captured the position known as
e Three Ssvages. east of Gricourt
:. QusLtin continues to burn. Away
the north Lens still holds out. Tie
'rmans have several strong positions
out the city to which they still
ire.
Large captures Of guns and war ma
rial ware made by the British al
evin and on the Souchez river, in
e Lens region, an official British =
ltement announced. The cannon
ken include a six-inch naval gun OF
lg range Truck loads OF new tools,
my thousand rounds of ammunition
d quantities of bombs, grenades an6
gineering equipment also we're cap
ed.