Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-07
Wanted Prussian
Guard are Overwhelmed,
Slain or Taken Prisoners
When They are Rushed in
Motors to Front to Check
Onrush of the Impetuous
French Victors Beyond
Craonne.

Headquarters Of the French Armies
in France, May 7.-(From a staff cor
respondent Of the Associated Press. y
Not only have the last two days Of
fighting along the Chemin-D es-Dames
delivered more than 5000 prisoners to
the French, but have given them po-
sitions whence they car operate on
tho principal German defensive line
occupying the crest on the northern
side Of the Ailette valley.
From Laffaux Mill to Craonne the
entire OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES with the
exception Of a very small section is
held firmly by the French who have
thoroughly organized their gains in
defiance Of all the efforts to Dust
them. Counter attacks were tried by
the Germans last night at many
points with great masses Of men who
displayed the ferocity Of despair, but
they were beaten back again and
again. The nerve of the French troops
OF all regiments. each M Of which
emulates its neighbor in bravery, wa
too much for the Germans who sur
rendered in large bodies unable to
Withstand the French impetuousity,
The French troops advanced so
rapidly that some of the German
heavy artillery could not be removed
and was captured together with some
Of their field artillery.
Even the selected soldiers Of the
Prussian Guard were unable to stem
the advance. They were brought up In
motor lorries when the other Germans
mad fallen back, but all they accomp-
lished was to increase the bag Of pris-
oners which is continually growing in
size. While the Guards were alight-
Ing from the lorries they we're caught
under a heavy fire of the French ar
tillery and suffered terribly.
Men returning from the lines assert
that the number of German lead w.
Ing on the battlefield is greater than
ever seen on one spot during the
fighting, in France
The correspondent of the Associat-
ed Press watched the battle from the
position whence the French went over
to the attack north of Nanteuil-La
Fosse and Sancy. To the northwest
was Faffaux Mill while to the north
east Fort Maln1aison. dismantled be-
fore the war. stood out like a square
block on the horizon. In the center
was L'Ange Garden, where the
Chemin-Des-Dames breaks off from
the soissons-Brussel road.
The battle hereabouts was most in
teresttng as the possession Of Laffaux
Mill gives the occupants an. %enf1lading
position along the Chemin-D es- Danes
and the Ailette. The German resist
ence here reached its highest point
but could not prevail against The pow
or Of tho blows Of the French attack.
The Germans countered after the
French had taken their front line but
were given blow for blow, the French
eventually wearing down their oppon-
ente. Several ruined farm houses such
az those Of Mennsjean, Colombo, Roy
orr Epinne-De-Chevregny, the
latter directly on tho Chemin-Des-
Danes were scenes of fierce engage
ments with hand grenades and bay
onets. In these the French came out
v1ctors.
BY morning nearly 80 kilometres
Of Chemin-Des-Dames were in
French hands.
The correspondent visited the aban-
doned Fort Condo from which sois-
sons was formerly bombarded almost
daily by the Germans. Before they
were forced out the Germans exploded
40 tons OF powder in an effort to de-
stroy the structure and laid mines ;as
traps for the French. One electric
fuse was found. but German prison