The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-04
In Brilliant Action Haig Ex-
tends Wedge Menacingly
Near Lens-Douai Road
i GERMANS AGAIN
BADLY BATTERED
Prisoners Pouring In, and Many
- Guns Taken in Course of
Days Fierce Fighting on
Twelve-Mile Front

London, May 3.-The British have
pierced the ffiHdenburg tine
Half an hour after the moon had
gone down Sir Douglas Haig's in
fantry legions leaped forth from their
trenches over the parapets this MORN
ing and smashed head on a twelve
mile front---betweeE the region south
of Lens and Croisilles-in the most
crushing drive recorded this year The
Canadians in the fore. they broke
through that wall of flesh and steel
that has been named after the idol OF
the Teutons and upon the tirmness of
which all Germany had pinned its
faith in victory. 4 net work OF
formidable trenches, field works hills
and dugouts fell to their onslaught
and late this evening the Canadians
were firmly established in the village
of Fresnoy. to the southeast of Lens,
and a mile beyond Arleux, where tho
last British thrust had been checked.
At the pistol point" they advanced
mile closer to the Lens-Douai rail-
road capture of which would spell
disaster to the Teutons.
AT the same time the adjoining con-
tingents after an embittered hand-to-
hand battle pressed forward to the
village of Cherisy, storrned across the
Hindenburg line and headed for Rein
court The village of Builcourt also
is reported taken as this dispatch Is
written.
The Berlin war office contented
itself with announcing in today's reg
ular bulletin that new British at
lacks began on a wide front after the
continuous artillery firing had cul-
minated in a vigorous drum FIRE"
Prisoner Pouring In.
Prisoners began to pour in soon at
ter the British had left their trenches
for the resumption of the big push
More German guns were taken. too.
A small army of headquarters at
taches was still engaged in tabuiating
the booty this evening. To say that
the powerful Teuton defense wall
crumbIed like an eggsheN would be
belittling the brilliant successes the
British scored today 1t was the very
nature of the Teuton defense tnat
gave the British victory its stamp OF
utmost importance. On the German
side human life counted for nothing.
denburg's order. Grimly his troops
stuck to their ground until. wounded
or dead. their fallen forms offered
-1ieaping boards TO the tines beyond.
In those lines beyond the same thing
was repeated.
Defenders Numerous.
Thirteen divisions-260.000 men,
had previously battled on this same
1Melxe-nlile- front ying--to--stenl-tha
British avalanche Most of them had
been cut to pieces. The remainder
had been exhausted. But fresh divis-
ions, more and again more. are being
sent into battle with the iron watch
word, THE line must be held They
were not content with throwing them
selves into the teeth of the British
tide of steel They launched forth
in wild massed attacks at those points
where the British did not attack.
near Gavrelle and LOGS. Up to this
evening the Teutons had net gained
an inch. but had lost thousands Of
men.
Airmen Clash.
And while the infantry was locked
in battle airmen fought overhead
throughout the day. All reports from
the front agree that in this field. too,
the British have regained the ascend
ancy. Day by day. they are making
Roadway in putting out the "eyes', OF
the Teuton army. Fifty-fve German
machines have been accounted for In
three days.
Berlin asserted officially today that
eight airplanes and one captive bal
loon were brought down yesterday by
German flyers
General Nivelle also registered new
Roadway today. After breaking up
German attacks in the Champagne. the
French cleaned out nest of Teuton
stra gglers east of Monthaut. taking a19
prisoners. of whom aine were officers.
There was violent cannonadins on the
Ferdun front. interspersed by recon-
noitering raids.