Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-17
MAKE IMPORTANT
GAINS AND TAKE
10000 GERMANS
Violent Battle Rages Be-
tween scissors and
Rheims.
WIN ENEMY POSITIONS
ON 1912 MILE FRONT
Fierce Counterattacks Repulsed,
With Heavy Casualties
to Assaulters.
BRITISH STILL GOING FORWARD
Moment Apparently Approaching for
intensive Battle From Belgium
to Swiss Border.
BRITISH STILL GOING FORWARD
Apparently Approaching for
Intensive Battle From Belgium
to Swiss Border.
fRy Associated Prc,s.l

The French troops in the Departments
Of the Aisne and the Marine have
delivered violent infantry attacl,
against the Germans over from, OF
twenty-five miles and made important
Eains OF terrain and captured more
than 10000 prisoners and large quan-
titles of war material
The battle took place between Sois
sons and Rheims and over "a distance
of eighteen and one half miles from
SoSsons to Craonne the entire German
;irst-linc positions fell into the hands
OF General Nivelle's forces. while east
OF craonnc a Second-line German posi-
tioa south of Juvincourt and another
position on the outskirts of Bermeri-
court running along the Aisnc Canal
10 LoIvre and Courcy also were can
tured Violent counterattacks delivered
by the Germans on several sectors were
repulscd. with heavy casualties to the
attackers.
The artillery for several DAYS had
been violently sheliing the entire re-
sion. and OH Monday. while Britain
activity along the front from Lens to
ST. Quentin had almost ceased owing
10 a heavy rainfall. the French launched
ihei' infantry in an endeavor TO break
through or press back the Germans
.
MIGHT NECESSITATE
FALLING BACK Of GERMANS
The German official communication.
IN briefly referring to the attack. de-
Scribcs il rs great attempt TO break
through with far-distant object"
poSS'oiE meaning that successful
breach OF the German lines here Nigh.
necessitate the falling back by the Ger
IN "a n nj
from Lens 10 Sossons
To the east. in Champacnc violent
artillery activity continues. probably
being the forcrunncr OF an a1,ep,nt IN,
lhc French at drive against the Ger
man lines in this no less important
region.
" 10 the time that the rainstorm
began on Monday afternoon tho Brit
'sh mad captured from the Germans the
Nii!aS" OF Niiicret. southeast Of Harci-
court ana eight miles from St Quentin.
ana also had made additional progress
northwest of Lens During the week
that the British offensive has been 60
ing on Field Marshal sir Douglas
iiaiSs forces have made prisoners ,f
l@.ooo Germans and captured 1914 guns
ana large quantities of war stores.
From the fact that the French troops
'' '>'Sdcc ana Lorraine have renewed
'hcir hGhtinE against the Germans. il
would appear that all along the French
front the moment is approaching for
an intensive battle from EclSium TO the
Swiss border
NO GREAT HATsTLEs
ON ANY OTIIER FRONTS
From none Of the battle fronts. ey-
ccpt that in France. has there come
reports OF any great battles. There
nave been small encounters between.
INC Austro-ticrInan forces and Hussions
on inc eastern front \ Tcutouir allied
attempt against an allied position In
the Ccrna River region of Macedonia
was rcpulScd. In the Austro- Italian
'hcatcr The operations have hccn linn
itcd to patrol encounters, owing to
snowstorms.
IN M"S"potamia the British troopr
operating in the TiSriS- Diala River SEQ
tor have driven the Turks farther back
an" made numerous prisoners
iir'iish airmcu. aided by French avi;,
Tors have carried out for the first time
Inc announced policy of rcprisai issued
hN the British government against the
hospital ships by German submarines.
The town OF Frciburg, Germany. has
been heavily bombed by airmcn. with
good results. according TO "a British
communication.