New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-08

London, May while General
Nivelle's troops were heavily occupied
to-day maintaining their conquered
positions on the Craonne Plateau,
General Haig's forces to the north
ward struck a blow to widen the
breach in the old Hindenburg line
made last Thursday below the village
Of Bullecourt.
The official report declares that the
British positions east Of Bullecourt
were improved and that progress was
made westward toward the village.
But correspondents at the front assert
that not only have British soldiers en-
tered the town at one place, but have
sealed it on all sides except the north.
One observer announces that the
Australians, who carried out this en-
circling movement, are pressing on
toward Riencourt.
The French announcement Of total
capture of twenty-nine thousand
prisoners since the beginning Of
their offensive on April 16 indicates
that there will be a pause on the Aisne
front for q consolidation of positions,
while the British take up the brunt Of
the fighting in the rhythmic warfare"
instituted by the Allied command TO
turn the Germans out of the two piers
of the Hindenburg line e-Douai and
Laon-or destroy the Kaiser's army.
Village Straddles Line
ri -. &c oo,oo &c +Lo baa,,, To,htin q,
in and around Bullecourt lies in the
fact that not only does the village it
self stradde the original Hindenburg
line, the front trench and two systems
of support trenches being within the
town limits, but that it lies almost
at the junction Of the old line with the
emergency system which is still under
construction from Queant northward to
Drocourt. The British are firmly es-
tablished in the network of German
trenches south of the village, and if
they could extend the wedge at its
base and strike eastward but a little
distance, they would create a double
rupture in two lines Of the German de-
fence, unhinge the whole Hindenburg
system on this front and be in a posi-
tion to force a German retirement on
Douai
On the British front the secondary
line of German defence is known as
the Wotan line. On the French front
il is known as the Siegfried line. By
the French victories northeast of Sois-
sons from LaFaux Mill along the
Chemin- des-Dames to Craonne they are
brought directly against this line.
which protects Laon from the west and
south. One of the correspondents
states that if the French can now take
Allemant and Pinon. toward Laon, they
will outhank the whole line running
northward 10 St. Quentin. On the
other corner of the angle which they
have crushed out north of Fort Conde.
he declares that toward Filain Nivelle's
troops can scarcely be prevented from
reaching the Aillette River, where it
turns westward. and the Oise Canal.
In this region the Germans attacked
strongly last night and this morning.
the assault extending, with breaks, all
along the Chemin- Danes Ridge to
Craonne. Paris reports that they were
unable to regain ground anywhere and
were moved down in masses" though
four fresh regiments were thrown into
the operations. On the other hard an
isolated French attack enabled General
Nivele to extend his gain around Sap
igneul and bring in 100 prisoners.
The German account of the battle
along the Aisne continues to give the
impression of a crushing French de-
feat. At the Winterburg the fighting
is said 10 have fuctuated all day, the
Germans finally retaking the north
slope. In this region 726 French pris
oners and nine officers, it is declared,
were taken in the last two days.
Six German machines were brought
down by the British yesterday, and an
other damaged. while three of their
own are missing. Berlin maintains
that fourteen Allied planes were de-
stroyed.
Official Wdr statements and ne7cs
of the battiefrOnts on page I.