ng a number of French
positions. But the gain was only temporary, when the French came
dashing back in force, regained the positions, and captured or killed
the occupants to the last man.

The double offensive of the British north of Arras and of the French
on the Aisne had disarranged the German plans, according to reliable
information that reached the Allied command. Hindenburg was preparing
an offensive against Riga and another against Italy; attempts on Paris
and on Calais were also projected, but the Allied western offensive
forced him to bring back the greater part of his forces intended for
these fronts.

For several days the fighting in the Arras region slowed down. The
Germans had brought forward new batteries and stationed them around
Lens and Loos, replacing those captured by the British during the
first day's battle. These guns were now constantly active, sending
heavy shells into Lievin, Bois de Riaumont, and into the suburbs of
Lens and Monchy. The neighboring ridge and slopes were also subjected
to machine-gun fire.

Beyond bombarding German positions, the British made no important
advance, though preparations were going forward for the next stage in
the great battle of Arras.

The French continued to make gains along the Oise, pressing back the
Germans toward the Chemin-des-Dames, which runs along the top of the
heights north of the river. On April 20, 1917, General Nivelle's
troops occupied Sancy village and gained ground east of Laffaux. The
French front in this sector now faced the fort of Malmaison, which
crowns a range of high hills protecting the highroad from Soissons to
Laon. The Germans launched a heavy attack on April 19, 1917, in which
large forces of troops were employed in the region of Ailles and
Hurtebise Farm. The French artillery and machine guns delivered such a
withering fire against the attackers that they were thrown back in
disorder with appalling losses.

In Champagne the French continued to make progress, capturing
important points in Moronvilliers Wood.

British troops south of the Bapaume-Cambrai road slowly advanced on
Marcoing, a place of considerable importance and an outpost to
Cambrai. In this push, begun on April 20, 1917, they captured the
southern portion of the village of Trescault, which lies about nine
miles from Cambrai. They also surrounded on three sides Havrincourt
Wood, which from its high position constitutes a formidable barrier in
the way of advance,