Evening star., 1917-04-15
.0NRUSH|NG ALLIES.
IN BITTER BATTLES,
GAIN MORE GROUND
British Surround Lens on
Three Sides and Capture
Several Towns.
WITHIN FEW HUNDRED
YARDS OF ST. QUENTIN
Teutonic Attacks Prove Absolutely
Futile-Haig's Men Three Miles
East of Vimy Ridge.


Momentous battles involving
the fate OF Lens and st. Quentin
are being fought i'll northern
France, the onrushing British and
French having these towns al
most within their grasp.
Most vital in the series OF en-
gagements are those accompany
ing the British offensive in the
Arras region. now described as a
real push" Gen. Haig's sledge-
hammer blows here so far have
been too much for the Germans
to withstand.
Correspondents at the front
hint at executions of possibly
greater things. The unrelenting
British pressure is causing the
Germans to abandon guns and
other equipment that they have
no time to take away, and ap-
parently there is hope on the part
of the British of keeping up the
pursuit at such a pace that their
foe may be caught unprepared at
some point and real break in
the line effected.
LEVIN and Cite St. Pierre Taken.
Smashing British blows against the
German positions north and south of
Lens have had their effect. and the
British now hold the suburban towns
of LEVIN and Cite St. Pierre, and are
reported to be firing heavy explosive
shells into the mining center of north
ern France. Lens is surrounded ON
three sides.
With the French holding fast south
of ST. Quentin and less than a mile
from its border Field Marshal Haig's
men followed up their capture of Fayet.
Il
ing the German defenders back TO
within a few hundred yards of St
Quentin on the north.
There has been violent fighting along
all the important sectors on the front
between Lens and st. Quentin, and
everywhere the British have either
made gains in the German defenses Or
have held back German attacks.
Far East of Vimy Ridge.
South of Lens and north Of the river
Scarpe the troops of Field Marshal
Haig have continued to plunge forward
and have reached points two to three
miles east of the Vimy ridge. which,
reputed one of the strongest points in
the German defenses northeast of
ArraS, less than week ago was in
German hands.
South of the Scarpe the Germans
have fought stubbornly and have
rushed reserve forces into the fray in
an effort to hold back the oncoming
British. Attacks and counter-attacks
came at short intervals. but the Brit
ish maintained the captured positions
London says. Serious
losses were inflicted on the Germans.
Northwest of St Quentin the British
also have captured the village of Gri-
court. mile north of Fayet. The Ger
mans lost heavily in killed and wound
ed. London reports, in the fighting
around Fayet. The British here cap-
tureu 800 prisoners from the GermanA
Many Aeroplanes Lost.
Aerial lighting continues on a large
scale on the western front. and Lon
don reports that twelve British ma
chimes failed to return after enGag-
ing the Germans behind the lines. Four
German machines were brought down
by British aviators and six others were
driven down. Berlin records that the
entente lost twenty-four airplaues FRI
lay.
South of St Quentin the French
maintain their destructive fire against
he German positions. and the Ger
mans are replying. French troops
made some progress on the plateau
northeast of Quincy Basse. south OF
he Disc. Violent cannonading has
marked the hostilities at other i'm
Iy the French.
British Official Report.
LONDON. April 1.-THE text of to-
nights official statement reads:
THE town of LEVIN, northwest OF
md adjoining Lens. was captured this
tonslueraDie Quantities of
var material have fallen into our
lands. In the afternoon we seized Cite
81 Pierre. northwest of Lens and our
roops pressed on along the whole
'ront from the Scarpe river to the
,outh of Loos. and reached points two
o three miles east of Vimy ridge.
south of the Scarpe heavy fighting
n which the enemy employed strong
eserves has taken place all day. At
acls and counter attacks followed each
,ther at short intervals. Our troops
maintained the positions
previously captured and inflicted seri-
,us losses on the enemy.
Gricourt Is Carried
I'VE made further progress during
he day on a wide front north and south
f the Bapaume- Cambria road. In the
curse of a series of fierce encounters.
IL of which resulted in our favor, our
roops fought their way forward during
he day south and east of Fayet to
own of ST. Quentin and carried the
illage of Gricourt at the point Of tho
ayonet The enemy resisted stub
90 prisoners. suffered heavily in killed
nd wounded.
IAN attempted hostile counter at.
ack was broken up by our artillery.
Yesterday and during the night Of