The sun., 1917-04-20
GERMANS FAIL
TO STOP DRIVE
Army Reinforced by 2lO,-
600 Men Hurled Back
by the French.
PRISONERS NOW 1900
Nivclle's Troops Storm I'M
pOrtant Heights and Take
Three Villages.


LoNpoN. April 1e.--Cien. Nivelle's big
offensive against the left flank OF the
Hindenburg line, now in its fourth day
shows no sign of slaokening. Wherever
the French attacked to-day they pushed
back the Germans. at one point more
than a mile. Many important positions
fell into their hands.
The toll of prisoners was increased
almost to $4,000. and the number OF
captured guns to nearly 100. Although
the Germans brought up 100000 fresh
troops aud delivered four counter at
tacks. they were unable to stop the
French advance or to recover single
lost position.
All along the sixty mile front from
scissors to Auberive the French con-
tinucd to deliver attacks last night and
this morning The most important prog
rcss was made in the Champagne
region. where many more dominating
height positions were stormed.
Germans Yield Three Villages.
In the region directly south Of Laon
the French had practically pocketed
German force north of Nailly, which was
taken Yesterday. French advances east
and west had put the Germans in
position where their only alternative was
to retreat or be surrounded. They
retreated. giving up almost without fir
ing a shot the villages Of .Aisy, Jouy and
l.affaux as well as Fort de Conde on
the Aisne northeast of scissors. This
fort was part of the old French defence
system protecting scissors and joining
the forts of Laon with the forts OF
Rheims
In this whole region from Soissons to
Craonne the Germans are executing
slow hut pcrceptible retirement toward
the broad Chemin des Danes. During
the night thc French pushed after them,
though the Germans made two counter
attacks to hold them back. The most
violent was made on the Nauclcrc pla-
teau northwest OF Craonnc The Ger
mans were moved down by the French
fire and the attack was futile.
Plateau Under Fire.
In Champagne the French mace great
progress in the attack on the massif. or
wooded plateau OF MOronvilliers, north
west OF Aubcrive. which the artillery 10
furously hombarding in preparation for
great strength and dominates the whole
region Immediately east of Rheims. he
ing considerably hfoher than any sur
rounding ground for miles.
During the night the French carried
out a successful attack near MoronvN-
licrs. in which they stormed heights OF
Importance secondary only To the massf
itself. Mont Haut and a row of heights
eastward. including Hill 227. one Of the
/ III. tl,A Hi,a, tnn
were taken.
After n short rest the French went to
tie attack again this morning and made
| SIN further progress near Mororvill'ers.
A strongly organized eystem Of German
trenches which Joined Moronvill!erS wooi
and Auherive was captured and the Ger
( mans were throwu back TO the outskirts
! Of Naudes!ncourt, only two miles from
| the railway that was the French objec-
/ tive In the Champagne offensive Of 1918
French Hold Gains.
, The Germans counter attacked in
| Champagne also. They tried twice to
drive the French off Mont Haut and
! Mont Carnillet. previously taken. Here
. again they failed to attain their object.
This contrasts with the German an
: rounccrnent that ''in Champagne our
J counter attacks compensated for the
/ enemy gain of terrain northwest OF
: Auherive."
/ In fact, the German official statement
! to-day makes tho admission that near
/ Ville-au-B Bois. southeast of craonne, "the
/ forest position became unsuitable to us
! and we establ shed ourselves in a rear
ward line" This forest position s the
! one in which the French surrounded
/ 1900 Germans Yesterday. The Germans
surrendered with lS0 machine guns.
The French troops which won the firs,
line positions in the big attacks OF Mon
day and Tuesday have been relieved by
fresh troops and the second phase OF the
battle has begun with renewed vigor. II
has been showing. hailIng or raining
practically all Of every day. but the
/ French cheerfully carry out what seen
, impossible tasks soaked and chilled ant
| fighting in sticky mud.
German Positions strong.
Correspondents at the front des,rib,
the battlefield as offering every facility
to the defence and every difficulty to tho
attack. The whole front is on GROUND
broken by hills and forests irregular
and rough. where the Germans had ma
ture as well as fortific2tions to aiC
them.
\ correspondent watched the prog
rcSS Of one part OF the battle east o
Rheims where the fighting was NJ mos
trying nature. The French advanced
beyond a hill known as Mount Wthou
a Name. They had been for more thai
two years on the edge of plain com
manded by n range of low, wooded hill
on which the Germans were firmly es
tablshci Yet the French advance,
across this ground and drove the enem.
from most o: the opposite slopes
II is now indicated that the British
while adjusting themselves to their ney
positions and waiting for clear weather
intend Ia force the Germans from Len
by development rather than by fronta
attack. More of the German trenche
southeast OF Loos, near Hill 20. wer
taken to-day.
British Strengthen Hold.
TIE British also made progress east q
FampouS. along the Scarpe Valley, con
tinuing yesterdays movement, and mad
, their position in Monchy-le-Preux. tn
important ridge position south Of tn
Scarpe n little stronger. Tho British hav
now taken 22S cannon, which added I
the French total OF guns and men ca y