Show ANN ANNIVERSARY TODAY'S RY On ra l May 16 1917 the Germans in ina a determined effort to secure the initiative launched a powerful at attack attack at- at tack lack on a front of two and a half hal miles mlles n northeast of oC Soi Soissons ons They attempted to break through the French lines north and northwest northwest north north- west est of oC Laffaux Mill where the French seriously threatened the hole v German position as far north as La Fere So huge were vere the ma masses es of troops thrown by the Germans against the French lines that at t several sev- sev veral v- v eral points the French were ere driven back by sheer eer force of oC numb numbers rs but counter-attacks counter immediately or organized organized organized or- or enabled them to regain lost ground The following day the Germans hammered awa away at the counterattacks counter at i La tacks especially on the Chemin des Dames As one correspondent de describes describes describes de- de scribes the situation The French advance M was as desperately desperately des des- opposed from th the first and It has been p possible to extend it only slightly but the chief end has been fully attained The tide of the German German Ger Ger- man miran a assault ault swells up splashes hes over o overa J a piece of trench hers here or there is broken and In its ebb l leaves es a tc terrible human wreckage to mark one more failure IU |