New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-12
British Repulse
Flame Attacks
AT Bullecourt
Emerge Victorious from
Three-Hour Struggle
Near Lens

London, May IL herman pressure
on the Arras battle front is daily be-
coming heavier A third mass attack
to-day on the newly won British posi-
tons south OF the Souchez River. be
low Lens. pressed home with flame
, throwers, resulted in three hour
struggle, during which Haig's troops
trenches. A counter attack organized
in the afternoon swept the Germans
clear Of the positions and reestablished
the British line.
II is disclosed by the reports Of cor
respondents that al Bullecourt, IN
which the Germans are still rooted, the
Australians. straddling the Hndenburg
line and almost incircling the village,
have had TO face not only streams OF
liquid fame, but jets Of boiling OIL hand
grenades. rife grenades, the missiles OF
the trench mortars and the concen-
trateo fire of guns of all ealibre which
Hindenburg has parked against this
pivotal point.
Strong German attacks above ArleuX
last night We're repulsed by the Brit
ish barrage and machine guns. Berlin
chronicles the failure Of British adj
vances at Fresnoy. Roeux and between
Monchy and Cherisy. An attempt to
storm Bullecourt in turning move
menf is said to nave been checked. All
( reports from this front indicate that
the fighting is developing into a hand
( to-hand battle. which Andre Tudeseq,
the picturesque French writer. de-
Scrlbes as IAN individual struggle for
the antagonists gas mask"
Germans Attack on Aisne
On the French front the Germans
are also loosing stiff counter attacks
though not in such force as against
the British, who have driven them into
greater peril. At Cerny, on the
Chemin desDames. charging Germans
to-day were driven back by artillery
fire, but managed 10 retain prp on a
few hundred yards Of trench, from which
they were later elected by the bsyonet.
Last night the French took another
strip OF ground northwest of Chevreux
IN their advance back of Laon. Ger
man surprise attacks at several points
on the Aisne and Champagne fronts
were checked. In some. however. the
operations were Of minor nature. and
there has been comparative lull along
he French lines.
Four fresh German divisions have
been identified on the Aisne front since
al
nary, adding:
This is irrefutable proof Of how
RAPIDLY these electives are being used
up. German losses in these three days
May to ., inclusive) exceed all esti-
mates"
Furious Counter Strokes
The repeated German attacks on the
British positions south of Lens and at
ArleuX and the pressure at Fresncy in
Gicate determination to widen once
more the salient which the British have
been narrowing about the coal city. Not
only is Hindenburg's rail communica-
ton menaced by the crushing in of the
Lens angle, but the Oppy line-which
he must hold unless he fights with his
back 20 the walls Of his last defence
system from Queant to Drocourt-has
Oeen so dlsintegrated that he must re-
pair 1t at any cost of human material.
From Gavrelle northward toward Lens
the Germans are employing the heavi-
est artillery fire they have vet devel-
opcd on the West front.
In view OF the vigorous reaction of
the Germans IN the last few days, and
the failure Of the French and British
10 register any important advance,
note almost OF pessimism has crept
into some OF the British papers. Colo
mel Repirgton, The Times" military
expert, comments on the amount OF
blood and material consumed in the
West front offensive. and practically
suggests that Britain and France de-
cree breathing spell on the battle
/ front until the unexpected reserves of
the United States can be thrown into
the balance.