The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-12
BRITISH SUBDUE
WAVE OF FLAME
Beat Off Three Terrific At.
tacks, Two Preceded by
Liquid Fire.
BATTLE Is MORE INTENSE
Germans Are Throwing In
New Divisions in Effort to
Recapture Trenches.
BATTLE Is MORE INTENSE

LoNpoS. May 11.--Brtish troops in
the southwestern outskirts Of Lens went
through a terrible ordeal last night but
came out victorious. Three terrifc coun-
ter attacks beat upon them. In two Of
the attacks the Germans used LIQUID
fame throwers. The British line to-day
u Just where It was before the first at
tAcks began.
Twice the Germans charged, preceded
~ sheets OF flame They used fiammen-
Verfer In greater numbers than usual.
In the hope Of burning . way through
lines that bullets and bayonets had
failed to break. The flaming torches.
projecting in q roaring blass $50 feet
In front Of the attackers. were q terrify-
ing spectacle under tho clouded night
sky but did very little damage.
Success IL Temporary.
The third and last attack was the
strongest and resulted in q temporary
success. For three hours the British
had been fighting without respite. the
aercest kind OF work. At last the ex-
hausted defenders gave way and the
Germans occupied some OF the contested
trenches. Their liquid fame had been
q splendid target for the artillery and
machine guns. however, and their losses
we're heavy. Then came a British coun-
ter attack this afternoon and every foot
Of the lost trenches was recovered.
SO ended n period of fighting as fierce
In proportion to the troops engaged as
any in the Arras battle. The attack
nv,lS- rnY n
o series Of German counter attacks on
a front OF six miles, from Gavrelle to
Lens Tho fighting was heaviest at the
northern end of this line, south of tho
River Souchez, where the British ad-
vsnced yesterday.
While there was no general battle to-
Gay. the Associated Press correspond
en-, at British headquarters says the
German efforts to retake lost positions
continue with even greater desperation
They are still throwing In fresh forces
and the fighting II becoming more san
culinary. Around Bullecourt, which the
Germans are especially eager to hold.
the Australians have been attacked
with boiling oil. gas bombs and every
device Of modern war, but have stood
hIm.
Fail on French Front.
The situation Is the same on the
French front. Here too the Germans
continued unabted their furious struE-
gle to win back some OF the ground they
have lost and. failed completely in the
effort. The Germans have sent In four
fresh divisions on the Chenin des
Danes since last Monday.
There were two big counter attacks
On the French front to-day. The Ger
mans attacked on both sides OF Cerny-
sn-Laonnois after strong bombardment.
Some Of them got n footing in advanced
French trenches, but were hurled out
fo-nie plateau the Germans failed, after
spirited fighting. to make any progress.
During the night the French made 4
quick dash and seized German posi-
ton near Chevreux.
The German official statement is ST.
indicates that the Germans expect soon
another big attack by the British at
Arras. THE mutual activity Of the ar
tilleries increased to great violence on
the whole Arras battlefront" says the
War Office. The official statements fol-
low:
Flammenwerfer Are Used.
British Night SYSTEMATICALLY this
morning the enemy launched n third
attack, in which they again employed
hammenwerfer. upon our new POSI-
tion south OF the Souchex River.
After severe fighting lasting some
Three hours the weight Of the eneny's
repeated assaults compelled our posts
10 withdraw from portion Of the front
attacked. This afternoon our troops
counter attacked and recaptured the
whole OF the lost trenches. As \ re-
suit OF his three attacks the enemy
suffered heavy losses. Our positions
remain unchanged.
The activity in the air continued
yesterday. Three German airplanes
were brought down in air nights and
three others were driven down out Of
contrcl Two Of our machines are
missing
Two Attacks Break Down.
British Day Statement-Early last
night the enemy attacked our positions
east of Arleux and south Of the Sou
chez River. He was repulsed in each
case by our artillery and machine
guns. At the latter point the enemy
made another attack later In the night.
assisted by fammenwerfer. He was
We made a successful raj. last
night east of Ypres.
There was considerable artillery
artivity on both sides during Tho right
at nuIper Of points on the battle
'front.'
French Night Statement---In the re-
kton OF Cerny -Laonnois the Ger
mans, after n violent bomba rdment. at
tackled our positions on both sides Of
the village simultaneously. Our bar
rage and the fire Of our machine guns
smashed the assau.ting waves. which
were unable TO reach our trenches In
the eastern and western sectors, Some
enemy formations which succeeded In
gaining a foothold on q front OF about
zoo meters in an advanced element
were thrown back by an immediate
counter attack Of our troope.
Artillery Fire spirited.
The artillery fire has continued very
spirited on this section Of the front
In the Argonne, toward BolaEte. We
carried out a surprise attack on the
enemy lines and brought back some