The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-11
At Least Five Battalion
Commanders Are Among
the Captured.
100 BIG GUNS TAKEN
German Line to North of
vimy Ridge Becomes
Shaky.
ENGLISH LOSSES ARE FEW
French Drive Germans From
High Ground Near st.
Quentin.
ENGLISH LOSSES ARE FEW

LONDON. April 10.-Smas shing forward
With an effect upon their German adver-
sar!es that was almost paralyzing. the
British army in northern France to-day
pushed it's lines to Monchy le-Prex, five
miles east OF Arras. and besides cap
tured n great number of prisoners and
guns.
To-night's official statement from
British headquarters reports the capture
In the two days ending this evening OF
more than 1900 prisoners, including
2Ss officers, with more than 100 guns.
including many heavy guns up to eight
inches, GO trench mortars and also 1853
machine guns. Among the captured Of
accrs were at least five battalion COM
nanders.
In severity OF fighting and in the ex-
tent Of ground gained the operations OF
yesterday and to-day far surpassed the
first days of the memorable Somme Of
fensive of last July.
Sweeping back the German lines along
the Scarpe. northeast Of Arras, the Brit
: ish penetrated three and a half miles TO
the town Of Fampoux. They also pressed
mile and half southwark to the out
skirts Of Monchy. Farbus and the woods
adjoining both were cleared OF the en-
emy.
Victory for Canadians.
Hard fighting took place again this
afternoon OH the northern edge Of Vimy
ridge. In this section. one OF the hard
est bits of the fronts to gain, the Cana
dsns finally took complete possession,
Kidding even the eastern slopes OF Ger
mans and repulsing spirited counter
attack.
The counter attack by the Teutons in
d.cates the Importance they attach to
this position. whence the conquerors now
look down over the plain of Douai. With
Why ridge lost. the whole German line
covering the French towns and indus
trial districts to the north becomes 4
wavering one, and any leisurely retreat
they may have planned is made yet
more uncertain and precarious.
Five miles northwest of ST. Quentin
the Germans have been driven from the
high ground between lie Verguier and
Hargicourt the gain in that sector tight
en!ng the chain which the Anglo-French
forces are drawing around that city.
Among the incidents recorded is the
capture Of the commander Of the Ger
man Seventeenth Division.
An interesting incident was the cap
ture of a pair Of heavy howitzers.
mounted on the bank of the River
scarpe. by cavalry squadron. They
charged the gunners in fine old style.
cutting down those who resisted. and
they put the guns effectively out Of ac-
ton until they could be brought In. The
British casualties thus far have been
extremely light,
Germans Admit Big Losses.
The day report from Berlin admits
that two German divisions suffered
considerable losses In the fighting near
Arras, but in the night statement the
failure Of the British attacks on the
southern bank Of the Scarpe Is claimed
The of.icial communications follow:
British-Our operations have been
continued energetically to-day in spite
OF heavy snowstorms and generally
unfavorable weather. We have reached
the outskirts Of Monchy-le-Prex, five
miles east OF Arras, and have cleared
Farbus and Farbus wood.
Hard fighting took place again this
afternoon on the northern end of Vimy
Ridge. In which we gained further i'm
portant positions and took number OF
Prisoners and machine guns.
In the direction OF Cambria we ad-
vanced our line north of the village
OF Louverval. Such counter attacks
as the enemy attempted at different
points along our front met with no
success.
The number Of prisoners taken since
the opening of our attack yesterday
morning now exceeds II 900, including
23J officers. We also captured over
700 guns, among them "A number of
heavy guns up to eight inch calibre,
sxty trench mortars and also 1853 ma
chine guns.
Onr airplanes performed valuable
work yesterday In cooperation with
our infantry, and in a number OF cases
,nacted casualties with machine gun
fye on hostile reenforcements. Bomb
ing expeditions were also carried out.
IN which "A number Of hits were OBJ
talned upon a large railway station
utilized by the enemy.
AS 4 result OF the air fighting three
GERMAN a!rplanes were destroyed and
Your others were brought down, One
0t our machines is missing.
Fighting at Vimy Ridge.
British 6day)-During .the night
mere was severe fighting at the north
eNd OF the Nimy ridge. where the en-
eny had retained footing. He was
elected and an attempted counter at
'a,k failed to materiaIize. The east
'In slope Of the ridge has been cleared
=" the enemy and counter attack1 re-
pulsed.
our troops advanced and seized the
,h.ag" OF fampoux and ne!ghboring
se'ehces north and south OF the
ocsrpe.
ihe number Of prisoners taken yes
erday exceeds 5000. and over forty
gins have been captured.
IN the ncishborhood of st. Quentin
'"f enemy has been driven from the
.-n ground between lie Verguier and
Hi's"ourt, Fighting continues
"''IsAolt the whole battle front.
"''"r an intense bombardment the
- { 3D.. made strong attack last night
GlLL LllLL en Eaiirfh Rdda