Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-10
If Ffesnoy Cannot Be Heidi
by Germans Entire North
ern Line Of Defense Must
CrumbIe. !
IRON AND COAL MINES
ARE OBJECTS SOUGHT
Russians Break Through leu
ton Lines in Rumania and
Heavy Fighting Is on in
Macedonia,

The Sansulnafy battle between the
British and Germans for possession
of Fresnoy goes on apparently with
out abatement. Ii Is a battle of des-
peration on the part of the Germans.
who see in the loss Of the village
double menace-the placing in ieop-
ardy of their entire line north, espe-
cially the town of Lens and its adja-
cent coal fields, ana deeply project-
ing salient into their lines which
would virtually put the British at the
threshold of Cambria.
The exact situation in the little viii
lage, which was recaptured by the
Germans Tuesday after stubborn
defense by the Canadians, is some-
what obscure. The British war office
asserts that Prince Rupprecht's men
met with reverses west of the village
Tuesday night during counter-at-
tack, while unofficial advices are
that they have been expelled from ~
greater portion of the village, but are
still holding out, although barely
able to maintain themselves against
the stubborn onslaughts VT the Ca
nadians.
German Claim Modest.
On the other hand the German Of
ficial communication asserts that the
Germans have held the village against
fresh British attacks and in addition
have taken 100 faore prisoners. In
making this claim, however, the
usual details OF victory and claims
of sanguinary losses inflicted are
lacking.
Wednesday saw return of unfa-
vorable weather along the Anglo
German front and except around
F'resnoy the fighting was mainly by
the artillery.
The French meantime have been
busy consolidating the positions cap
tured from the Germans Tuesday
near Chesvreux, repulsing counter-at-
tacks and engaging in artillery duels
with the Germans. Northwest of
Rheims in the single instance where
the infantry left the trenches the
French attacked and captured posi-
tions on a front of more than 400
yards and brought back 100 pris-
oners
Losses Comparatively Small.
Although the fighting along the
Arras front has been described as the
most violent during the war, an
nouncement has been made in the
! house of commons that the British
casualties are so to rs per cent fewer
than those sustained in the battle of
the Somme.
The fighting in all the other the
aters except in France continues of
sporadic nature, although the op-
erations in Macedonia, where heavy
artillery duels are in progress along
the entire front, and in Rumania,
where the Russians have broken
through the Teutonic line at one
place, indicate the coming of gen.
eral engagements in short time.
As had been forecast, the number
of British vessels sunk during the
week ending last Sunday was smaller
than during the former week. Last
week "a vessels OF over 1,600 tons
and % Of, less than 1900 tons were
sent to the bottom, as compared with
3S and 13 the previous week.
Germans Optimistic.
Germany, however, is still opti-
mistic that lier underwater cam
paign will be successful in ending the
war. The naval budget committee Of
the reichstag has been told that in
April not less than 1,100, 900 tons of
shipping comprised the booty of the
submarines. while the minister of the
navy has assured the chamber that
Germany has the necessary boats,
men, fuel and accessories to perse-
we're until, the end.