The Washington times., 1917-07-23
FIVE DAYS. FIGHT
TO WIN 'CHENIN
DESDAMESFAI[S

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES
IN THE FIELD; July 23.-Gemany
has found the Chemin des Danes an
other Verdun.
Five days Of continuous herculean
assault by the crown princes tToopE
have brought them nothing except
losses unequaled by the German
troops since the. attack on Vaux, in
April, 1916.
From the viewpoint Of quantity
and quality Of electives employed,
the endless succession of the at
taeks, fierceness Of the twenty-four-
hour-a7day fighting, and the German
losses, the Ghemin .des Danes fight
ing has not been equaled since IT, -
Verdun campaign around Vaux.
Expected Great Victory.
The unyielding resistance OF the
French must also have brought just
as bitter reaectionS to the Germans
as they felt at Verdun. There 10
every indication that the enemy
staged its assault on Craonne, the
California casenates,. Hurtebise,
.Ceray,s and Bray-with- the idea that
the crown prince would be able to
Telegraph the Retchstag' by Thursday
the news of. great victory" on the
western front
The German nIlhaEists figured that
q victory report would strengthen
their power with the German pariR-
ment, and result in an immediate vote
on the Mar credit bill.
Prisoners today revealed this
scheme. They said the attack had
been planned early in the week. but
was delayed until the day the Reich
stag met for consideration of the war
credit bill. In the meantime. special
picked "stoss truppen" were brought
up to make the victory" doubly GER
tain. The Germans included in these
picked troops the crack Fifth division
Of the Prussian Guard. whose famous
Queen Elizaheth grenadier company,
IRcidentally, was practically wiped
out by Frensh bombeTs in the hight
ipg that followed.
AU9nCAI0 AgE81Ag AANA1AAk-
The German assault was launched
at 7:IO Thursday morning. Great
m -sses OF troops were thrown for
ward. The density OF the attackers
was so great that-on one section Of
a kHometer's 'dth (about two-thirds
Of q 4ni!s). four complete regiments
participated Approximately 800
men).
When thehrst.vsYes OF the German
troops melted away in the French hre,
there were always fresh waves 70
dash forward Regiment after Tesi'
-nent was sent to the slaughter until
1850 at night. Then, came an artii
Ierv preparation OF new and unpre'
oedented violence, succeeded IN the
DARK by a new and gigantic attack
The French met thsse-Dew waves In
"a hand-to-hand battle that lasted
throughout the night. Here and
there the Germans Ealned, but before
dawn they were driven out The
check 10 the crown princes plans was
complete
But the German commanders per
sisted. There were daily and nightly
attacks still continuing even To-Day
along the entire Chemin Dss Danes
front.
The reason for these supreme ef
forts and sacrifices Of the German
stan Is easily appreciated when II Is
understood that unless the snemy re
takes cheEnln Dss Danes before the
Lnext strategic retreat" which tht
battle OF the Aisne must eventually
force, they must drive the French
fro mthe priceless observatorIes OF
this highway. From these dominan'
positions the French would be able u
would be fatal to undertake such q
move In plain view.
This same tactical plan explains IN
endless German attacks around MO
ronvfIleEs crest, further to the east
The French there dominate the entir'
plains OF northern Champagne. 1t i
here the Germans must eventually fai
hack.