New Britain herald., 1917-04-19
French Have Whip Hand.

Paris, ApT1l 1V.-Tn4t SeCuOn or Won Hindenburg's granite wall which runs from Soissons to Rheims has been shaken to its foundation, by the terrific blows of General Nivelle. The French have tho whip hand now from, the great rebu6 dealt to them on Monday. The Ef@nch soldiers who won the ,nrst Ine have been re- heved by frosh formations end the second phase of the battle has begun with renewed vigor.
 Unaffected by counter attacks in some places and the sturdy resistance offered everywhere, the French have 1zained substantial advantages and have driven forward with such speed that the Germans have been obliged to abandon many guns. The enemy -made q desperate effort to stem the tide between Juvincourt and Berry au-Bac. This is the weakest point of < his line, being devoid of natural de- lenses Thirty thousand of the best Herman troops were hurled forward ! here in a furious attack but the move had been foreseen and the French guns were ready. Artillery and ma chine guns smashed wave after wave of the green-clad soldiers until finally the attempt was given up after awful carnage.
 German Tacticians Outclassed.
 In the fighting from Soissons to Auberive the French infantry tactic- ally Outclassed the Germans. The first army, operating from Soissons to Craonne, had established itself on Monday night along the front running from northeast of Margival and Vauxaillont to the south of Craonne. by vregny, Chivres. Chavonne, Chivy and Allies. North of tho Chivres- , Chicy line the enemy retained all the heights and a footing had to be won there on or before the operation. so .s auspiciously begun, could be properly w completed.
 Two similar attacks were decided upon, which Nanteuil-La-Foss on the left and Chivy and Braye-en-Laonnois on the right as the respective obJec- lives. The attacks succeeded here. ' notwithstanding the decided resistance of the enemy who had all the advan- tages of the ground. Driven out of Naneuil and Braye, the Germans nev- ertheless still chung to the intermedi- ate positions comprising Vailly and the important bridgehead on the Aisne by which they could threaten the French Hanks.
 The movement was then extended to the bridgehead, which was soon car ried, and the attacking troops scaled the slope of the plateau north of vailly They advanced rapidly as far as Roge Maisson farm and 8 country house to the right. gaining severa hnndred yards on the summit of the plateau Substantial progress was made east of Nanteuil and by the af. ternoon only one narrow gap was left through which the Germans could withdraw the troops in the region ol Condo and Sancy. These detachment: are in serious danger of capture.
 The violence of the French attacl threw the enemy into such disorder that he was unable to bring up re serves quickly enough and conse r qucntly lost several guns. Toward the end of the, day the French mad, further progress between the platea, of Vailly and Braye. all villages sout1 of the famous Chemines Danes bein( taken.
 1SO Machine Guns i'm Booty.
 The advance toward Courtecon dur ing the last three days has been ever greater and amounts to more thar three miles in depth. In the cente
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