OCR Text |
Show GERMAN LINES I Great Numbers of Dead Found H in Trenches Torn Up by Shell Fire. IH FURTHER GAINS MADE H Serious Losses Inflicted ' on H Germans in Alsatian Plain IH - Prisoners Taken. IH PARIS, April 16, noon. The French penetrated the German second line IH last night at several points in Alsace. H The war office reports that great M numbers of German dead were found in the trenches which had been torn H up by the French shell fire- M Prisoners and booty were brought H back by the French. Further gains were made by French H troops south of the Oise. I There was heavy artillery fighting H during the night in Alsace, Lorraine, H i The Champagne, in the region of IH ; Soissons and Rheims and south of the IH jOise. Between Soissons and Rheims the shell fire was particularly severe. H The statement follows: M "Between St. Quentin and the Olse H we continued to direct a destructive M fire at the defenses of the Germans H who replied vigorously in the region l south of St. iQuentin. South of the H Oise we made further progress east- ward on the plateau between Barisls H and Quincy-Bassel and occupied sev- M eral points of support of the enemy. Our patrols are in contact with Jhe IH German positions on the western edge IH of the upper forest of Coucy. M "The artillery fighting became ex- tremely violent during the night on IH j the front between Soissons and M ' Rheims. In the Champagne we eas- H ily repulsed two surprise attacks. M East of Aubenve French patrols H 1 brought back prisoners. IH I "In Lorraine and in Alsace French H ' detachments, after violent artillery H preparation, penetrated the enemy IH lines at several points. In the forest M of Parroy we found numerous Ger- M man dead in the trenches blown up M by our fire. In the Alsatian plain. M French detachments at six points M reached the second German line and inflicted serious losses on the enemy. M Prisoners and material were brought back." M oo ll |