Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-12
FAIL TO CHECK
ALLIES DASH /
Germans Rush Reinforce
ments to Battle Front
in Flanders.
FRENCH AND BRITISH
RETAKE POSITIONS
Claim to Have Gained Lost Ground
and to Have Resisted German e..
forts to Stop Advanes-Rsal Facts
Regarding Situation in East Not
ciear-Russians Claim Advantage
10 Not All With Germanic Allies.

the allies offensive in Flanders and
northern France has given rise to the
hope here that one of the really mo-
mentous phases of the war is in the
process of solution which would be
point of view.
Berlin recognizes the Importance OF
the new turn Of events. German REIN
forcements. reported from Lens and
Douai, thus far apparently have failed
to check the dash of troops sweeping
northward from Arras who have cap
tured important German positions. The
German war office states that progress
has been made against the British east
of Ypres, but Sir John French's laconlc
message asserts that all German Ell
forts to break thru have failed. HIS
message says nothing OF the offensive
In the direction Of Lille,
Terrific fighting from the: north OF
Dixmude, where the remnant OF the
valiant Belgian army has been hold
ing the Germans ut bay since last fall
when their drive on Calais and Dun.
kirk was stopped by the flooding OF the
Flanders lowlands, to tho southermost
point in the Loos-Arras sector north
of the city Of Arras Is now in progress
with the allies pushing the German
forces steadily bAck.
Hand q liaad Fisj,tias.
Hand TO hand cIashss. Payonst
charges and all manner OF fightfns
known to civilized and uncivilixed war
fare marked the nghting from sunrise
to sunset today with artillery fire maxi
ing the night hideous,
4 The Germans, according to the Of
fetal statement from Paris, again tried
to clear the British trenches to the east
of Ypres with ,asphyxiating gases.
The defenders. protected by respirat-
ors recently put into use. hugged the
ground and escaped the fumes. When
the Germans, believing the British had
been made hors de combat rushed the
trenches they were met with q wither-
ing rifle and machine gun fire.
The German columns, which had ad-
vanced in close formation were prac-
tically annihilated and those who sur
vived the rain of lead were. forced to
defend themselves with bayonets. Only
few escaped.
German Work Captured.
The fighting In this vicinity is only
an example Of that which ragged from
Dixmude to Arras.
Loos also was an objective Of the
British, and during an engagement OF
extreme savagery the allies captured
an important German work and an en-
tire system of trenches constructed
along the road from Loos to Vermelles.
Further to the south dig blockhouse
and the chapel Of Notre Dame de Lor-
cite were captured. This place had
been turned into veritable fortress
by the Germans, but it was surround
ed and invested after a terrific clash
The Germans fell back.
All the German trenches to the south
Of the chapel have fallen into the hands
Of the British. They were filled with
German dead. Counter attscks by the
enemy in this region were crushed with
terrific loss to the Germans.
Eastern Situation obscurs.
The situation in the east is still OBJ
scure. but It Is evident the gains are
not all at the expense OF the Russians
The official reports from Petrograd and
Berlin are 30 divergent. however, that
military experts are loath to commit
themselves.
Interest is undated in the develop
ments at Washington and dispatches
from America are read eagerly. The
Globe says:
If America Is too proud to hight, let
US at least be thankful for King Al
bert's shocking loss Of dignity"
4 l. .ta