Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-02


Associated Press, Grand Headquar-
ters Of the French Army on the
French Front, April 30, Even
ing.) The Germans were forced
to engage in battle again today
along a front extending between
six and seven miles TO the eastward
Of Rheims The French attack was
delivered from a short distance south
ward of Bene to Moronviliers. Not
withstanding the difficulties Of the
task confronting them, the French at
the end of the day had won a tacti-
cal victory and captured considerable
territory, although most obstinate
fighting continued on ground strongly
fortified and offering every advantage
TO the defenders.
So fierce was the French advance
that at one period of the day the Ger
mans were compelled to throw into
the line another of the few remaining
divisions of their strategic reserves,
but still could not stay the French
progress.
IncessaDt Shell Fire.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press passed Sunday night on the bat
tlefield observing the artillery prepa-
ration for the shock (which presented
one of the weirdest of sights. Even
the brightly star-lighted sky did not
permit one to observe the outlines of
the objects aimed at but throughout
the night dozens of French batteries,
cleverly concealed, poured out an in
cessant stream of shells against the
German positions and gun stations.
The flashes of fire, when they left the
muzzles looked like sparks caused by
striking flint on steel, while the air
vibrated with the terrific cracks and
shrieks, varying according to their cal
iber as they passed overhead.
Airplanes RecOnnoiter.
Meanwhile, the location of the Ger
man and French front lines could be
defined in consequence of the constant
succession of flares on each side,
which were lighted for the purpose of
observing any possible movement of
the enemy infantry. Overhead could
he heard at low altitude the whir-
ring motors Of German airplanes try
ing vainly to lecate the French bat
tefies.
Numbers of tracing bullets bearing
long tails of light were sent up in Or
der to outline the filters, but the ar
tillery did not fire at them, and the
German airmen, evidently disappoint-
ed over their unsuccessful search for
batteries, went off to lombard the
90
When the French infantry attack
began at 12:40 o'clock today the
French line passed from just north
Of the Roman road near Prunay
through the Bois de La Grille and
along the crests of Carnillet and
Mont Haut to Moronvilliers In the
west and center the French advanced
rapidly, but on the wooded mountain
slopes the fighting was harder and
the Germans counter tackled fire.
quently with fresh troops, at one point
regaining a section they had lost,
only to be driven out of it again
later on.
Take Strategic Position.
The French staff at the close of
the day recorded general gain
amounting to something more than
500 to 1000 yards and this ground
is interlaced with powerfully organ
lied trenches bristling with machine
guns and strengthened here and
there with blockhouses and redoubts.
Possession of this range of crests
by the French menaces the Germans
position at Nogent LAbbesh and
Berru, from which the bombardment
of Rheims cathedral has been carried
out.
The German guns today relaxed in
the punishment Of Rheims in order to |
help defend the German positions
where the French attacked.
A secret order found on the field |
of battle, addressed to the commander |
of the Thirty-ninth German reserve |
brigade, warns German officers that |
the first line must be defended at all |
costs and. If lost, the fighting must |
continue until 1t Is rewon.
Ordered to Hold Line.
Our principle line Of combat" says
the order, lis the first line. This idea
should be anchored in your heads to
the exclusion OF all others"
The order Is signed won sclIussler. =