The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-06
French Move on Toward Laon,
Making 1900 Prisoners In
Yesterdays Fighting
PATRIOTIC PARADES
AT PETROGRAD
People Turn Out In Force to
Support Government, Which
Wins Vote of Confidence in
Great Labor Council

London, May b.--Following up
their brilliant success OF yester-
day when they captured Craonne.
French troops today continued
their advance. and, despite des-
perate resistance by the Teutonio
forces, swept along the road from
scissors TO Iaon, "a distance OF
nearly four miles.
This was officially announced
in the French communicate Is
sued in Paris tonight.
The plateau in the ncighbOr-
hood of Craonne and Ccrny and
the hills dominating the Ailette
river valley were taken by the
French soldiers.
The French also captured 1900
German prisoners. These were
taken in addition to the 1900
captured yesterday.
Master Stroke of Strategy
Today's French drive was a master
stroke of strategy. On a larger
scale the operation was similar to that
of the British southeast OF Lens a few
days ago. As Sir Douglas Haig struck
out for the railroad leading to Douai,
northern pivot of the Hindenburg limo,
50 General Nivelle today threw his
troops against the German lines pro-
tecting the line running from scissors
to Laon, the southern pillar Of the
Teuton main front. Both blows hit
home, and the Hindenburg line is now
menaced at each flank. while in the
center the British are Tightening their
moose around st. Quentin. Emphasis
is laid in the night communique from
Paris upon the tenacious defense of
the Teutons and the unceasing
counter attacks. marked by a reckless
disregard for life. The German losses
were correspondingly frightful. Tho
battle ragged with particular fury near
the Chemin des Dames--"R of the
fair name Is Knocked
by the carpet of blood and bodies
that now cover it. Here in the teeth
of resistance and counter-blows by
Teuton troops. fighting with the COM
rested upon them. the poilus bayo-
Melted their way forward until they
reached the coveted hills, from which
further advance will be comparatively
easy.
The German war Office asserted
that British attacks lin dense Masses
on both sides of Bullecourt broke
down with severe losses"
Hintenbury Brings Up Reserves.
AS the fourth week of the great al
lied drive in the West is drawing to
"a close the battle is again a deadlock,
the French and British concentrating
the important gains they have mada
in the last few days. while the Teu-
tons are violently but SO far vainly
counter-attacking.
. In each of the three menaced Sec
tors of the Hindenburg line. south
east of Lens. before ST. Quentin and
below Laon, Hindenburg is throwing
endless columns of fresh reserves into
the fray. Only on one front, that fac
Ing the -Notaa- liae,-these- troops
succeeded in gaining some ground
and this only in the advanced British
lines. Today the Teutons launched
attack upon attack against the new
French front north OF the Aisne.
where the poilus took Craonne yes
terday. But General Nivelle's forces
stuck fast to their positions and beat
back every onslaught with terrific
losses to the crown princes troops,
On this front Laon. the southern pivot
OF the Hindenburg line, Is now SCI
riously menaced. -
Further north the central point In
the Hindenburg line, st. Quentin is
under the fire of the British long
range guns. In the sector fronting
the, northern pivot. Louai a ferocious
see-s saw battle is raging. The Cana
dams are clinging tenaciously to tho
village of Fresnoy. the loss Of which
was one of tn" hardest blows dealt
to the Teutons, as is shown by their
fury driven counter-t hrusts.
Fight Hand-to-Eand.
Just little north of the switch
point" of the Hindenburg line. where
1t branches off northward into the
Wotan positions above Queant. hand
to-hand graphing of the fiercest sort
is taking place. The prize is the
village of Bullecourt. SO far the
Germans have succeeded in steminx
the British avalanche here. The bat-
tie sways back and forth, but tho
"Tomnlies' are on the initiative
throughout.
The Be- IN war Office admits that
the French penetrated the German
positions east of Neuville. but adds
they were elected again. five hundred .
prisoners being taken by the Teutons.
The total of British prisoners taken
in the last two days is given at L.
225
ION the Aisne front" says the
statement, the artillery lighting con-
Times with n Tremendous exnon dttura