South Bend news-times., 1917-07-24

/ GRAND HEADO IA RTEES OF
THE FRENC ARMY IN
FRANCE. July 22 CNIidnight) The
watch word of the French troops at
Yerdun-"They shall not pass''-has
applied equally TO the Champagne.
and the French sunday showed the
crown princes army that the Cnem-
in les Danes was a closed road TO
them.
on Sunday morning the Germans
made in great force their fourth at
tempt since the French captured
CraOnne on May 10 secure posses-
sion of the famous road. This effort
was one of the biggest of offensive
movements they had made since
Verdun, so far as artillery was con
cerned. and proved an undOubted
failure.
Deluge Of shells.
Four o'clock was striking when a.
terrific bOmbardment was opened
along the front extending from just
west Of Cerny to Berry-au-B The
front lines and rear positions and
all the roads leading thereto were
deluged with shells both great and
small. as well as asphyXiating pro-
5ectiles.
At o'clock the German infantry
started from their trenches. The
greatest concentrations advanced be-
tween Hustebise and Classmates pla-
teau and between Classmates and
California plateau. where it was ev-
identity hoped to rush Craonne The
correspondent was posted where he
could observe the entire battle along
the crest which stood out in the
clearest atmosphere, but rolling
along il and over il were dense
clouds of black. brown, grey and
white smoke, from tens of thousands
of shells.
French Gunners Open Up.
To was known that the Prussian
guards and several other disvisions
faced the French positions while
other fresh troops were hurrying
across the AIette valley from the
north The French guns did not re-
main long mute, but answered shot
for shot ana when the German re
endorsements we're observed ap-
preaching they poured a hurricane
of prOjeCtiles directly into them.
creating great confusion ana caus-
ing heavy losses.
Rife and machine gun fire began
cracking while the trench mOrtars
hurled torpedoes and the rife gren-
adiers opened a wicked barraEe fire
as soon as the Germans. who had
been awaiting the pre-arranged sig
nal 20 spring forward. began 10
leave their jumping of parallels.
Melt Before Fire.
German shock units as usual led
the way. followed by waves of or
binary infantry. who were 20 occupy
and organize any ground captured.
In the sector from Hurtebise 10
Classmates plateau the attackins
forces soon melted 10 a thin line un-
der the witherinE French fire which
met them, and those still able re-
treated hurriedly 10 their OWE line.
which meanwhile came under an in
ferno of French shell fire that must
have maze the German trenches al
most untenahle.
In the same period. from Case
mates 10 California plateau. other
German troops were suffering heav-
ily under similar conditions. But
several times here they gained
small portions Of the French front.
although nowhere did they reach
the crest itself
Germans Refuse TO Charge.
Where their line bent momentar-
uy the French troops organized i'm
mediate counter attacks and recon
Qucred nearly everything tempor-
ariIy taken from them. \ French
captain who fell wounded early in
the day and was captured by the
Germans, was later rescued by his
own men when the Germans We're
furced back He affirmed that Ge~-
man soldiers among whom he lay
declared that several waves OF GER
man troops. when ordered 20 go
over the top. refused TO venture into
/ the terrific fire which swept away
pthing in the open.
Aviators were 3usy thToushout
the day and some times the SKY was