New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-21
Haig Adds to Bulle-
court Gains South
of Scarpe
Assault on Oppy
And Fresnoy Near
German Attack on
French Line Breaks
Under Barrage'

London, May 20.-Field Marshal Hag
resumed the offensive on the Arras
front to-day on major scale. South
of the Scarpe more than a mile Of the
original Hindenburg line between
Bullecourt and Fontaine-lesCr Croisilles
was wrested from the enemy. The en-
tire day was consumed in what the
War Office officially describes rs "ferce
fighting" which still continues In favor
Of the British.
Meanwhile the British batteries are
maintaining the drum fire which began
yesterday clear across the Scarpe VAL
/ ley and northward to Acheville. A
final assault on the shattered Oppy line
is almost sure to follow, with Haigs
battaions driving forward on Oppy and
Fresnoy. Il is apparent that the Brit
ish have reacted from the recent period
OF massed German counter attacks and
are prepared once more to push upon
Douai with the full strength Of their
reserves.
To-day's capture Of Hindenbura
trenches so breaks up what remained
o. the Hindenburg line before the Brit
ish positions that the Germans can
no longer rely upon 1t as q serious de-
fence system anywhere north OF
Queant. Indeed. the British Official
bulletin is so worded that Haig'5 forces
may be in possession Of Fontaine-les-
Croisilles, which, according to the lat
/ est battle maps, was an undefended
town. At ali events, it must soon fall,
as no improvised defence could protect
it against the present British attack.
Gains Link Up with BuIlecourt
The original Hindenburg line ran
from Queant, where it joins the Wotan
line, northwestward through Bulle-
court, past Fontaine a little to the
westward and into Heninel. The previ-
Gus British sweep had absorbed it al
NEST as far south as Fontaine. II is
now practically obliterated. except for
small, isolated sections easily hanked.
Evidently days British gains link
up with Bullecourt, which Haigs forces
won after two weeks of costly combat
Below Bullecourt and toward Queant,
which is less than two miles away, the
British also have q firm grip on an ex-
tended section of the Hindenburg line.
This means that south of the Scarpe
River as far as Queant the Germans
have nothing to interpose between the
British and the Wotan line, running
north to Drocourt, except hastily erect
ed field works. North Of the river
their situation is little better, for
they still hold Oppy and Fresnoy, but
Haig's victories at Roeux, Gavreilc and
Arleux ere threatening even this. A
German retreat to the Queant- -Drocourt
or Wotsn, line, the last iefence system
before Douai, seems almost inevitable.
And Douai, the British objective, is the
northern pier on which Hindenburg's
whole defence system in France is
swung.
The British operations remain fluid.
Evidently the German counter thrusts
failed to crystallize the battle into q
deadlock. But on the French front this
is exactly what they are trying to do.
To-day they began heavy attack on
the French positions along the Chemin-
! des-Dames, but under the French bar
rage it dwindled into a minor success,
with the capture OF 200 metres Of
: trench northeast Of Cerny.
Drumfre Preceded Assault
The assault was preceded by drum.
fire of heavy shells and asphyxiatIng
projectles. but the French return bonn
bardment proved so effective that at
most points the Crown Princes infan.
try coold not leave their trenches.
Last night the Germans also attacked
at La Bovelle, on the Chemin- -des-
Danes, but were readily repulsed. At
the western end of the long plateau
| gion Of Laffaux Mill and seized several
sections of hostile trench.
! Berlin announces that this attack
]
/ clares that the British attacks south
of the Scsrpc were repulsed, as we'll as
assaults on both sides of Monchy last
night. 1t testiies, however, to the
completeness Of the British prepara-
ton, which rose into bombardment
Of extraordinary volume over the fif-
teen-mile front from Quesnt to Ache.
| vile.
Correspondents at the front declare
that the German reply fire during the
last few days has been nervous and
spasmodic. This uneasiness was also
exhibited in attempted raids from Ar
mentieres to ST. Quentin and by off,
GERS suddenly appearing at vantage
points behind the enemy lines and
eagerly studying the British positions.
What infantry activities have developed
, among the Germans in the four days
Of comparative lull previous 10 the
British blow OF to-day were feeble and
easily dealt with by Haig's artillery.
This tends 10 confirm reports that the
Germans are really beginning to feel
the effect Of their heavy sacrifices Of