The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-07
FRENCH DELIVER HARD
! BLOW TO GERMAN Line
In Two Days Fighting Along
Chemin-des-Dames Many
Teutons Captured.
FIGHTING FEROCIOUS
Counter Attacks Are Re.
pulsed in Fierce Hand-to-
Hand Encounters.

n Great Headquarters of the French
Armies in France May 6.-From a
staff Correspondent of the Associated
Press.-Not only have the last two
days of fighting along the Chemin-
5000 prisoners to the French, but have
given them positions whence they can
operate on the principal German de-
kfensive line occupying the crest on the
northern side of the Ailette valley.
From Laffaux mill to Craonne, the
entire Chemin- des- Danes, with the
exception of a very small section. is
held firmly by the French, who have
thoroughly organized their gains in
Counter attacks were tried by the Ger
mans last night at many points with
great masses of men, who displayed
the ferocity of despair. but they We're
beaten back again and again. The
nerve of the French troops of all regi-
.neighbor in bravery. was too much
for the Germans. who surrendered in
large bodies. unable to withstand the
French impetuosity.
The French troops advanced so rap
idly that some of the German heavy
artillery could not be removed and was
captured. together with some of their
field artillery. Even the selected SOL
diers of the Prussian guard were I'M
able to stem the advance. They were
brought up in motor lorres when the
other Germans had fallen back, but
all they accomplished was to increase
the bag Of prisoners, which is con-
tinually growing in size. While the
guards were alighting from the lorries.
they were caught under a heavy fire
on the French artillery and suffered
terribly. Men returning from the lines
assert that the number Of Germans
lying on the battle field is greater than
ever seen on one spot during the fight
ing in France.
The correspondent of the Associ-
illtu I-ItSS "dttHttl tltt Dtttle Tie
position. whence the French sent over
to the attack north of Nanteuil-la-
Fosse and Sancy. To the northwest
was I.affanx mill. while to the north
east, Fort MalmaiZon, dismantled be-
fore the war, stood out like square
block on the horizon. In the center
was rAnge Garden, where the Che
min -des- Danes break off from the
Scissors Brussels road.
The battle hereabouts was most in
mill gives the occupants an enfilading
position along the Chemin- des- Danes
and the Ailette. The German resist
ance here reached it's highest point,
but could not prevail against the
powerful blows of the French attack
The Germans countered after the
French had taken their front line, but
We're given blow for blow. the French
eventually wearing down their OPP
ponents. Several ruined farm houses
such as those of Mennsjean. Colombo,
Royere and Epinne de Chevregny, the
latter directly on the Chemin- des-
Danes, We're scenes of fierce engage
ments with hand grenades and bay
! onets. In these the French came out
victOrs.
This morning nearly 50 klometers of
the Chemin- des- Danes were in French
hands.
The correspondent visited the aband-
| oned Fort Condo, from which scissors
was formerly bombarded almost daily
by the Germans. Before they We're
forced out. the Germans exploded 40