Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-04-11
BRITISH IN new
GAINS IN France
Seize All of vimy Ridge, Though
Germans Attack to Regain
Position.
BATTLE ON 5O.MlE FnQNI
Canadians Hold "Bastion of the West"
and Heights Near St. Quentin Are
Taken-king George Sends
His Congratulations.

London, April lin the face OF
heavy snowstorms and in places
strong Resistance by the Germans,
the British have pushed their fines
| rs far as Monchy-le-PreX, five miles
east of Arras, and made further I'M
portant gains on Vimy Ridge.
The official statement from British
headquarters describing the operations
now in progress on the Arras-Lens
line, reports the culture up to a late
hour of IL 900 pris6aers, 1including 235
officers, more than 100 guns, with
heavy guns up to height inches, 60
trench mortars and 163 machine guns.
Victory Grows. j
With the British Armies in France,
April 11.-Under binding snow squalls
with intermittent flashes of sunshine
the British pressed their attack
against the GermanS'all along the line
from point south of Cambria to the
vicinity of Lens. SO much booty was
taken in the first rush Of this new as
sault that it has not all been reported,
but it is said Il large number Of guns
were captured. More than 5000 have
been made prisoners.
Yesterdays fighting and gains far
surpassed the first days of the battle
of the SOmme last July. The Canadl-
ans command the Vimy ridge and are
reported to be well beyond it at some
points.
More villages were captured in the
direction of Cambria, and the fighting
there is intense.
KING Consratulates Troops. .
London, April liking George sent
the following message today to Field
Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, cOmman.
der Of the British armies on the west
ern front: "1he whole empire will re-
joice at the news of yesterdays sue
cessful operations. Canada Will he
proud that the taking of the coveted
Nimy ridge has fallen to the lot Of her
troops. heartily congratulate you
and all who have taken part in this
splendid achievement
Ar CT V:n,y Ridge Is Captured.
The British Offensive between Len
and st. Quentin. with which the spriM
operations have been opened AND
which is still in progress, has proved
even more successful than the earlier
accounts indicated.
Gen. Sir Douglas Hais reports tn
yesterdays captures exceeded ?,oo>
men, while 40 guns fell into the hands
Of his troops.
The Canadians, who had one of the
hardest bits of the front to contend
with. are in complete occupation OF
the famous Vimy ridge. even its east
crn slopes having been cleared Of Ger
mans. The Canadians also have re.
pulsed German counterattnckS. These
return blows by the Germans Indicate
the Importance they attach to this pc.
sition, whence the conp"erorS look
down over the plain of Douni.
Big Gain on Road to Douai.
With Ninly ridge gone, the whole
German line covering the French
north becomes Il WaVering one and
any lesurcly retreat the Germans may
have planned is made uncertain hni
prccarious With the capture of the
famous ridge the British also made Il
considerable stride along the road to
Douai, while the capture Of the high
ground northwest 'of st. Quentin
tightcnE the chain which the Anglo
French forces are drawing around that
town.
The British also have seized the vii |
lage Of EampouX and the neigllboring
Scfenses north and south of the Scarpe
river.
. A German diversion southeast of
Ypres, according to General Haig's re-
port met with no success.
Fighting continues along the entire
battle front.