The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-28
FRENCH PRESSURE
GROWS STRONGER
Gen. NiveIIe's Men Continue TO
Advance in Face of lena
cious Resistance.
SLAUGHTER WHOLE DIVISIONS
German Troops Forced Forward in
Face of Rain of Shells From
French Guns.

Paris, April 20.-The French sue
cess in the forward movement Wa:
much more considerable than indi
Gated by the published reports or the
army communiques, which narrate {
very sober tale Of the events. There
is no intention of relaxing the pres
sure on the Germans who are oppos
ing a tenacious resistance without
avail.
Besides points of formidable
strength and most important strategic
value, such as Ostel, Courtroom anC
VaiIly, which have fallen before the
French assaults, reports sent by run
ners from accommodating parties indi
cate steady progress everywhere an(
large captures Of material The staff.
take no risks. Everything is method
ically prepared in order to be as Ger
tain as is humanity possible of success
before trying to approach each Objec
tive point.
German Leadership Bad.
Today's weather was better for the
operations, but it was so misty thai
airplanes were almost useless.
The commanders of the German re
endorsements hurrying to the front
appear to have lost their heads or have
been badly directed in several cases
One division marched directly into
wire entanglements and was almost
entirely annihiIated or taken prisoner
Eighteen new German divisions have
been thrown into the front since Mon
day and several of them were blown
virtually to pieces by the French ar
tillery Immediately after their arrival
French Are Confident.
Owing to the extent of the battle
line, the Germans are no longer 50
much favored by maneuvering on the
inside line. The French soldiers con
fidence and spirit have been even in
tensified under most severe hardships
during the advance. Nothing seems
to depress him. Even the old terri
torials, road making on the heels OF
the attacking troops, maintain a con.
slant cheeriness.
German Counter Attacks Fail.
Paris, April 19.-Since the begin
ming Of the great French drive on the
southern end of the battle line the
French have captured II 900 unwound
ed prisoners, together with seventy
five cannon, according to the official
statement issued by the war office
tonight
Desperate fighting took place over
many sectors between French and Ger
mans today, the Germans launching
numerous powerful counter attacks
all of which were put down with great
losses, the official report says.
The latest French victory, while on
a, smaller scale than that Of Monday
is an equally important success. Both
of the sections attacked had been left
alone hitherto on account of the ex.
ceptional natural strength of the Ger
man positions The French comman-
der held that an assault could only
be successfully undertaken when over
whelming resources had been accumu-
lated and the general situation was
favorable
Nothing Left to Chance.
The general who commands the
armies Of the right center had been
planning the attack for several weeks
and had left nothing to chance Every
thing was provided for and the chiefs
under him had nothing to do but fol
low instructions to the letter
As soon as the result of the battle
between scissors and Rheims was
known, the order was given to attack.
Principally at 4:45 the French infan-
try went over" well supported by a
powerful mass Of artillery. They
swept forward in magnificent stvIe
and in two hours the first line system
had been captured. Later news came
that the French soldiers were carry
ing all before them, and taking pris-
enrs by the score. They seized Mont
Carni1let, Mont Haul and all the crests
commanding the region