Evening star., 1917-05-12
TELLING BLOWS STRUCK
BY BRITISH IN FRANCE
Extend Gains Near Bul1ecourt
Where Haig Is Astride Hin
denburg Line.

Telling blows were struck by the Brit
ish at the Hindenburg line last night and
early today.
Near Bullecourt, where the main Hin
denburg line has been pierced. further
successful thrust was made by Gen.
Haig's troops. This was pushed home
and the objective gained despite the des-
perate efforts which have been made
during the last few days to compel the
British to relax their unceasing pressure
upon this vital spot.
Farther north beyond the Scarpe and
along the Arras-Cambrai read ground
also was gained. The purpose Of the
attacks was completely attained, the
London official statement declares. The
here have evidently not been able to pre-
vent Gen. Haig pressing ahead when he
was ready, toward the DrocOurt-Quean
switch in the Hindenburg line protecting
Douai, one of the chief nerve centers of
the German front in northern France.
Several hundred prisoners were taken
by the British in these operations, which
the official report characterizes as very
On the Aisne and Champagne fronts the
French are keeping up destructive ar
tillery fire and harrying the Germans by
outpost attacks. Less energy is being
the line held by the French, the only ex-
ception being the Verdun region, where
violent big gun fighting in the neighbor-
hood OF Avocourt wood is reported.
British Official Report.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May IL. 1:05 pm.-The
official statement of today reads:
VERY successful operations were un-
dertakent by our troops last night and
early this morning. Attacks were de-
livered on the Hindenburg line in the
neighborhood of Bullecourt; also astride
the Scarpe.
We gained our detectives at all
points and have taken some hundreds
Of prisoners.
Local fighting resulting in our favor
also took place during the night east
of Lempire.
Successful raids, in which we cap
tured several prisoners, were made by
US last night east of Ypres."
The Germans. returning to the attack
yesterday against the new British
positions south of the Souchez river,
forced the British to give ground and
withdraw from a portion Of the front.
says the British official communication
issued last night.
Later, however, in a counter attack.
the British regained all their old po-
sitions. the Germans suffering heavy
casualties.
Heavy Fire on French Front.
PARIS, May 12, 2:o4 p.m-The official
statement of today follows:
THE enemy's artillery fire along the
Chemin-des-Dames was less active last
night. Our batteries kept up a destruc-
tive bombardment of the German or
ganizations and caused the explosion of
munitions depot northeast of Juvin-
court. Patrol engagements occurred in
the region of Pontheon, south OF
Pargny. and in the Champagne, in the
wood west of Mount Carnil1et.
"On the left bank of the Meuse (Ver-
dun 'front.' there was violent artillery
firing all might in the region of Avo-
court wood with no infantry actions
Our detachments penetrated the Ger
man lines north of Bezonvaux and at
several points in, Alsace, in the sector
of AmmertZweilef we took a number of
prisoners, on the remainder of the front
the night passed in quiet"
Berlin Claims Successes.
BERLIN May 12. via London, 4:s1
pm.-German troops operating in the
Cernoy region on the Aisne front forced
the French back yesterday at Bovelle
ridge. says today's army statement
were brought down on the western front
during the day. it is announced.
Fighting developed today between
AcheyiIle and Oueant IN he ba