New Britain herald., 1917-04-10
'BRIT|SH GATHER IN 5000 MEN, 40 GUNS,
 IN NEW OFFENSIVE
London Reports Germans Being Cleared Off Northern End of Yimy Ridge in Hard Battle
 

AAAy ANAu6V LII AAuAu OulIAV VILLAGE OF FAMPOUX AND
 NEARBY .DEFENSES FALL English Warriors Conjecture As to What Excuse Germans Will Make For Retirement and Say "Strategt- cal Retirement' Will Not Suffice Public Warned Against Over-optim- ism as Enemy Has Great Reserves. As Jesuit of the offensive begun yester<ay along the line from Lens to Lxrras, the British have captured ssd hold apparently firm possession of vimy ridge, considered the pivot of the great German retreat in north ern France.
 The German lines along the Scarpe northeast of Arras have been pen etrated as far as the town of Fam poux, a distance of three and one half miles, in one of the most force full drives of the war.
 More than 5000 Germans were taken prisoner in one days fighting and forty guns were captured.
 Further south the battle is pro- gressing favorably to the British who hoH d,.oy n taking commanding ground to the northwest.
 [. North of the Lens-Arras sector the Germans made a drive on a narrow front, pentrating the British line southeast of Ypres but being imme- diately elected in a counter attack.
 The French are continuing to fight their way forward northeast of Sois- sons and report progress east of the lower Cocy forest.
 Brazil has broken diplomatic rela- tions with Germany, London de- spatches state. Rio Janeiro advices have indicated that such break was imminent. There are reports of sus- picious activity off the Brazilian coast with the exchange of signals, wireless and otherwise, between, Germans
 
 First of the American liners to suf- Yer harm in passing through the dan- gers of the British Isles, the steamer New York struck 8 mine last night five miles off the Liverpool bar. She was able to proceed under her own steam. however, and reached Liver pool this morning. There were no casualties on board.
 London, April 1O.-It is officially reported that the British forces cap tured over 5000 prisoners and more than forty guns in. yesterdays opera tions.
 Heavy fighting took place last night on the northern end of the Vimy ridge, from which the Germans were driven. The eastern slope was also Scleared.
 Near St. Quentin the Germans have been driven from the high ground be- Tween Le Verguier and Hargicourt. Fighting continues along the entire battle front
 sa. The British have seized the village ~of Fampoux and the neighborinr de- lenses north and south of the Scarpe , river.
 The Germans made strong attack on a narrow front southeast of Ypres land reached the British support lines They were driven from the British trenches by counter attack.
 Official Bulletin.
 The announcement, which is timed 11:5O a. m.. is as follows:
 During the night there was se- were fighting at the northern end
 of Vimy ridge, where the enemy
 had regained footing. He was ! elected, and an attempted counter
 attack failed to materialize. The
 eastern slope of the ridge has
 been cleared of the enemy and
 counter attacks repulsed.
 Our troops advanced and
 seized the village of Fampoux and
 neighboring defenses north and
 south of the Scarpe.
 'The number of prisoners talk
 en yesterday exceeds 5000 and
 over forty guns have been cap-
 tured.
 F. "In the region of the St. Quen-
 tin the enemy has been driven
 from the high ground between Le
 Verguier and Hargicourt. Fight
 ing continues throughout the
 whole battle front.
 After an intense bombardment ~ the enemy made a strong attack last night on narrow front southeast of Ypres ad succeeded
 in reaching our support lines. He
 was immediately elected from our
 trenches leaving several dead" Cannot bc "Strategical Retirement
 London. April 10.-The news of tn, Gel D~9A S~1 offensive has stirred intense interes and high hope among the peopl' throughout the country. Whateve the enemy may have claimed as t, the retreat in the Somme sector hay hoop nrco rra ero1 and Stra