The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-27
GERMANS STEM
HAIG'SADVANCE
Fail to Win Back ANY
Ground. However. at .tp-
palling Cost of Life.
MASSES MOVED DOWN.
Teuton Army Being Drained
at Rate to Bring Collapse,
Say Prisoners.
MASSES MOVED DOWN

IeNroN. April os. - The battle OF
Arras, now in its fourth day. has de-
veioped into a struggle by the Germans,
4. an appalling cost in men. to prevent
the British from breaking the Drocourt-
oueant line. the vital defence OF Douai
and Cambria. The Germans have re-
sorted TO the tactics OF counter attacks
in ulassed formation. and though they
have nowhere won back any ground
from the British. they have succeeded in
sten,ming the advance OF Haig's troops
The British official report issued to-
night Is silent regarding developments in
the titanic conflict now In progress. say
ing merely that there was considerable
activity during the day by both sides"
A hint OF the extension OF the fighting
area Is however. contained in the re-
port which tells OF infantry operations in
the Ypres region, far to the north OF the
Arras sector
All reports British as well as Ger
man. agree that the losses in killed are
greater than in any previous battle on
the front in France.
Dead FIJI Fields.
According 10 tne hOttHtS'"e I'"H"U y
correspondent at the front, GERMAN
troops look across fields piled with
corpses to the British army. which they
have repeled successfully" British cor
respondents who have returned from the
fighting lines tell the anne story OF heaps
Of German dead in front Of the lines the
British have captured and held.
What may be the result OF the per
sistent counter attacks OF Hindenburg's
i., iaI Cd Il, IaSn frin
Reuters correspondent at the British
front. who. after telling Of the enormous
numbers of reserves which the Germans
are sending into the battle. says:
They are fighting great delaying
battle. although not standing on any
we'll prepared system OF defences, and
can hope to check our advance only ny
using great masses of troops whose
breasts have taken the place OF
parapets. This policy must greatly ac-
celerate the process of exhaustion, and IL
continued long the situation Will resolve
itself into the simple problem Of which
side can longest maintain the deadly
pace.
-''P prisoners say the German army is
now being drained at rate which will
bring collapse within measurable
time
Germans Moved Down.
Fercest among the counter attacks
which are the striking feature OF Hin
denburs's defence is the series of eight
successive assaults on the new British
position east of the village Of Gavrelle
captured by Haig's forces Monday. This
village, north of the Scarpe, and Cue
mappe, south of the stream. were the
chief objectives OF the British drive
Both are firmly held by Haigs men. All
through last night German regiments
were hurled against the British lines
only to be broken and moved down by
the barrage fire.
Although Berlin kilograms say the
German press Is jubilant at the success
Of these counter attacks. the official
report from German army headquarters
limits itself to the statement that 'at
GaVrelle our position is now situated on
the eastern boundary of the village"
The British have never announced an
advance beyond the village itself The
night report of the German headquarter
is as lacking in news of the actual fight
ing in the Arras region as the British
II says there is nothing of Importance
TO report"
Terrific fighting during the night on
the French portion OF the western front
gsve way to-day to comparative quiet.
The heavy toll paid by the Germans In
their frutless attempt to break the
French line between the Aisne and the
Chemin des Danes apparently has
brought on a cessation for the time Of
infantry attacks in this region, for the
Paris official report announces only ar
tllery activity.
OAictal Statements.
The official statements on the fighting
In France follow:
British Night Statement-A party
OF the enemy which attempted to raid
one of our crater posts southeast of
Ypres early this morning was driven
off with losses.
There was considerable activity dur
ing the day by both sides at number
of points between St. Quentin and
Arras, and also in the neighborhood OF
Ypres.
Successful work was carried out by
our airplanes yesterday in spite OF the
less favorable weather In air fight
ing two German machines were
brought down. one Of them falling in
our lines, A third was driven down
out Of control. Three OF our machines
are missing.
British Day Statement-Eariy last
night the enemy a!ain endeavored to
attack our new positions in the neigh
horhood Of Gavrelle. His advancing
troops we're caught by our artillery
barrage and completely rcpulsed
Elsewhere there was nothing Of spe-
elal Importance.