Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-16
|DEFENSES HALT
LASSIGNY BATTLE
Foe Utilizes Old French
Trenches in Thiescourt
Sector
POILUS CAPTURE RIDGE
BY WALTER DURANTY
Special Gable to Eronirg Public Ledger


Copnrioht. 1918. bv Ncto yorit Times CO.
with the French Armies, Aug. 16.
Tht first phase Of the battle in the
Ihiescourt sector is ended. The French
are now facing the enemy, who holds
strohsly organized positions criss-
crossed by the trenches constructed
by both adversaries in the last three
years To overcome this resistance
IL would be necessary either to smash
the trenches by preliminary bonl-
pardment, long or short, or take them
plecemeaT by grenade attacks. both
proceedings being a reversion to posi-
ton warfare from the recent maneuvef
fighting.
This is stated solely as regards op-
erations on this part of the front
What may happen elsewhere is in the
province Of the high command. The
situation IS influenced at present by
three factors. The first is geograph-
ical, the nature of the ground where
the battle is being fought The sec
ond is the enemy method Of defense.
and. third, the means at the disposal
of the French to reduce it.
On Monday they were confronted by
the Massif Of Thiescourt, covering the
line between Iassigny and Noyon, and
forming an outpost of a greater mas.
sif, from which 1t is separated by the
Divette valley. stretching back north
east of Noyon. It's left flank is GOV.
cred by the position of Canny-sur-
NIatz. where the enemy occupies the
old French trench system. too strong
to be taken, except after its destruc.
ton by artillery. It's right is SINH
larly protected by the Disc and the
wooded heights beyond the river.
But it was impossible for the French
to rest inactive before it. as it gave
the enemy screen whose value for
counter-strokes was even greater, ow-
ing to the number of ravines unreach-
able by artillery, than that Of the VII
ers.Cotteret forest has been to the
Allies.
They accordingly bent their efforts
toward the occupation Of the ridge on
which stands st. Claude Farm, which
! dominates the massif from the south
Just as Plemont hill does from the
north. Once this ridge was firmly in
, French hands the massif was neutral.
| lied. The enemy could no longer use
it for the preparation of counter.at.
| tacks.
On the slopes between Plemont and
! Thiescourt village run lines Of
| trenches elaborated by the French
from the beginning of 1915 until last
years German retreat to the linden
burg line and modernized during the
French occupation between this and,
the June retreat. They form the
enemy's first line OF defense Behind
them is the system of trenches at PIE
| mon. which was the German front
during those two and a half years.
The enemy's defense was disrupted
by the first onslaught, but rallied on
the Thiescourt massif. Orders Of L,I-
dendorff have been found insisting on
the absolute necessity for iron resist.
ance. "The utmost must be demanded
from every man who takes part in
/ the battle" says the general, and he
emphasizes the need Of economizing
men and inflicting the greatest possible
loss on the Allies BY system Of defense
in depth. with an outpos, zone from
| 1000 yards to a mile deep, held by ma.
, chine gunners and backed by a denser
network Of machine-gun positions and
! light artillery, with troops and heavier
| artillery still further In reserve, ready
to intervene wherever danger threat.
ems,