OCR Text |
Show GERMAN LOSS ESTIMATED AT NEARLYJ00,G0Q Paris, April 17. Germany auf-fered auf-fered another crushing blow upon tho western front when 40 miles of tho strongest part of her lino woro wrested wrest-ed from her with an estimated loss of nearly 100,000 killed, wounded and prisoners as a result bf the opening open-ing yesterday of tho French offensive. offens-ive. Tho attack began along tho 2C-mllo front from Solssons to Rhelms, extending ex-tending tho great western battle, a distance of close to 1G0 miles, more than one-third of tho mighty lino from Switzerland to the sea. Tho Germans were awaro of whnt was coming as they showed by a number of furious attacks made, notably at Saplgnuel nnd Godat farm with the object of finding out something some-thing definite in regard to the French preparation. Tho Invnders had manned naturally formidable positions posi-tions with effectives amounting to at least 20 divisions and an enormous 1 number of guns, well supplied with munitions, Tho battlo opened on tho loft of the lino where, Bhortly after 8 o'clock In tho morning tho French infantry swept forward in an" Irresistible wave. In spite of a stiff resistance tho Germans wero driven back and Inside of half an hour prisoners bo-gan bo-gan streaming toward tho French rear by hundreds. Tho struggle was hottest east of Lolvro aB well as In tho whole sector of Berry-au-Bac and to tho east of Craonnelle, but the French heavy shells wero to much for tho Germans nnd before noon the whole first lino was won. On tho right tho action began a Httlo later In tho morning. Tho French met with 'n determined resistance re-sistance and tho fighting was terrible. terri-ble. After several hours of homcrlc struggle tho French Infantry, thanks to tho support of several hundred heavy quick firing guns, forced their way into tho enemy's first lino. It was a flno success as the terrain was most difficult and tho positions formidable. |