The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-23
Anticipated British Blow Falls
at Dawn Today.
Opens Attack on Both Sides of
Scarpe River.
SUCCESSFUL" HAIG REPORTS
Resumes Drive With Intense
Fury After Pause.
Takes GavelIe, Trescault, Cue
mappe and HavricOurt Woods.

British Heaquarters in France,
April %, via London, from a staff cor
respondent of the Associated Press:
In their new offensive the British
have captured the town of Gavelle,
the last part of the defense of the
Hindenburg line north of Scarpe.
They also have taken the village of
Guemappe. south of the Scarpe.- More
than 1000 prisoners have been taken
today.
The 1uIl in the last week on the
British front was broken today by
attacks which spread along a wide
front The fighting was particularly
severe on both banks of the Scarpe
where the British pushed forward in
their initial successes and won the
| battle of Arras.
Take 1000 Prisoners.
1t is only possible at the time of
writing to give very indefinite news.
but the first reports coming back in
dicate the capture of Gavrelle, north
of the Scarpe, and Guemappe, south
of that stream. A big push also was
made opposite Croissilles and from
that sector of the front along comes
the report that more than 1000 pris-
oners were taken. Gavrelle is part
of the last definite defense the Ger
1
is known as the Drocourt-Queant
Switch to the Hindenburg line
The British also made progress
southwest of Lens. the German gar
rision of which town daily is ia cling a
more critical situation. The fighting
today was under fine weather and a
chill northeast wind. The latter. how
ever. dried the ground and gave the
attacking troops the best going they
had enioyed this year; The bombard-
which had been going on steadily for
two days increased in intensity last
night when the skies were lighted by
the continuous flashes of the guns.
Airplanes Fill the Air.
Airplanes fairly filled the air over
the battle lines today directing the ar
tillery and cooperating with the in
fantry. Yesterday the British avia-
tors brought down six German obser-
vation balloons. The first phase of
the battle of Arras which began Eas-
ter Monday ended with the British in
possession of Monchy- -Preux,
which, however, remained distinct
salient until today's fighting was taken
up. Monchy, situated on hill, COM
mands the country for forty miles
eastward. During the last ten days
the Germans delivered at least a score
of counter attacks against that posi-
ton, against which they brought an
ate attempt to recapture it shows how
highly Monchy was regarded as a key
position protecting the Drocourt
switch line, which has not yet been
fortified as strongly as the Germans
would desire.
Over $500 Dead.
-- Monchy has been one of the blood
lest spots the Germans have known
I and when the British advanced from
1t in the early dawn they had to pick
their way over thousands of dead men
in field grey uniforms. 1t was esti-
mated that $500 Germans were killed
in one days counter attacks so closely
were the men massed.
General Haig's Report.
London, April 2S.-Over a wide
front on both sides of the river Scarpe,
Field Marshal Haig early today re-
sumed the British drive with tre-
mendously forceful attack.
I'VE attacked at dawn this morning
on both banks of the Scarpe and made
satisfactory progress" he reported.
South of the Bapaume-Cambrai road
| lage of Tresca ult and at night gained
the greater part of the Havricourt
wood.
THE scarpe attack was over a wide
| front"
Making Alternate Smashes.
London hailed Haig's report as in
British offensive. While there has
been no abatement in the pressure
around Lens and on the Cambrai-St.
| Quentin line during the past week,
| nevertheless it was felt here that the
| Continued on Page Two)