The Washington herald., 1917-06-25
GERMANS SLOW
TO BEGIN DRIVE
Looked-for Hindenburg Of
fensive IN West Fails
to Materialize.
CBy International New. seryice.l

CBy International News serviee.)
London. June "a. - II Hindenburg
really plans a big counter drive
against the French, as all military
critics here now believe he does. he
Is extremely slow about starting 1t.
Yesterday signs hared up Of a con-
eerted offensive along the whole forty
mile front above the Aisne and in the
Champagne. But the terrific drum
fire alternating with Infantry on
slaughts in nearly all the vital sectors,
proved only a flash In the pan.
The last twenty-four hours gain
saw only local fighting. There is
strong probability that the Teuton
high command wants to see first what
Sir Douglas Haig has up his sleeves" I"
But that postmaster Of surprise
tactics is cleverly concealing his
hand Raids are the only thing re-
ported from British headquarters. As
II peeved by his. to them. irritating
calm. which may be the proverbial
calm before the storm, the Germans
got their heavy guns into action
against the British today around
-CroisilLes and Messines.
The atmosphere is surcharged with
forebodings Of big happenings in the
west 1t SENS now a question as to
who will loose his patience first,
Hindenburg, Haig or Petain.
As to the local fighting on the
Franco-German front, both Paris and
Berlin reported successes today.
The Germans were fofled in an at
tempt to hit the French center on the
Laon-Rheims front, to the south of
Juyincourt. There lies the formida BILE
Conde, that fell to the French in the
April drive. The crown prince Is
burning to get it back and use 1t as
a jumping board toward the railway
also as a -fanking menace to the
French in Craonne.
His guns of all calibers began to
howl a gruesome Sabbath chorus early
this morning. 1t was stopped IN the
middle of the first verse. For the
French seventy-fives, concentrated be-
low Juvincourt for just such an en-
ergency thundered back true TO form.
They were too much for the Krupps
Troops that had been massing in the
German trenches were saved from
death by their own officers. The order
for attack was rescinded.
A local Teuton assault near Mont
Carnilet, in the Champagne was
''easily repulsed," Paris reports. In
!. the direction Of Auberive, the eastern
most point of the Champagne front,
: French scouts darted into the Ger
l.pan lines. did some effective bayonet
work and returned with. prisoners.
That is the French side Of the story.
From Berlin came a different version.
claiming that the Teuton IRE forced
the French to give up the terrain they
took to the east Of Mont Carnilet be-
tween June IS and q. Otherwise the
German statement reports only
artillery activity.
Berlin Claims Gain.
Berlin, via London, June 2L-Today's
German war Office statement says that
concentrated German artillery has
forced the French to evacuate the
ground cauptred June Is to p to the
CdGL OL aAOAlA OdI III Lllt OndLAA-
payne. All along the Aisne front spir-
tied artillery fighting continues, tho
statement adds. The artillery has
been equally active on the Anglo
German front, near Warneton and to
the south Of the Scarpe.
French RetaIIate.
London, June 24.-In a brilliant sur
prise charge, the French today crush
ed in a German salient in their line
near MOisey farm, to the east of
Eauxaulon. They thus offset the re-
serse suffered a few days ago at the
hands of the German crown princes
:shOckers.
The British night reports tell of the
ArepUlse Of German raids southeast of
Gavrelle and southeast of Armen-
tiers, and again makes special men
tion Of the violent German lombard
ment at various important sectors,
notably around Messines.