Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-13
BRITISH Ar TTACk W|DENs
IN FACE OF FIERCE STORM
Troops. Striking North OF yimy,
Reach Point Few Hundred Yards
Northwest Of Givcnchy.
LINE BEING STRENGTHENED
Several Pockets" Where Germans
Held Out, .innihiIatcd - Strong
Teuton Countermove Against Mon.
chy-le-Preux Smashed to Bits.

fFrom STAFF Correspondent, of Associated
Press
EE EITiSIT HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. April - (via London).-The
amazing april storm which began al.
most ~ the exact hour set for the
Biitish attack against the Germans on
Montay morning continues. and the
nrEtinE conditions have been made cx-
tvn!eiy difficult. The storm is ac-
corInanico by snow, rain and sleet. and
p gale that has seldom fallen below A
velocity OF forty miles an hour. There
have heea occasional bits of sunshine.
hut .hese lasted less than half an hour
The nigh, temperatures are well be-
low freezing
Notwithstanding these circumstances.
the British attack widened to-day by
bio" north Of Nimy ridge the latter
having been firmly held and consoli-
dated by the Canadians agaius, a bitter
German IRE The troops which struck
north of Nimy to-day penetrated TO =,
point few hundred yards northwest
OF Givenchy, having carried out their
dawn attack with the same precision
as has characterized their other oper-
ations.
On the remainder OF the new front.
the work consisted largeIy Of straight
ening certain elements III the line by
annihiiatinE several pockets where
the Germans mad held out The British
also smashed to bits a strong German
counterattack against aIonchy le-
FreuN the German losses being among
the heaviest they have suffered dur
Ing the new offensive
FIGHTING ABouT MoNCHY
HEAVY SINCE TUESDAY
The lighting about Monchy has been
very heavy since Tuesday, the Ger
mans having been ordered TO prevent
the British advance reaching that high
point at all hazards. 1t was not until
large numbers OF British field batteries
had been brought into play that the
Germans were definitely beaten off.
The British attack and the German
defense convcrged at Moncny, and 1t
Was a wonderful sight TO watch this
fighting from a nearby hill yesterday
and realize that for the moment this
was the focal point of the entire world
war The artillery duel over the pretty
little town was Il study in black and
white, the British shells breaking white
on the German positions just east of
the town, while the German shells eX
plodcd over the town with smoke that
resemblcd great balls Of lamp black
wool. Occasionally a German shell
striking Il brick building would send
up a sweeping cloud OF pinkish dust.
During the lighting British airplancs
kovercd above Monchy, seeming to ~it
absolutely stationary astride tfe nowl-
ing gale. One was thus idling on the
wind when out of All overl,ansinE
cloud swoopcd three German machines.
The Gc"mah:' darted for the ;ail of
the British machine. firing Is hey
came The khaki-clad airInan, despite
this unexpected attack from ambush
90, splendidly outmaneuvered his foes.
nc deliberately sidc-slipped out of cen
troll. which literally means turning
Sideways and letting the machine fall
virtually perpendicularly.
SHELLS LEAP FOR GERMANS
THROUGH WHISTLING WIND
There was not much height for r
escaping the first burst OF fire from
the Germans, the Brilisher nattened
out and started for his own lines. to
bring the pursucrs within range of
the antiaircraft guns, for there is no
time to turn and face a foe once he
is on your tail. The plan succeeded.
and the Germans had suddenly to turn
and cli..,o for their lives. as shrapnel
shells Immediately leaped for them
through the whistling wind.
In the lighting to-day the British
captured A number OF additional guns
The Canadians have made a great
haul in guns in their attack on Vimy
ridge, thus far having brought in four
eight inch howitZers. nine of the
famous German 5.9s and twenty three
field pieces. In many of the captured
gun positions the British found tier
upon tier OF ammunition.