up the advantage thus gained
the French carried German positions beyond their objectives to a depth
of 2,000 yards on both sides of the road between Esnes and Malancourt.
All the first German line was captured, and a little later after the
most intense fighting the second line was carried. The French gained
ground in this advance to a depth of over a mile. The number of
unwounded prisoners captured reached 425, of whom eight were officers.

The loss of such important positions in the Verdun sector stimulated
the Germans to make repeated endeavors to recapture them, and during
the night of July 17, 1917, they delivered furious counterattacks
preceded by intense artillery preparations. The assaults were all
repulsed by the French, and at no point were the Germans enabled to
gain even a temporary footing.

In the evening of July 18, 1917, the Germans attacked the French lines
south of St. Quentin over a front of about half a mile. They succeeded
in penetrating the first line, and held it for a brief period, when
they were driven out. A few hours later the Germans made another
strong attack over a front of about four miles, their objective being
the same--the hillock known as Moulin-sous-Toutvent. This attack was
broken up by the French artillery and machine-gun fire.

Throughout the day of July 19, 1917, French and German artillery were
active along the whole French front, but beyond inflicting some
casualties for which they paid heavily the Germans gained no
advantage.

A general assault was launched by the Germans with important forces
during the night of July 19, 1917, on the line along the plateau
between Craonne and Vauclerc. Over the whole extent of the front there
was hand-to-hand fighting, but everywhere the French succeeded in
holding their positions. An energetic counterattack made between the
Californie and Casemates Plateaus enabled the French to regain a
trench line which the Germans had penetrated and held since the
previous day. Fighting continued in the Hill 304 region, and in the
Champagne, but the Germans failed to make any progress.

[Illustration: The Somme Battle Front, August 1, 1917.]

During these days of intense fighting on the French front the British
had not been marking time, but they had far less to contend against
than their valorous allies. The French had to bear the brunt of German
fury throughout the week. The whole French line from Verdun to St.
Quentin in this period had been subj