amorville, because it
dominated the Gap of Spada; and to the north of it they exerted a
pressure on the Bois de la Selouse. The engagements on the south of
the salient were fought desperately. The part of the top which falls
away to the Rupt de Mad was held by the French. That section is
covered with a low wood, which develops into presentable forests in
the region toward the Moselle Valley to the east. The Teutons had
taken every advantage of the ground in constructing their
fortifications, and the French found a hard task before them. They
proceeded against their opponents in the Bois d'Ailly, the Forest of
Apremont, the Bois de Mont-Mare, the village of Regnieville, and the
Bois le Pretre. Though each success was not large, the entire effort
was effective in pushing in the southern side of the salient. This
brought the soldiers of the republic to within about four miles of
Thiaucourt, which, with the control of Les Eparges, threatened St.
Mihiel.

The French heavy artillery shelled the southern front of the trenches
at Metz on May 1, 1915. The great desire to take Alsace and Lorraine,
however, was set aside early in the month. The plight of Russia at
this time made it imperative for the Allies to make a great movement
on the western front to prevent as much as possible the pressure on
the czar's line. Hence the campaign which seemed to be planned by the
French was abandoned for a larger opportunity. This was the advance of
the Tenth Army in the Artois over the plain of the Scheldt in the
direction of Douai and Valenciennes, thereby threatening the
communications of the entire Teuton line from Soissons to Lille. Hence
the French started a vigorous movement against Lens, while the British
sought to take Lille.

CHAPTER XIX

CAMPAIGN IN ARTOIS REGION

To understand properly the campaign in the Artois, it is necessary to
have at least a fair knowledge of the geography and the topography of
the territory between La Bassee and Arras.

The valley of the Scarpe is held in on the south by low hills, and on
the north by a low plateau, which descends in long ridges to the
valley of the Lys and the plains about Lens. The greatest altitude in
this section is the ridge known as Notre-Dame de Lorette, running east
and west, and containing numerous ravines. To the south of it, in a
little valley, is the town of Albain St. Nazaire. Carency is opposite
on the next ridge. Next is the Bois de Berthonval in the middle of a