The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-21
French Have Gathered In 49,
600 Germans and Hundred
Big Guns Since Monday
ON NEW LINE GREAT
DEFENSE LOOKED FOR
Bitterest Combats of Entire
War Are Yet to Come---Ger-
mans Lose Heavily in Vain
Counter Thrusts
(By International News Service)

(By International News service.)
London, April ga mocking echo
came from the French singing tbs
"Marseilaisc" as they stormed forward
today in answer to a Berlin war office
statement that the retreat on the
Franco German front had ended yes
terday, redoubtable new line, the
! "Siegfried line" having been reached.
On and on the poilIs swept into the
Teuton positions along the whole sixty
mile front between scissors and Au-
Derive. Tonight the French official
communique gave the total number of
Germans taken prisoner on this front
since last Monday at more than o.
900. The booty SO far includes more
than 100 German big guns.
TodayS battle was Centered chiefly
upon several miles of front In the Ar
gonne. At no stage of the new French
drive have the Teutons battled so
tenaciously. hit back so ferociously, as
in the last twelve hours. When, after
a series of assaults that were checked
by the bitter defense, the French nm
ally carried the system of trenches that
formed their detectives, they found
them manned by dead Germans. Dead
men stood as they had died in the pits
or sat in the bottom, where they had
crouched, vainly seeking shelter from
the earth SfeliIlTe-
Smashing ahead toward Laon, tho
main strategic aim of General Nivelle's
drive, the French today took by storm
the village OF Sancy, thus straighten-
ing out their front from Laffeux to the
west of Jouy on the east. Midway be-
tween these two positions they face
the formidable fort of Halmaison.
To the east OF Sancy the French
today were subjected to one OF the
yNaa fin ri Iris
delivered since the spring operations
! began. For hours and hours the Ger
man guns had foreshadowed It, until
finally at S o'clock tonight the Teuton
infantry stormed forth along the line
OF Allies and Hurteboise. The first
attacking waves were met by
murderous French fire and the assail-
ants were literally cut to pieces.
In Il series of brilliant bayonet
charges the French wrested several
important positions from the Germans
in the Champagne to the east OF
Rheims. in the Moronvillers sector.
The "Siegfried Linc.''
''Siegfried line'' Is the magic word
flashed across the German empire to-
day. After nearly a week OF deep
anxiety. the Teutons streaming back
steadily before the French onsIaughts.
following the enforced withdrawal far
TO the north. before the Canadians
the German people heaved a great
sigh OF relief when the Berlin war Of
flee bulletin informed them that the
occupation OF this "Siegfried line"
which has been long under construc-
ton. "ended yesterday having begun
last Monday. when General .Nivelle's
forces struck their mighty initial
blows.
Siegfried. the name of the bold
youth Of legendary fame. is a house
hold word Germany. The story OF
the boy whN went forth from his
fathers castle to "see the world"
killed a dragon and bathed in his vic
TINS blood, which rendered him in
vulnerable. is one of the first sagas
read by every German child. No one
here doubts that todays announce
ment that the kalsier's legions now
stand on the line bearing that name
electrified the Teutons and rekindled
faith and fervor.
viii Dispel Legend.
But the French, not pausing for a
moment in their drive, demonstrated
last night and throughout today that
they mean to dispel the legend and
sweep away even this new formidable
line. They. too. are familiar with the
famous saga, and remember that n
tiny spot on Siegfried's back was left
untouched by the dragons blood in
which he bathed- the spot through
which Hagen later thrust his sword.
That vulnerable spot the French pro-
pose to find
Though less spectacular and sweep
ing than their progress of the last
few days. last nights and today's adj
vance of the French was steady and
OF great Importance. In their envei-
opment movement directed against
L.aon. one of their strategic detectives.
where the "Siegfried line" joins the
"Hindenburg line" General Nivelles
forces smashed on northeast or Sois-
sons. making considerable Roadway
around I-affaux. The Germans struck
back violently and repeatedly, but
without avail. AT the same time the
French pushed forward on the Van
clerc plateau. west of the Rheims
Laon road. They carried series of
trenches near Courcy. Further prog
ress also was made o the east OF
Louvre.
German losses in the many vain
coanter-attacks are described In the
Five days only. at cost sAls uG alae Il