The state herald., 1917-04-20
DEsPeRArE ONSLAUGHT BY oIR.
MANS SAVES KEY TO HIN.
pENsuRo POSITION.
BRITISH CAPTURE LENS
ALLIES PUSH ON TO st. QUENTIN
AND IRRESISTIBLE THRusTs
FORCE ENEMY BACK.
western Newspaper Union New. Service.

LOnuOn, april lI.-Appdi ehtiy eno
city of Lens. the great coal center OF
northern France. has fallen before the
British drive. British troops are tight
ening their grip on the outskirts OF
st. Quentin. The night British Of
flcial report speaks only of progress
least OF LEVIN, where our troops are
approaching the outskirts Of Lens"
but the correspondent Of Lloyds News
with the British army telegraphs that
British patrols entered the city be-
tween 4 and O'Clock Sunday after
noon. The Germans ordered the civil
population from the town on Friday.
preparatory to their own departure.
and seized three months provisions
accumulated in Lens by the American
relief commission.
The German trench system among
the Stag heaps in front Of the city has
been virtually pulverized by the blast
fire from Gen. Horne's batteries. East
of the city they have another network
Of trenches In which 1t is believed
they will make a temporary stand be-
fore retiring to the supplementary
Hindenburg line between Drocourt and
Queant.
A powerful counter assault launched
against the newly-formed British line
converging on st. Quentin and Lens
Monday gained the Germans foot
hold in the village of Lagnicourt. ac-
cording to word received from Gen.
Haig's headquarters In France. Sew
eral divisions were hurled upon the
British, the enemy's attack being de-
livered with desperate ferocity be-
cause Of the extremely important
strategic value of Lagnicourt. which
commands the principal approaches to
the Bapaume-Cambrai highway. pos
session Of which is necessary for the
defense Of both Lens and st. Quentin.
At all points where counter attacks
were delivered the Germans were
thrown back with sanguinary losses.
The Turks have sustained another
defeat at the hands of the British In
Mesopotamia. The war office an.
nounccs that the Turks are in retreat
after battle In which they suffered
heavy losses.
Two German attacks in verdun sec.
tor repulsed.
Seventeen British. French and
American" Nrplanes destroyed by
Germans.
London. April 1.-THE far-reaching.
important and sweeping success won
during the battle OF Arras is being
revealed In successive chapters to the
British public. which hardly realizes
yet that II is the most effectual and
decisive event to the credit Of the
British army during the war. 1t may
well rank with the battle Of the
Marne. which turned back the German
invasion directed against Paris. and
may prove the turning point Of the
whole war and change the balance OF
the world struggle.
Field Marshal Haig's bulletin TO-
night. giving the number Of guns cap
tured as 1G6 and the aggregate OF
prisoners rs 10000. and the details oi
the new territory gained for France
from the invader. marks the battle Of
Arras ms n great victory.
But the significant statement from
Field Marshal Haig is that the British
are astride the Hindenburg line.
On n twelve.mile front from north
Of the River Scsrpe to south OF Loos
British troops pressed back the Ger
mans all along the line and captured
six villages. Field Marshal Haig's
men. the official communication from
British headquarters In France adds
also have gained footing In German
trenches northeast OF Lens. Prisoner
: and guns also were taken In the ad
vance.
: London, April 13.-Notwithstandins
the amazing April storm tho British
attack widened Thursday by a blow
north Of vimy ridge. the latter hay
Ing been firmly held and consolidated
by the Canadians. against bittel
. German fire. The troops which
. struck north of vimy penetrated to q
]. point few hundred yards northwest
OF Givcnchy. having carried out thcIl
dawn attnck with the same precision
as has characterized other operations
Rio Janciro.--The government hal
r decided to seize all German ships Il
Brazilian hnrbors.
Iondon.-The British hospital uhiI
). Giouccstcr Castle was torpcdoed with
a out warning and sunk In mid-channc
= on tho night OF March 3o.3i and th,
= British hospital ship saita struck
; mino and sank in the English channe
on April 10th. tho admiralty officiall,
announced. Fifty.two persons on tn
5aitp pcrishcd. There were no wound
cd aboard. or tho fifty.two who pei
| ~. sstealNR Atstara Sls