Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-06
FRENCH CONTINUE
BRILLIANT DRIVE
TOWARD A|LETTE
Angle in Line in Front Of
LaffauN Straight
cncd Out.
ADVANCE MADE ON FRONT
OF NEARLY FOUR MILES
All High Land Between Carny
and Craonnc Held by
Nivclle's Men. 80.
1900 PRISONERS CAPTURED
German Resistance. Though Of Most
Desperate Character, Is +s
Unayailing.
1900 PRISONERS CAPTURED
German Resistance, Though of Most
Desperate Character, Is t-s
Unayailing,
rBy Associated Press. I

rRy Associated Prcssl 80
With the strong fortress of Laon as
their objective French troops continue
their brilliant advance toward the
Ailcttc River from the heights above
the .\isne. northeast of Soissons.
The angle in the French line in front
of Laffaux has been Strengthened out
by an advance along front OF nearly
four miles on the road from Soissons
TO Laon. Further east all the high
land between Ccrny and Craonnc, a
distance OF six miles, and the hills
dominating the valley of the Ailette,
are in the possession of General Nj /
velic'S men.
The German resistance is declared 10
have hcen Of most desperate char
actcr but the French maintained their
advances, and in addition to inhicting
heavy losses on the Germans, took more
than 1900 prisoners Saturday. The
total OF prisoners taken during the J.
operations in the same territory son
Friday was LOCO, making tho total
for the two days offensive more than
$500
In the operations about Laffaux. the
French carried salient in the Hinden-
burg line. Of which Laon. twelve mtles
TO the northeast. is the strongest point
In this territory. From Cerny to the
.Atictte River is three miles, and Laon
lies about six miles directly north OF
the Ailcttc.
FRENCH OFFENSIVE
BEGAN on APRILrds
The French offensive north of the
.Aisne began on April 16, and after
days of desperate fighting and rIsr2 tid- 4
vance of from two to five miles against
strong German resistance, the French
reached the limo of the Chemin-des-
DANES, and captured more than $4,000
prisoners The German losses in the
FIRST week OF the French offensive on
the .Aisne and Champagne fronts were
estimated at 100000 killed. wounded
and prisoners. ,a,-.- 49, Fl
The advances on Friday and Satur-
day continue the work begun In m
April, and give the French a grip on
the Siegfried position of the Hinden-
burg line in the laon region. s
In Northern France. in the region
OF Arras. intensive lighting has oc-
Cured around Bullecourt, but for the
most part the British and Gernans
have been engaged in artillery duels,
RepulsinE German counterattacRst at
numerous points along the Hindeuburg
line. all the way from Fresnoy south
ward to the southern corner OF thu
line at Laon. and further eastward to-.
ward the Champagne district, the Brit
iSh and French troops in France are
holding the majority OF the positions.
they gained in desperate fighting OF tile
last week and are making some small
progress in the face of desperate re.
siStancc. n
AssAuIk BREAKS DOWN
UNDER HEAVY FIRE
Some Of the German attacks wcre
broken up by artillery, and others were
driven of after hand to-hand infantry
fighting. One OF the most violent Ger
man attempts to recover lost ground
was III ali assault on tho village of
Craonne, and the positions near II, @
which were taken by the French on !.
the previous day, but the assault broke
down under heavy fire, which inflicted
great losses on the Germans
Progress was made by the French
cast of Mont Carnilet and by the Brit
ish north of Havrincourt wood
Bullccourt continues to be center
of most intense battle. with alternate
advance and retirement on both sides
South nf that point tho British have &
bombed their way into German trenches
of ihe lIindcnhurg switch. in the direc- &
tion Of Qucant. This pcnctra ton Isl
regarded as OF great tactical siEnif!
cancc. ''1s'SH
ARTILLERY lighting is intensive along
the Aisnc front.