The attack had been prepared by days of heavy gunfire
and by raids, in one of which, on Friday week, a hundred prisoners were taken. The enemy, numbering at least eight divisione, trusted to the natural strength of the quarries and caves in which their reserves were hidden, and the French success 1114,3 partly due to the accurate fire of their largest siege-gum, whose shells penetrated the shelters thirty feet below the surface. The attack began just before dawn on Tuesday on a front of six miles from Allemant eastward to Braye, past the old fort of Malmaisen, which had been smashed by the French guns. The French infantry carried all before them. They took the villages of Allemant and Vaudesson and the fort at the first rush. Then, after driving off the German reserves which were hurried up, they pushed on to Chavignon, on the northern edge of the plateau, over two miles from their old trenches. About eight thousand prisoners were taken, with seventy- guns and an enormous quantity of material. The French had
driven a largo force of Germany's troops from exceptionally strong positions, and now have the full command of the bloodstained ridge. It was a great victory, and it will have important cense- gnomes.
