New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-30
Take 976 Prisoners in the
Struggle to Break
Enemy Defences
Canadians Beat Back
Germans at ArleuX
Infict Severe Losses
French Are Enveloping
Fort Brimont

London. April 29.-Thc battle for the
Oppv line IS stll in furious swing, with
p the British holding the advance.
The Berlin day rc2ort. which admits
the loss Of Arleux-en-Gohelle, as we'll as
advanced" points at 0ppy and near
Gavrcllc and RocuX, maintains that the
British suffered crushing reverse.
General Haig's answer was given tins
morning. when more than mile Of
trench system, starting south Of Oppy
and running toward Gavrelle was con
ouercd after forocious ngnung Mean
while 976 German prisoners. including
sixteen officers. have passed through
the British ranks.
The British lines now run from IN
the neichborhood Of Nimy 10 WITHIN
,bree-ouartcrs Of a mile Of Acheville,
around Ar!euN, just on the outSklrts OF
Cppv. well 20 the east Of Gavrclle ana
across the Scarpc, before RoeuN, 70 the
heights Of Monchy. Fierce as the baltIe
has been all along the line. II has con-
centratcd its intensity before kocuN'
which the Germans seem determined 10
hold. cost what the sacrifice may
The posiuon at RoeuX, lying on the
north bank Of the Scarpe, corresponds
somewhat 90 the position al Monchy,
on the south bank of the stream.
In degree they supplement oach
other. as high ground lies 20 the east
ward Of each village. The highlands
of Monchy are firmly held by the Brit
ish. who are now trying 10 oNertuH
Roeux and clear out HiA 90 JUST De
vond il. Naturally, the Germans are
clinring tenaciously 20 the last baSl ION
of their Oppy line IN the immediate
Scarpe valley, which runs rlght up 70
and through the marshlands around
Douai.
Fierce Battle Before RoeuN
All dav to-day and yesterday there
Was the crash Of attack and counter
track before RoeuX, with neither slde
gaining the decision The Germans are
nsing Mount Pleasant Wood and the
cbern;cal works at the edge OF the VII
lage as points from which TO deboucA'
ana the ground before and between
tbesc nlaces is said 20 be actually
crowded with their dead The nghtlng
lie rcportcd often to have passed the
machine Gun and rife stage, even the
hand grenade stage. and 10 have de-
generated into the smash OF gun Dul's
on hostile skulls. 80
The berlin day bulletin gives a good
nicture Of the beginning OF the bntSh
advance. AT dayhrcak. u says 'he
British stcrming columns came Io.
ward. following curtains OF steel aus T.
GAS and smoke, which had oeeh az
Sanced By degrees Inc grouno -
now dry, the spring rains having De"
replaced by the iron ram OF 'h, al ~
lcrv. and the falling shell fragments
boyo Creatod such IL haze OF dust that
often the strugcl & combatants are
1oet 10 view. while the Immediate at
mospherc Of the battle field almost pre-
vents aerial observation.
Canadians Repulse Enemy
Arleux. held by the Canadians, was
/ the scene Of q savage German counter
4 attack last night. in which the gray
clad soldiers advanced in successive
waves The Canadian machine guns.
however. were soon rafting. the British
barrace fell. and the tattered columns
turned broke and fed To-day. with
Arleux as a pivot. the fighting spread
southwark for three miles toward Ga-
vrelle
As clearly AS may be judged. the
British entered Oppy yesterday morn
ing. but we're driven out again IN INC
afternoon. Now. apparently. they stand
on the outskirts Of the village, ana
having failed i'm the frontal attack, are
irving TO turn il from tie south. In
this thew seem TO be succeeding. as the
conquest Of the trench system Just be-
low the town would indicate.
In the lowlands south Of the Scarpe
the Germans officially admit that the
British big gun ire has destroyed their
defences, but 10 rs maintained that they
are still clinging TO them against all
British attacks. april % was new
dav Of honor" declares Won Duden-
dorF's report OF the battle.
Fighting Near st. Quentin
According 10 to-night's British re-
nor, IN, fchting is extending south
ward toward 81. Quentin, though only
in n local way. A German detachment
WAS surprised by Haig's men near Pom.
truet northwest Of st. Quentin, and
dispersed. Many were killed and others
taken prisoner.
In the air lighting yesterday the
British brought down three German
'nlanes and lost three of their own.
On the French front activity broke
out northwest Of Rheims, in the direC'
fion Of Fort Brimont. which the French
arc elowly enyeloping Nivelie's troops
attacked around Courcy with hand
erenades, and not only extended their
positions approciably, but captured 200
prisoners.
Both the Paris and Berlin night re-
ports indicate that the artillery duel
along the Aisne heights and in the
Champagne. clear from Prunay to
Auborive. is increasing IN intensity.
In upper Alsace the French carried
cut a concerted series Of raids, pene
trating 20 the cnemys second line posi-
tions at several points, bombing the
occupants, destroying the defences and
returning 20 their own lines with pris-
oners.