The evening world., 1917-04-21
HA|G WINS HOT BATTLE
ALONG CAMBRIA FRONT;
. GAINS MADE BY FRENCH
CONTINUED from First Page)

forces on in their greatest victory in
general offensive since the war began.
IL was the same strategic superior
ity that enabled tho French TO force
the Germans acceptance OF the
ground previously chosen by the
French a. tho site OF the battle OF
the Marne. In the same fashion, the
French forced the Germans TO accept
the site of the present battle OF the
Aisno-on ground carefully selected
by the French strntcgists from Sois-
$, - TO Auberivc.
IlindenburG's strategic retreat"
was for the purpose of forcing tho
French TO accept battle on ground
which tho German stuft had chosen
before the IIindenburg line. That
strategy has now failed. The French
did not choose IIlndenburg's line as
the main point OF their offensive,
Likewise all the wanton destruc-
tion in the pathway of the German
retreat--all the razlng OF trees. farms
and villages-done to interfere with
the Allies advance. has now proved
utterly useless as military step and
completely unjustiflable.
The Battle Of the Aisne Is now In
It's sixth day. 1t will likely continue
for weeks before n decisive moment
Is reached. according 10 the general
impression among strategists at the
front.
Along the forty odd miles of hght-
tions whore the topography OF the
country makes three natural divi-
sions. To the left Is the section from
Scissors 10 Craonne, tho centre lies
between Craonne and Rheims, and
the right Is between Rheims and
Auberlve.
Information obtalnable to-day was
that these divisions are likely to un-
dergo notifications, with tho possi-
bllity always OF a great extension OF
tho front
To-day the battle Is raging every
where along the three divisions with
incredible fury. Tho great struggle
subdivides itself into numerous
smaller engagements. They may
seem meaningless little or big clashes
but every ono OF them tend TO n
common objective fixed long before
hand.
Scarcely an hour Of the day or
night does not witness at some point
either an attack or the rcpulse OF a
| II. -.
dicated by a sudden rise to terrific
intensity of the ceaseless artillery roll
along fronts of one, two, three or
more miles.
Although these battles arc furious
In their intensity, only the artillery Is
usually visible as the sign of the
conflict-because the infantry fights
its way forward under the cover OF
! forests, ravines and valleys or slips
through former German trenches.
The ability Of the French to bonn
bard without limit any point, at any
time, is what permits the absolute
\ certainty OF an advance, Such a
| concentration of fire as the French
pour In where they want 1t, completely
wipes out every defensive device
known TO German genius or con-
structed by German labor since 1914
| But II the actual fighting battle
front does not reveal the presence OF
troops Immediately to the rear, there
is everywhere visible a titanic con-
centration Of men, munitions and
material. The valleys, woods and
ravines are filled with cavalry tn
fantry hitched batteries, munition
! trains, automobiles, trucks, cannon
ali either advancing or awaiting the
word to dash TO the front. There Is
movement everywhere.