The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-16
BRITISH AND FRENCH PRESSING
GERMANS HARD ALL ALONG
WIDE FRONT.
BATTLE N THE AIR
Teuton Flyers Hide Behind Clouds and
Attack Lone Foemen in Gangs. Rifle
Shooting Contest, After Which Ger
mans Flee in Disorder.
(From a Staff Correspondent of the
Associated Press).

Associated Press.
British Headquarters in France,
April 16.-(Via London) The British
continued today gradually to widen
the second gap out in the Hindenblrg
line north OF St Quentin, having cap
| tured the position known as the Three
Sayages, east of Gricourt. st. Quen-
tin continues to burn. Away to the
north Lens still holds out. The Ger
mans have several strong positions
about the city to which they still
cling.
The British apparently would like
to take Lens without inflicting too
great damage from an extensive BON.
Dardment. They have always been in
a position to reduce the city to ruins.
but the shells have been directed
against selected spots known to be
used for military purposes by the
Germans Nevertheless the Germans
continue their work Of destroying the
city by blowing up buildings.
Like Vimy Ridge.
There was fighting all day about
Monchy-Le PreuX, east of Arras. which
already had Witnessed some fierce on.
counters since the battle Of Arras be.
gan. Monchy in its way is a little Vimy
ridge all by itself, standing sentinel
as the last high ground over miles
upon miles Of plains sweeping east
ward. The Germans held out there for
two days after the Arras battle opened
and nave launched half a score of
counter attacks against 1t without sue.
cess. The place lends itself to coun.
tL-attacks because of outlying woods
where troops ordinarily could assem-.
bic unobserved
There were morning and afternoon
attacks yesterday. In both instances
the trenches OF the Germans were dis
covered and artillery played on the
woods, scattering a large percentage
OF the formations. There has been
notable air lighting over Monchy. and
many machines have been brought
down in the last two days. Large Ger
man formations have attacked the
British scouts and the patter of ma
chine guns overhead has been almost
continuous during the daylight hours
Airmen Behind Clouds.
The Germans as rule are careful
air fighters and virtually never attack
unless they outnumber the British
three or four to one They have come
to be known as gang air fighters" but
their tactics of lying in wait high
above the fleecy clouds and darting
| upon an isolated foe, do not perturb
the British flyers.
The British continue 10 police the
air, not only behind their own front:
but far into the German territory and
so they naturally suffer the same casu.
alties as police force would from en-.
countering ambush attacks from out.
laws. The weather continues favor.
able to the German methods OF avoid.
ing open air conflicts Even on the
clearer days the sky Is filled with
clouds which offer protection and hid.
ing places for the high winglng Ger.
man machines.
Further details OF the fighting yes.
terday show the desperate character
of several German attacks on tho new
British positions. The attack which
was essayed from both sides OF Oucant
and temporarily pierced the British
line ot Lagnicourt, was exceptionally
bitter i began at 1880 o'clock sun.
day morning and continued for three
hours without interruption British ad.
vauccd posts were driven In but the
support units Joined issue with the
Germans.
Many hand 10 hand encounters fol.
lowed. There also was more actually
aimed rifle shooting than for many
months During this fire the Germans
fell In clumps They attempted 10 seek
cover behind thickets The British
fired into these with good results.
When the reserves came up az last.
the Germans broke into fun flight.