Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-11
IMPORTANT INROADS
MADE BY THRUSTS
At VARIOUS POINTS
While Reports Throw Little
Light on Situation at FreS-
Hoy British and French Gain
Elsewhere

NEW YORK. May Io.-tBy Foreign
Cables from European Capitalist
While today's Official reports throw lit
tie additional light on the situation
around Fresnoy, where the heaviest
fighting in the Arrss battle occurred
this week. they reveal important gains
for the British and French at other
POINTS or the front in northern France.
LondOn's announcement OF British
progress south OF the Souchez river
means a further pushing back OF the
German lines Immediately south OF
Lens. Tightening the hold Of the nip
pers which the British are applying TO
this important Industrial town and coal
district
Further inroads also have been made
upon the German positions near Bulle-
court. on the Hiudenburg line. Just west
Of its point Of junction with the Queant-
I-ocourt switch, where the Germans, al
though reported nearly surrounded, are
stubbonly cIinging TO the town
Far to the south on the British front.
two miles north OF St Quentin. General
Haigss troops have pushed eastward
from GrfcOurt They are right atop the
St ouentin-Cambrai road at this point
The French, like the British, have
made no new general attack, but they
likewise are delivering a thrust here
and there. and making valuable Roadway
in preparing the ground for the next
push. One OF these effective local op-
erstions was carried out last night after
a German counter-ettack in force had
bean repulsed in the region northeast OF
Crsonne- a fortified point OF support
near Chevreux was captured in this ad-
vance
In another operation, just TO the west
on the Vauolerc plateau's northern
slopes. the recent French gains were
enlarged and prisoners taken from a
fresh German division
The battle for Fresnoy continues to
rage with a fury which recalls the
bloody struggles for Forts Douaumont
and vAux in the days OF the battle OF
Verdun-
Thousands Of lives are being poured
out for the mastery Of the little heap Of
ruins that was once village. and the
bIackeued. blasted stumps that were
once a wood until Fresnoy threatens to
rank with Vtmy IN the price paid for its
possession
The great Importance Of the position
is due TO the fact that IL forms the
last important defense 10 the northern
end O fthe Drocourt-Queant line, and
also covers the only remaining railroads
TO Lens connecting the coal city with
Drocourt-oueant line traserses one side
OF a railroad. triangle which has Lens,
Arras and Vitry at Its respective angles.
All OF one side of this roughly eQui-
lateral triangle is in the hands of the
British and about one-half OF its base
Fresnoy must be held IL the whole tri-
angle is not 70 be evacuated and the fall
OF Lens rendered certain
The enormous concentration OF Ger
man divisions on the British front and
the marked increase in gun power give
added significance to the reports that
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg is with
drawing both men and artillery from
the eastern area The disorganization
Of the Russian army has apparently had
= very serious effect on the whole allied
situation and has materially increased
the burdens imposed on the British and
French q
The news from Russia is far from re-
assuring in any respect, and apparently
the provisional government Is still in
p-ecarious position
There are no marked developments in
the other war thesters- Fighting on
the Macedonian front goes on with con-
ficting reports from the rival camps,
but nothing as yet to tell whether a
movement IN force Is under way. De-
sultory fighting Is reported from the
AC6Aldu AEOAts Jul HSCAAo oAsoS Ho S4si4
that a resumption Of a drive on Triest
IS I'm prospect
WASHINGTON. May lone hun
dred and tventy-seven Americans, taken
from ships are reported TO be held pris-
oners by Germany. This developed from
a state department announcement today.
II had been generally believed the last
OF Germany's American prisoners were
freed when the YsrTowdals men quit.
The women OF the American legation At
Rerne have formed an organization TO
assist the prisoners.