New-York tribune., 1917-07-16
Germans Sweep
Mile of Trenches
North of Aisne
Counter Attacks Wrest
Back All But One-Third
of Positions

London. July l5.-Severe battles be-
gan early last night at two points or
the front held by General Petain',
troops and lasted with continual fuc.-
uation until this morning. Near
Cerny. toward the middle Of the
Chemin- -des-Dames and south of Laon
picked German "shock" troops swept
over the French trenches and held
them, according TO Berlin. over nearly
a mile of front and to depth OF 500
yards. though Paris says the enemy
was expelled from all but 500 yards OF
advanced defences.
In the Champagne the French de-
livered strong thrust between Nauroy
and Moronvilliers, winning, after bit
ter fighting, a network of trenches 800
yards wide and 300 deep, which was
consolidated to-day after hostile re-
actions had been suppressed. Paris
reports $50 prisoners; Berlin, $50.
Meanwhile. along General Haigs
front, the artillery fire has reached a
pitch of unusual intensity. Berlin de
scribes a gun duel of great violence"
on the sand dunes of the Belgian coast
and in the Ypres sector, from Boes-
inghe, above the Flemish city. to
Wytschaete. below it. That the British
intend TO strike in force, probably in
both sectors, is apparent. Ten days
of constant developing bombardment
preceded the assault on the Messines-
Wytschaete Ridge.
U-Boat Bases Aimed At
The Channel coast detectives are Os-
tend and the other Belgian ports
which have been used for submarine
bases. The detectives beyond Ypres
are the important towns OF Roulers, TO
the northeast, and Menin, TO the south
east. British patrols were active last
night. and won small successes south
east Of Havrincourt. near Bullecourt
and Gavrelle and south Of Armen-
there's, while German raid was dis
persed north Of the latter town.
The troops selected by the Crown
Prince for the attack along the Chemln-
des-Dames were carefully chosen. The
infantry regiment OF Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg and other East Prussian
units. as we'll as the 7th Storming Bat
TALON. were employed. Flame throwers
were literally sprinkled through the
assaulting contingents and intense use
was made of liquid fire. The fighting,
according TO Paris, was violent
throughout the night. and advances and
retirements followed in quick success
sion.
At first the Germans swept clear over
the forward trenches and managed TO
force their way into the support gal
leries. but finally they were beaten
back from most of the conquered terri
tory. Berlin mentions desperate re-
sistance" by the poilus.
All Night Struggle
The battle in the Champagne, which
had been expected because of the four
Gay preliminary bombardment. also
was an all night affair. The French
objective was an elaborate fortiticatlon
north of Mont Haut and on the north
east slopes of Mont Teton. According
TO Berlin the first French attack failed,
but second was more successful.
Paris declares the German counter
thrusts were repeated beyond daylight.
though without result Berlin admits
that the French now hold the ground.
The German War Office mentions a
French attack. delivered after artillery
drum fire. against the new enemy posi-
tions on Hill 304, northwest of Nerdun.
and asserts that il was shattered by a
barrage. Paris is silent on this action,
but refers TO spirited patrol activity in
Avocourt Wood. There have lately
teen indications of French pressure
fiom Verdun eastward into Lorraine.