The armies of France, 1914-17

The armies of France, 1914-17

This week's chapter examines the main burden of the war by land on the French, five periods of the war, five sectors of the Front, the first four periods, Joffre's offensive policy in the East, the Battle of the Grand Couronne, retreat from the Sambre and Meuse, Battle of the Marne, the Aisne, the race to the sea, trench warfare, the French soldier, Verdun, the Somme, the German retreat, the Aisne offensive, the Chemin-des-Dames, Malmaison, Morthomme

Day after day all through the summer French and Germans went on attacking and counter-attacking on the hills of the Moronvillers massif and the hogbacked ridge along which runs the Chemin des Dames, till the whole of their surface soil and the green things that had grown there were shelIed to powder and buried deep beneath a hideous coating of broken lumps of chalk and rusty iron and decaying human remains

 

French tactics on the Aisne

The story of the fighting which took place round this Soupir Plateau is worth telling. It was a fine piece of work and a typical example of the methods by which the French made their advance

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/french-tactics-on-the-aisne-8dbqfhz79?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_13.06.2018%20France%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3529124_118 April 25, 1917 East of Vailly, as in the now eliminated salient to the west of it of which the lille Vailly-Laffaux formed the base, the general characteristic of the ground north of the Aisne is that it consists of a series of bare plateaux separated by deep ravines striking down into the valley more or less at right angles to the river. These uplands are the outlying spurs of a much longer plateau parallel to the course of the Aisne and about five miles to the north of it, along which the Chemin des Dames runs eastwards from the Soissons-Laon road across the Oise-Aisne Canal to Courtecon and Craonne. Just to the west of the Canal one of these buttress spurs stretches down between Ostel and Braye-en-Laonnois is at an elevation of about 600ft, or the same average height as the main plateau, to the village of Soupir. The steep slopes on its east side are covered by a thick wood, the upper part of which is called the Bois de la Bovette and the lower the Bois des Gouttes d’Or. The story of the fighting which took place round this Soupir Plateau from April 16 to 18 is worth telling. It was a fine piece of work and a typical example of the methods by which the French made their advance. OBJECTS OF THE ATTACK On the morning of the first day of the attack (April 16) the French line at this point ran south of the woods, vast Moussy and Soupir westwards to Chavonne, where it crossed the river and followed the south bank as far as Vailly. The first objective of the division which was to carry the position was, on the east, a farm close to the canal, a mile or so south of Braye, and, on the left, the spurs of the two woods round to the farm of Cour Soupir, on the edge of the slope between them and the pIateau. Slopes, woods, and plateau were all covered by a network of German trenches right back to the Chemin des Dames, and the Metz, or eastern, farm was in full view of the enemy batteries on the Chemin des Dames plateau, while the whole position was exposed to the fire of a large number of machine-guns. On that first day the battalion which attacked from the left found the system of trenches in the south wood still undestroyed, and it was decided to make a flank, instead of a frontal, attack and to put the operation off till next day, while the artillery dealt with the nest of machine-guns round Braye. In the evening, in less than two hours, a force of two battalions made their way into the southern edge of the woods, where they were screened from the fire of the batteries on the plateau and got through to the Bois de la Bovette; the next morning another regiment got up to the German second position between Braye and Cour Soupir, the right wing pushed quickly forward to the canal tunnel close to Braye, and finally, in spite of a determined resistance, the enemy were obliged to retire hurriedly only just in time to save their whole force from being cut off and surrounded, as the French troops on the right kept pressing on their left flank, while the French left carried the plateau at the point of the bayonet and another regiment still farther to the west crossed the river and took Vailly. NO “STRATEGIC” RETREAT Here, as elsewhere, there was no sort of question of a strategic retreat. The Germans were so confident of the strength of their position that when they did make up their minds to go it was too late to bring up the gun teams to save their artillery. There was a fierce hand-to-hand fight round the batteries, but the French chasseurs and fantassins were “all over” the enemy, and in the end took so guns with their supplies of ammunition and nearly 2,000 prisoners, including 30 officers, besides a large haul of machine-guns, stands of rifles, officers’ baggage, notebooks, half-finished letters, and food. The Germans were so sure that they would not have to go, and they did, notwithstanding, go in such a hurry, that the French found in an officers’ mess the table laid for a meal and the dishes waiting to be eaten. They also found that none of the dugouts and shelters had been destroyed, as the enemy had had no time to blow up the mines they had prepared, which had apparently been in existence for a considerable time. As the result of the three days’ work the French not only gained the original objective of the line between Braye and Soupir, but are now on part of the ground to the left of the canal well up to the Chemin des Dames. I am not surprised that the Germans thought they were certain of holding the position. From the other side of the river it looks practically impregnable in the face of machine-gun fire, and its capture was a brilliant success for our Allies.

 

Frenchmen's great fight

The Germans now endeavour to blot out the French front-line trenches before attacking. But by so doing they destroy the very shelter they need, if their advance is not to be made at ruinous cost

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/frenchmens-great-fight-ccmt9gjqb?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_13.06.2018%20France%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3529124_118 July 4, 1917 According to prisoners captured in the fighting around the Mort Homme, the German Crown Prince is bent on taking his revenge for last year’s crushing defeats before Verdun. One instance among many will show the hopelessness of the task which he has set himself. It also shows that the grand fighting spirit of the French has been in no wise impaired since last autumn’s brilliant finale. A certain blockhouse in the Avocourt sector was defended by poilus for 12 hours of uninterrupted attacks, till hardly a machine-gun was intact. They stood their ground against no fewer than 10 attempts of the enemy to overwhelm them, and only retired when they received formal orders to do so. When the section rejoined its company it was found that not a single man was unwounded and all were badly burned, but not a single prisoner was left in the hands of the enemy. No better fortune seems to await the Crown Prince’s spasmodic attacks on other portions of the front. The German communique crying victory in the attack on the Chemin des Dames east of Cerny was premature. It is true that the violence of the bombardment was such that the French retired from their front-line trenches, but their batteries at once concentrated on the part evacuated, which the enemy, in spite of severe losses, was unable to hold. Yesterday evening the French, in a splendid counter-attack, swept the enemy back on both sides of the Ailles-Paissy road and recovered all the lost ground, for which the enemy paid so dear for so short a tenure. Incidentally it may be noted that the Germans are slightly modifying their method of attack. They now endeavour to blot out the French front- line trenches before attacking. But by so doing they destroy the very shelter they need, if their advance is not to be made at ruinous cost. ENEMY FAILURE AT AVOCOURT WOOD The following French communiques were issued yesterday: AFTERNOON. Yesterday towards 6.30pm, after a recrudescence of the bombardment, the Germans delivered a series of violent attacks against the trenches which we recaptured on both sides of the Paissy-Ailles road. A very violent struggle which lasted all night concluded with the complete defeat of the enemy. We have maintained all our positions. More to the west two raids against our small posts also failed. On the left bank of the Meuse the artillery duel increased in intensity towards midnight in the Hill 304-Avocourt Wood sector. Towards 2.30am the Germans delivered an attack on a front of about 500 yards against the south-eastern extremity of the wood. The assaulting waves were smashed by our fire and were unable to reach our lines. The enemy did not renew his attempts. In Champagne during a raid into the German lines we blew up an enemy blockhouse. There is nothing to report on the remainder of the front. EVENING. There was considerable artillery activity north of St Quentin, on the left bank of the Meuse, towards Hill 304, as well as in Champagne, in the Mont Cornillet and Mont Teton sectors. East of Coucy-le-Chateau [north of Soissons] there were patrol encounters. We made some prisoners, including an officer. On the rest of the front the day was quiet. GERMAN VERSION. German official report, July 3: On the front of the German Crown Prince’s Army Group the French again attempted to recapture the lost trenches on the plateau of La Bovelle [north-east of Cerny] and on the left barak of the Meuse. To the south-east of Cerny two attacks broke down with heavy losses under the effect of our defence. In Avocourt Wood and on Hill 304 our destruction fire prevented enemy storming troops, which had been prepared for an attack, from leaving their trenches in a forward direction. On the Poehlberg, in Champagne, one of our own enterprises succeeded in accordance with our plans. Our reconnoitring party brought back prisoners and booty.

 

The French victory on the Aisne

Both the northern and southern slopes of the ridge are honeycombed with great quarries and caverns, in which large numbers of troops can shelter https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-french-victory-on-the-aisne-jqz853978?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_13.06.2018%20France%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3529124_118 October 25, 1917 In a single day, though after long and careful preparation, France has won a splendid victory on the heights north of the River Aisne. The gallant French Army attacked at dawn on Tuesday on a front of four miles, and the centre of the attacking forces reached Chavignon, on the northern side of the ridge. From Chavignon they can look down the valley of the little stream called the Ardan at the hill-fortress of Laon, only seven miles away. The sweeping character of the French triumph is demonstrated by the fact that they took 8,000 prisoners, belonging to eight divisions. The unofficial estimate that the total German losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners amounts to 26,000 must be accounted moderate, in view of the details of the battle now known. In order to appreciate the character of General Petain’s success, it is necessary to look at the Allied line farther north. The present front touches the outskirts of St Quentin, and passes south-eastward to the canalized Oise, and then south past La Ferc. lt then travcrses the edge of the great forest of St Gobain, which is the key of all this area. The massive tree-clad heights of St Gobain form for the enemy a mighty bastion before which the French pursuit of the retreating Germans was checked in the spring. From the St Gobain area the German defences were continued eastuard along the narrow plateau north of the Aisne, which is crowned by the Chemin des Dames. General Nivelle’s attack after the German retreat had ended gave the Fsrench firm positions along the southern edge of the plateau, and resulted in the capture of the important village of Craonne, among other vantage-points; but the Germans still clung to the northern edge of the ridge, and have been there ever since. They have chiefly sheltered in the valley of the River Ailette, but the French were denied the opportunity they sought of commanding the open country to the north beyond Laon. All this summer there has been constant hard fighting on the long plateau, but as the conflicts have been local the world has heard little about them. The Germans in particular have launched many small but fierce attacks, always without result. Both sides have fought again and again for the possession of ruined farms and small quarries. The goal of our Allies in this area has clearly been Chavignon, for Chavignon stands well down on the northern side of the ridge, and looks on Laon through the gap formed by the little Ardan stream. Chavignon was shielded about a mile and a quarter to the south by the old ruined fort of Malmaison, which the enemy had converted into a powerful stronghold. By storming Malmaison and reaching Chavignon our Allies have opened the road to Laon, though the valley of the Ardan is flanked by other plateaux which have still to be carried. They may now be said to be in full possession of the Aisne heights. The real importance of their advance is, however, that it tends to outflank the formidable German salient of St Gobain. No operation of the kind conducted by the French Army in this war excels in swiftness and completeness the attack on Tuesday. It is an achievement of which our Allies may well be proud, and on which we heartily congratulate them. It will surely form a classic example of General Petain’s theory of the limited offensive, delivered at the right moment with apparently absolute certainty, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, and resulting in the acquisition of new positions of the highest value. The Germans in their account issued yesterday pretend that on the right the attack failed, and they speak of a further attack to the eastward between Braye and Ailles, which was clearly never made. The lying character of their bulletin is plainly indicated by their misleading reference to “the heights of Ostel”, which have been in French possession for many months. On the other hand, they are compelled to admit the success of the actual offensive, and acknowledge that their advanced batteries had to be blown up and left. The battle had peculiar characteristics, which have distinguished much of the fighting on the Aisne, as the British Army had good reason to know in 1914. Both the northern and southern slopes of the ridge are honeycombed with great quarries and caverns, in which large numbers of troops can shelter. The bombardment of these great retreats and of their entrances required much skilful artillery work, and our Special Correspondent said in his narrative, published yesterday that the big guns used for this purpose were raised to an almost perpendicular firing elevation. The Malmaison fort seems to have been battered out of recognition by the 15in and 16in guns, and we may judge that it was stormed with comparative ease, although held by a Grenadier battalion of the Prussian Guard. The hardest struggle seems to have centired round the Mont Parnesse quarry, close to the road from Soissons to Laon, which passes through Chavignon. The heavy shells burst through the roof of the quarry at several points. Possibly the large number of prisoners is due to the fact that they were rounded up in these spacious shelters. Tremendous execution appears to have been wrought by shell fire among the German reserves concentrated in the Ailette Valley. The whole operation shows that after more than thrce years of war the indomitable French troops are full of fight, and that they move forward with a heightened consciousness of the coming final victory. Our troops will rejoice at the brilliant victory of our Allies on the Aisne, but both the British and French who are floundering in the sea of mud beyond Ypres will hear with envy of a battle fought at a well-drained altitude of nearly six hundred feet. The armies in Flanders have had to fight more than the enemy, for they have been fighting the equinoctial gales and their consequences.