Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-15
Haig's Forces Grind Way
Rapidly Thru Hinden-
burg's Iron Line.
NOW FIGHTING TOE TO TOE
Allies Take Griecourt After
Fierce Bayonet Charge;
Foe Fights Hard.
BY A STATE CORRESPONDENT
OF The Associated Press.

WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES ~
FRANCE, VIA LONDON, april IA,
o."O p. m)--IIeaVy high explosive
shells were pouring irto Lens late to-
day and undoubtedly were giving inn
'ctus to the German plans t. fall back
from that city, which has been In the
hands OF the Germaus since the
autumn OF 1914. together with the
mineral wealth represented In TIE
surrounding district. Fires In Lens.
seen for the first time yesterday aft
crnoon were smouldering today. There
apparently was no general conflaara-
tion. Time and time again explosions
could be seen within the city.
T,css In On Three Sides.
Lens stretches over several miles,
howevec and in far distant partr OF
the city smoke could be observed
pouring from tail chimGeys MS X the
industrial activities of the Germans In
the French factories We're progressing
"a usual British patrols were this
afternoon pressing toward tho city
from three directions
From the northern slopes Of Vimy
ridge, recently captured from the Ger
mans, 1t was possible thru the brit
liantly clear atmosphere 10 see the
spires and chmneys Of pouai. stu a
German stronghold. Nearer Lens
seerrcd 10 lie almost at tne verv foot
Of the ridge with its suburb I4aVien
spTawlng well into the Germans line.
Lens presents Il striking contrast to
the usual gray littie .own or northern
France. II appears ir the distance az
one great splotch of red-ree walis
red roofs red chimneys-out Of which
loom the gray walls and gray towers
of the cathedral.
Towers Like OIL Dcrricks.
Mine towers dot the surrounding
country almost as thickly as oil der
riClks In the petroleum districts OF
America Great Stag heaps rise here
and there like SO many Egyptian
pyramids.
In and around these buildings shells
exploded thruout the afternoon.
throwing up dense clouds OF brick
dust. which. caught up by the April
storm wind. spread pinlish yellow
pail over the lower sections Of the
city.
The German Guns Speak.
Above Lens occasional shrapnel
shells boke. With the usual British
white puff balls were mingled densely
black puffs, the latter being the Ger
man so, recently captured and turned
on the Germans. Several times pre-
vious during the war German light
them, but this was the first time the
heavier calibers were loosed.
Some of the points surrounding
Lens. already occupied by the Brit
ish, were thorns in the side of these
same soldiers during the famous bat
ties of the Loos salient. 1t was i'm
possible then to blow the Germans out
of their strong positions, but now this
is changed The difference between
the bombardment with which the Of
fensive began last Monday and that
which the British inaugurated the bat
ties OF the Somme last July was so
great that ii is difficult to realize that
they came from the same army At
the time set for the Somme bombard-
mcnt some Of the British artillery Of
ficers were seeing large shells fired
from their guns for the first time.
Al the battle of Arras the British Of
ficers and gum crews handled the
weapons like veterans. Behind them
lay six or seven months OF constant
training. not only in the schools, but
actually in the field with the German
positions as practice targets.
\ Winter OF Training.
All winter long the British guns
have roared in order that when tho
offensive began every artilleryman
would have thoro knowledge of tho
various phases OF the modern school
OF gunnery. The rapidity and preci-
sion with which the bombardment
was carried out has been one OF the
distinct features of the new success.
The small losses suffered were due
largely to the cooperation and ef-
iectiye work of the artillery Every
step forward now finds guns of ali
calibers merely waiting for the word
tn place destructive fire or pro-
tective barrage wherever the infantry
desires.
Tight Hand to- Hand.
british troops are now within few
hundred yards Of the town of St
Quentin. During today, says the Off
cial statement from British hcadquar-
ters in France tonight, Field Marshal
Hais's men fought treir way south
and cast Of Fayct one mile northwest
Of St quentin. The village of Grie-
court enc mile north Of Fayet, was
carried at the point Of the payonet.
The Germans are reported 10 have
resisted stubbornly and suffered many
killed and wounded in addition TO tho
less OF more than four hundred prls-