The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-04-25
MOST BITTER
BATTLE RAGING
Apparently the Bitterest Fighting Of
the Present Angio-FrenchN Of
tensive Now Raging
ARTILLERY DUELS CONTINUE
Resistance Of German Armies Ap-
pears to Increase in Accordance
With British Approach

What is apparently the bitterest
fighting of the present Anglo-French
offensive is raging today along the
Wotan line, the hastily organized posi-
ton east Of. the Arras to which the
Germans retired when the northern
end of the Hindenberg line was. turn
ed by General Haig The Germans
are putting forth supreme effort to
hold this vital portion. of their de-
lenses, the crumbling of which would
expose. Douai and Carbrai and bring
into prospect another great retreat.
The British have driven two wedg-
es into the German positions forming
sharp salients in the region OF the
Scarpe river and north of the, Bapame
Cambria road. The head of the first
salient has been thrust within four
miles OF Vitry, the most important
point on the Wotan line but the ten
acity and power with which the Ger
mans are fighting leaves the issue for
time in doubt.
The little news that trickles across
the German frontier indicates that
the authorities have gained the upper
hand in the strike situation by the
drastic method of militarizing the
IlUulIlOuo &ANuuSliy AAAu AoA N'ho 'NA AANN
leaders into the fighting ranks. ...
Artillery Duels Continue. q
PARIS, April 24-The artillery was
very active last night in the vicinity
of Hurtebise in the Foulon valley and
near Craonne*says today's official an:
n nS;soss1s Hfpah aasI9'ft fask
Two German STACKS during the
night were repulsed In the Cham
pagnesthere was grenade fighting.
BRITISH ,HEADQU ARTERS = IN
FRANCE, by way toft London, April "a
The resistance of the German arm
les appears to increase in accordance
with the nearness of the British ap-
proach to the Hindenberg positions.
This is particularly true along the
present front where the threat is
against the Drocourt- Queant switch
line which is depended upon by the
Germans as the connecting link be.
tween their lines north OF st. Quentin
and south of Lille This is the switch
toward which the Germans are falling
back slowly but surely as a result OF
the turning of the top Of the original
Hindenberg line running from just
southeast of Arras toward Quentin.
yesterday beyond Arras increased IN
intensity late in the afternoon and last
night The ground gained by the Bri-
fish was won in thet face OF some of
the most desperate fighting on the
part of the Germans since the war be-
gan. Trench warfare for the time be-
ing is, forgotten. The Germans away
from their chief dugOuts where so
often in the past they were Inclined
to seek refuge during a period Of as
sault,sNere urged by their officers to
make every sacrifice. During attack
and counter attack the cries OF the
officers to their men. could be heard
above the grinding tumult of battle.
~ This is the last and deciding push
for we soon shall be able to hold out
no longer" reads the diary of Ger
man officer who was captured ycster-
day. 1t is evidently in this spirit that
the present fighting is still going on.
The struggles Of the opposing troops
about Monchay may be seen plainly
from the neighboring hilltops. The
patches of woods beyond Monchy have
served as shelter for the Germans in
the last ten days and it was behind
these late yesterday that the German
commanders rallied their forces. With
reserves brought up quickly they
formed counter attacks against the
newly advanced British positions
where khaki clad men were fighting
from shell holes and shallow bits of
trenches previously dug by the Ger
mans. From these woods the Ger
mans issued in great solid ranks.