The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-17
STRATEGY WINS
French Feigned Defeat, Then
Launch Surprise Attack.
Germans Retaliate With Fierc-
est Bombardment of War.
BY HENRY WOOD.

With the French Armies in the
Field, July 1.-THE most terrific
bombardment Germany has yet con-
centrated against Nthe French lines
was massed last Saturday night in
desperate attempt to force back Cen
eral Petain's troops from new posi-
tions around Moronvilliers crest,
which they had won by a new style
Of surprise attack.
Today, with the consultations of
the French lines effected in subse-
quent fighting, the French grip on
vise-like hold. In fury for this en-
closing pressure, the Germans Satur-
day night shelled several villages in
Champagne, five or six miles from
the front. 1t seemed as tho this fire
was solely to vent German rage at the
French success. The shells fell in
many villages where Red Cross am
balances were stationed, including a
section of the American ambulance
corps, waiting to go to the frol,t for
wounded. ZAll the Americans escaped
unframed.
Had Rehearsed Part.
The Champagne struggle began
early in the week with extensive prep
arations for attack by the Germans.
The French defenders We're fully ap-
prised of these preliminaries. They
saw construction of a new trench from
which the German attack was des-
tined to start. They knew that three
rev divisions approximately $4,000
men), including the Seventy-fourth
Hanover regiment, had been brought
up into the line. The Hanoverians
We're to bear the brunt of the assault.
They knew these attacking troops had
been rehearsed back of the line for
the lslrt they were to play in the
struggle.
Then the French began prepara-
tions of their own for attack. For
three days the French artillery roared
out preparatory fire. Late Saturday
evening this preparation decreased.
the French purposely timed the slack
enlng fire to deceive the Germans into
thinking an attack was imminent But
the usual attacking hours passed
Along towards 1870 the Germans he
gan to figure that there was no as
sault coming. The enemy hauled down
their observation sausage balloons an
parently convinced that the day was
ending TRANQUILITY.
Suddenly at 7:45 the French re-
opened redoubled artillery bornba rd-
ment. Almost simultaneously the
french infantry leaped out of their
trenches.
French Already Had Won.
Across the line the Germans tried
hastily to shoot up their observation
sausages in an endeavor to find out
what was happening. But before the
balloons could reach heights sufficient
for observation, the French had won
their victory. Poilus held the tops of
Doth Monts Teton and Haul, exactly
the detectives planned for them.
Within less than five minutes the Ger
mans, with the gigantic artillery con-
centration which they had massed for
their abortive attack, opened the most
terrific bofnbardment 1 have yet wit
messed anywhere along the French
'front.'. The submits of both Haut and
Teton were quickly enveloped in
seething smoke. The sides were a liy-
ing furnace of burning grenades. in
| cendiary shells, exploding munitions
| caches and flaming material general
| ly.
| Into this literal furnace the Ger
mans launched their counter-attacks.
! The desperate character of the fight
| ing which ensued was apparent from
] the countless rockets that famed into
| the skies. French and German troops
| both sent them up, signalling advances
and retreats, calls for lengthening or
shortening of the barrage fire, a
change in artillery ranges and other
fluctuations of the battle. Night fell
| on this scene but the darkness was
| hardly noticed in the flaming of the
| rockets and the explosions. 1t was
as light as day
Germans Finally Give Up.
The Germans finally give it up
They let the French hold on tight to
! their gains. Before morning, the
| Poilus had consolidated their new
positions and gripped still tighter
their hold on the Moronyilliers crest
dominating the entire Champagne
| front.
r. n rssuo- - 0-a0