AINS WORTH, WILLIAM NEWMAN

(1872), Methodist Episcopal bishop, much the same. The attack by the ist Corps, however, Sir John French wrote, ‘under the direction and command of Sir Douglas Haig, was of so skilful, bold, and decisive a character that he gained positions which alone have enabled me to maintain my position for more than three weeks of very severe fighting.’ The line ran from of Troyon through Chivy to La Cour de Soupir, while the cavalry carried it down to the So is sons road W. of Chavonne, and the French prolonged it in the direction of the Craonne plateau. On the 15th the Germans counter-attacked violently, but at most points, except on the right of the 5th Fr. Army, the ground was held. A lull followed, but on the 17th Maunoury, reinforced, relieved the pre ure on the Brit. left. On the 18th the Brit. Ist Corps beat off two more Ger. attacks, but the Craonne escarpment proved too strong for d’Esperey’s troops, and the opposing forces settled down in entrenched positions. (2) April 16 to May 20, 1917. By a great attack on a front of 60 m., from So is sons to Reims, General Nivelle, who had succeeded Joffre in command of the Fr. armies, hoped to clear the Germans out) of France. In co-operation, the British began an a ault on the Arras sector on ‘April 9, and a week later the French threw themselves upon the enemy, who reeled at many points, but speedily recovered his equilibrium. The plan totally miscarried. To some extent it had been forestalled by the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line in February-March; news of it got into the enemy’s po e ion and at the date chosen the weather was most unpropitious. On_the first day the French made a little rogre on the left, took Hurtebise von. an important point on the Chemin des Dames, but failed to gain the Craonne plateau. On the following day they repulsed Ger. counter-attacks, and after desperate fighting stormed Mont sans Nom and Mont Blond on the Moa marked salient resulted. The ‘forty eight hours’ within which Nivelle promised succe , had expired, but the battle continued. On the 18th they gained further heights on the ma if, and in the W. the Ger. third line was penetrated at Vregny and Vailly, but the Ger. guns and machine guns ‘still dominated the Craonne plateau. On the following day the center of the Ladies’ Way was in Fr. hands, but the enemy retained the two ends. On the 20th the first phase ended without any great strategical advantage having been gained. During the remainder of April there was spasmodic fight-. The French had taken about 20,000 mers and 200 guns, but their lo es had been cruel. Nivelle was superseded by Pétain. In May the battle recommenced, and on the fourth day Craonne was captured, and the French were in po e ion of practically all the Chemin des Dames. For a fortnight the Germans tried in vain to dislodge them. On the 20th a renewed attack carried the whole of the Moron villi ers ma if. The battle died down into trench warfare, its am- (3) May 27 to June 18, 1918. As the third of their terrific blows in the first half of the year that were intended to decide the ‘war, the Germans launched an offensive on the Aisne in order to reach the Marne and cut the Fr. lateral communication between Paris and Verdun. They took by surprise the Fr. 6th Army under Maistre and the Brit. 9th Corps, which was ‘resting’ on the sector from Oraonne to Berméricourt. After a short but intense bombardment the enemy advanced to the a ault in overwhelming numbers, and the four weak divisions holding the front of the 6th Army were swept away almost at once. By the afternoon they were back at the Aisne; by the evening they were beyond the Vesle. On the right the Brit. divisions fought gallantly, but with their left in the air were compelled to retire, keeping precarious touch with the French towards Fismes on the Vesle. On the 29th So is sons fell, but the French held the high ground S.W. of the town. In the center the Germans continued to thrust into the salient, and by June 1 they were on the Marne between Dormans and Chateau-Thierry. But the Allies flanks held, and the Germans could not flatten out the salient, try as they might. Amer. and Brit. besides Fr. reinforcements, were brought up, and though the Germans on the 9th launched a supplementary attack W. of the Oise, between Montdidier and Noyon, they were everywhere being held, despite spasmodic efforts to break through— the last of them at Reims on the 18th. Gradually the Allies began to take the initiative, and a month later began the great offensive which compelled the Germans to relax their grip on the Marne, and after five months drove them to surrender.