The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-04-25
IMPORTANT GAINS MADE BY BRITISH
DESPITE DETERMINED GERMAN RESISTANCE
Biggest Gains Are on Wide Front South of Bapaume-
Cambria Road-St. Quentin Canal Cut at Vital
Point-Desperate Counters by Germans Yield Only
Losses.

While continuing to deliver hard
blows upon the German lines in the
Scarpe river region, east of Arras,
where their offensive was resumed
yesterday, the British have pushed
home telling thrust in another sec
tor Of the great battlefield. Striking
south of the Bapaume- Cambria road,
Gen. Haig's forces gained ground last
night along a wide front. Of great
est moment, however, was the sue
cess of the drive in regard to the
important waterway between ST..
Quentin and Cambria, the St. Quen-
tin canal. The canal was cut at a
point east Of Epehy, near Vandhuille.
In reaching it here the British press
ed to within approximately two miles
Of LIE Catelet, railway junction
point on the canal to the south to-
wards st. Quentin.
Approaching Marcoing.
Pushing along the Perronnc- Cam
brai railway further north, Gen.
Halg's troops captured the villages of
Beaucamp and Villers-Plouich, which
places are bare three miles from
Marcoing, another important railway
center 8 1-2 miles southwest of Cam
brai.
On the main line of the Arras bat
tlefrone extending IL miles from Croi-
selles to north of Gavrelle, the Brit
ish have not only maintained their
position against the desperate coun-
ter attacks the Garmans are deliver
ing in effort to stem the tide against
them at this vital spot, but have made
additional progress east Of Monchy-
Le-Preux and near Roeux.
The solid nature of the British
gains, despite the violent German eff
forts to nullify them, is shown in the
report of another particularly heavy
counter attack delivered this morn
ing on the village of Gavrelle, on the
ArrasDouai road, captured yesterday,
which the British successfully with
stood. All the German counter
strokes were delivered "with great de-
termination and regardless of LOSSES"
says the British report.
Howitzers at Disadvantage.
The semi-open character of the
fighting affords little opportunity for
the use Of the great howitzers, these
monstrous engines of destruction be-
ing best adapted for the smashing
of permanent dcfenses.
The battle is being waged largely
with machine guns and field artill-
cry, and the meager reports from the
fighting line indicate heavy losses on
both sides, although the British claim
that their casualties ure moderate
compared with those Of the enemy.
French Getting Ready.
Along the Aisne and in the Cham
pagne, the French are playing their
part in the great battle by keeping
up heavy artillery fire while pre-
pairing for their next infantry move.
Incidentally, in local operations they
improved their positions at some
points, notably on the Chemin Des
Danes plateau.
In Mesopotamia, the British are
continuing their victorious progress
up Tigris valley. After fighting a
hot battle with the Turks south of
Samara, 70 miles northwest of Bag
dad, they occupied Samara station,
making important captures, including
16 locomotives and 224 railway
trucks. The pursuit Of the Turks is
being continued northward, on the
Tigris.
Sofia reports the repulse by the
Bulgarians of British attack in
Macedonia, between the Vardar and
Lake Doiran, which followed drum
fire preparation.