The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-05-07
BRITISH ARMY
BREAKS into
STRONG CITY
ON FOES LINE
Germans Hurl Fresh Troops
Into Battle in Desperate
Effort to Stem Entente Ad-
vance.
GUNS SLAUGHTER MEN
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
Bullecourt directly on the Hinden
burg line has been entered by British
troops, who this morning were fighting
the Germans within the town for Its
possession.
Giving the Germans no time to bring
up reserves from the hard pressed
Aisne front where the French are driv
ing through the Siegfried line for Laon
by the back way to that stronghold.
General Haig's troops began today to
widen the breach they have made In
the Hindenburg line in the Bullecourt
region.
Fall to Shake Foes Grip.
Counter attacks of extreme violence
rapidly repeated have failed to shake
the British grip on the line here and
have not prevented them from striking
again when they were ready. Bulle-
court had been hemmed in on all sides
except on the north, the British having
worked well to the east Of the village.
Driving back toward 1t they have
fought their way into the place, press
ing back desperate resisting Germans.
On the French front northeast of
Scissors and along the Chemin-Das-
Danes the Germans have been forced
to employ fresh troops in an effort to
stem the French advance. Last night
they drove masses Of men against the
line all along this front but were un-
able to shake General Nivelle's hold
upon the valuable and hard won
ground on the plateau overlooking the
Aillette river. the outlying defense of
Laon. Everywhere the French held
fast, moving down the Germans with
their fire T77-
New sattles Develop.
In the new battles which developed
late last week the French have taken
more than 5000 prisoners, bringing
their total since April 16 up to approx.
imately $4,000.
A minor military incident but one
OF some Importance was German
areoplane raid on London early today,
the first visitation the capitol has
had for months. A lone machine was
involved 1t dropped four bombs on
the outskirts of the northeast London
killing one man and injuring a man
and woman and causing slight dam.
age to buildings.
French guns have battered down the
back door to Laon and the Poidus Of
general Nivelle are now only six miles
from the German stronghold. One
formidable barrier lies between them
and their goal-the Ailette river-but
from the captured heights along the
Chemin-Des-D Danes (the road of the
ladies). the Fench guns overlook the
stream.
Parallels French Lines.
Like the Observation-Disclosures the
Ailette runs east and west, paralelling
the French lines. 1t Is hardly worthy
of tho name Of Riverbut. its bed is in
a deep gorge which makes it a grave
obstacle. Laon will not be captured
except at heavy price but the French
victories of the last week have
brought its capture appreciably nearer.
The developments on the battle field
are chiefly important for the possibil-
files they open up and the same may
be said to be true Of events behind
the firing line. In Germany there is
much talk Of political reform and sew
eral proposals have been put forward
in the Reichtsag to curtail the power
OF the emperor and make the ministry
responsible to parliament.