Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-28
GREAT COUNTER
ATTACK FAILS
Desperate Efforts Made by
Germans to Drive Britons
From Captured Posts.
TEUToN LINE is MENAcED

Desperate efforts OF the Germans
10 drive the British from the cap
tured heights on the Arras front have
failed after four days Of the bitterest
fighting that the world has seen since
the bloody days OF Verdun.
Military critics expect the attacks
will be renewed il the German man
power can stand the awful drain, as
the retention by General Haig OF the
hills GROWING the plain of Douai
spells almost certain doom to the
Wotan line, the last protecting bar
rier between Douai and Cambria.
French Critic Analyses Gains.
Paris, April H.--Under the caption,
why We Attacked" writer in the
Matin points out that before the pres
ent forward movement began the
German plan undoubtedly was to es-
cape from the grasp Of the allies. He
continues: .
ITO Illustrate this plan the French
and British widened the frontlof their
attack so as to overlap the front on
which the Germans were retreating.
The result was that the enemy found
both his wings involved. He decided
to fight on the first line, and the
French plan was altered to suit.
THE result OF the first and second
days fighting was that the Germans
lost fully 100000 men, and. what was
more important, were obliged to en-
gage thirty-three out OF their forty-
three reserve divisions. The dearly
bought but valuable results OF the
Aisne and Champagne operations
are thus: -,
First, the ehemy was prevented
from carrying out his own plan, thus
disposing Of the famous Hindenburg
scheme, which was to be followed on
the conclusion of the retreat from
Noyon; second, the enemy was
obliged to order his troops to hold
out on the first line, but the whole line
has been captured, a tactical success,
to which must be added heavy losses
in men. material and guns"
French Official Report.
The French have captured several
trenches on the heights a. ound Nor.
onvilliers and have also gained ground
near Hurtebise and Cerny, the war
office announced today. One hundred
and thirty cannon have been cap
tured since April l6. yss.
The statement follows: .,5.-
THE artillery fighting was rather
spirited south OF ST. Quentin. in the
sector between Nanteuil- La-Fosse and
Sancy and rear Ville-Aux-Bois. Dur.
ing the night German surprise at
tacksl against our front were re-
pulsed.
Near Hurtebise and Cerny we
gained ground and took forty pris-
oners. Near Moronvilliers we cap.
tuted several trench elements and oc.
cupied point of support east OF ths
mountain without name. During
an incursion into the enemy lines a
the forest OF lie Pretre French de
tachments inflicted heavy losses or
the adversary, destroyed shelters anc
brought back prisoners.
Between scissors and Auberivt
since April l6 we have captured l3(
cannon
British Capture Important Posts.
London, April 27,--Important posi-
tons between Roueux and Gavrell,
and near the Arras- Cambria road hav,
been captured by the British, the wa
office announced today.
l. The statement reads;
THE enemy made a minor unsuc
cessful attack last night near Fayet
northwest Of St. Quentin.
During the night we captured til,
quarries on the eastern outskirts o
Hargieourt.
Near the Arras.Cambrai road ant
on the spur between Roeux and Cav
relle important enemy positions wer'
captured by US.
Northwest of Lens German raid
ing party was repulsed."
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