Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08
German Offensive Baked by
French on independence Day
Tremendous Artillery Fire Backed by Fresh
Reserves of Young Class ANSWERED More
Than in Kind on Western Front With
Complete Collapse of Offensive.

Especial Cablegram to The Sunday Sta
and New York Times.)
Copyright. 1917, by the New York T1mes.)
WITH FRENCH ARMIES IN THE
FIELD. July 8, via Paris. July 1.-THE
contribution of Germany to the indie
pendence Day celebration in France
proved to be the biggest and costlies'
efforts the Teutons have made to pierce
the western front since the battle OF
Verdun.
l spent yesterday in going over the
scene Of the failure. Announcement.
by radio that Germany took GROUND
and prisoners are lies. She took moth
Ing.
She spent the flower of her young
classes. her fresh and almost last re-
serves She made the most prodigal
waste OF munitions that the war has
yet known in a heavy artillery concen-
tratton of the same duration of time.
French Victory.
From generals down the unanimous
opinion is that. like verdun. 1t was an
other political offensive" necessary
number of hours than Verdun lasted
months. 1t was q magnificent French
victory
1t seemed to me a pity that some OF
our "Sammies'' could not have been in
nearby observatories. 1t would have
sible In the way OF automatic de-
Tense" The figures are not all at hand
showing the number of German troops
engaged, but 1t Is certain that had not
the offensive been stopped SO dead Ger
many would have used up entirely. al
least. a whole division.
As It was. Germany probably put two.
thirds OF that number out of commits
sion, which would have been a high
price to pay even for success. For such
ignominious failure 1t was a terrible
price. especially as the toll included
the German class OF 1918. which. full OF
hope and enthusiasm, dashed under fire
for the first time and now lies rottine
on the slopes Of the California plateau
Just where the charge began, Thai
same deadly automatic French barragt
still hangs ceaselessly over them, max.
ing it Impossible to count the number
of dead or bring in any Of the faller
who may yet live.
"Knock at Wrong Door"
first called on the general command.
ing the particular French army in tina,
sector. He was laconic, going straight
to conclusions. You want to know
what happened?" he asked Why
to make a call, but they knocked al
the wrong door"
That was all which could be gotter
from him. But he gave me permission
to visit certain observatory where
could see for myself.
There I met another general who had
been more Immediately concerned ir
noting the automatic defense" to which
I had been referred. He was more To-
quacious and his information was In
detail. He thrust n tiny kitten off his
them explained that outlying country
30 that. with field glasses. I could visu.
alize the entire operation.
During his talk one thought kept run
ming through my mind: 1t was that our
men should get this intensive training Of
observation Just as quickly as possible
so that they will realize both the i'm
mensity of what is going on and the very
last word in steadiness that the French
army has acquired.
"Straf America"
steadiness is the first quality our men
must get. They must have the steadiness
first 20 to the front lines Germany will
unloose a hell upon them. II possible.
Just as great as that one Tuesday night
Germany asks her Colt to "Straf
Amof1Ka' nOWduhyb, Jubt hS JluCu DE
England. Our boys have got to follow
Marshal Joffre's orders OF the Marine. etc
die where they stand rather than give
way"
My general told mo that in all his ex-
periences he had never seen such an ar.
ttllery destruction as the Germans opened
on his position that evening. 1t came after
a day that had been unusually calm. II
was moro than exploding shells. 1t was q
volcano that caused every living thing
to pass out Of sight in clouds Of smoke
and fire.
But the French general was prepared
for it. He knew the name and number
of every German division and regiment
in front Of him. He knew to nicely
tho number OF days necessary for them
to familiarize themselves with the French
systems. and how long 1t took for their
outposts to study and report on the
French front before them.
3d. as he explained. II calculated they
might attack when they did or at the
latest by tho following evening" He
paused, and then added, my artillery was
waiting for them"
French Guns Bark.
Before he could issue orders to his
long lines of batteries they opened
fire Of their own accord. It was only
a question of a few minutes before
their gun IRE equaled and surpassed
that of the Germans.
The French lines at that point
tx. HA ~ AM, nj