The state herald., 1917-05-04
ALLIES CENTER
DRIVE ON ROEUx
BATTLE OF INTENSE FERocirv
BEING FOUGHT OVER WIDE
FRONT IN FRANCE.
GoHELLE IS CAPTURED
GERMANS CLAIM 1900, 900 TONS OF
SHIPPING DESTROYED PAST
TWO MONTHS.
Newspaper Union News Service.


Paris, April 30.-British troops in
desperate attempt to turn the north
ern wing Of the Drocourt-Queant line
have advanced on a front of nearly ten
miles and captured the village, OF Ar
leuxen-Gohelle, nine miles west OF
Douai. Successive German counter.at-
tacks, made at heavy sacrifices, failed
to check the British.
Canadians captured Arleux, two
miles from the Drocourt-Q -Queant line
and east Of the vimy ridge.
Fierce encounters in which the bay
onet and rifle-butt were used freely,
marked the fighting from east of the
vimy ridge south across the scarpe to
Monchy lie Preux.
Field Marshal Haig's men also
gained ground northeast Of Gavrelle
between Gavrelle and Roeux and north
OF Monchy lie Preux. In addition to
their heavy sacrifices in killed and
wounded, Germans lost 500 prisoners.
The capture Of Arleux widens con-
siderably the British salient In the
German positions directly east Of
Douai. the objective Of this fighting.
1t threatens. too. the southern de-
lenses Of Lens as well as the village
Of Drocourt.
Official German statement claims
100000 tons Of shipping sunk as the
result Of the first two months Of un-
restricted submarine warfare. More
than 1000. 900 tons Of this total British.
Washington.-Gua has bro
ken off diplomatic relations with Ger
many; handed to the German minis
ter his passports and cancelled tho
exeQuaturs Of German consuls there.
Official advices Of the break. coming
from the American legation In Guate-
mala City. say President Estrada Ca
brera assigned as the reason for his
act his desire to stand with the United
States in the fight for democracy and
the preservation Of international law
London. April 2S. - Official dis.
patches from the front show that both
the British army under Gen. Haig and
the French army under Gen. Nivclls
have renewed the offensive. German
counter attacks apparently have
ceased. A Copenhagen dispatch states
that Gen. Won Stein admitted to the
Reichstag military affairs committee
that the German troops were discour-
aged. With the morale Of the enemy
breaking down. II Is believed that the
allied troops now will advance more
rapidly.
Military critics expect the German
counter attacks will be renewed II the
German man power can stand the
awful drain. as the retention by Gen.
Haig OF the hills crowning the plain OF
Douai spells almost certain doom to
the Wotan line. the last protecting
barrier between Douai and Cambria.
Important positions between Roeux
Gavrelle and near the Arras-C Cambrai
road have been captured by the Brit
ish. the war office announced.
Quarries on the eastern outskirts
Of Hargicourt were taken, the Ger.
mans fleeing and hurriedly abandon.
Ing rifles and equipment.
Madrid.-The Reformist party has
published manifesto. signed my Mel.
quldez Alvarez Azcaratc and 100 senn.
tors, deputies and municipal coun.
cilors. demanding diplomatic rup.
turc with Germany rs essential to the
interests and dignity Of the nation.
Vienna.-Official announcement was
made here that the Austrian govern,
ment had decided to convoke Parlia-
ment for May 30th to deal with Ques-
tions OF food supply and with eco.
nomic. social and financial problems" I"
The Parliament has not been In sss.
sion since before the war.
British Front In France, April 60
The town OF Monchy lc Preux, which
lies about five miles east OF Arras. will
stand In history ms one OF the blood.
est spots of tho worldwar. Tho fight.
Ing north. east and south OF this III.
tie Artois village pcrched upon . high
knoll has exceeded In Intensity any OF
the individual struggles Of the Sommc.
Earl Of Suffolk Killed.
London. Henry Molyncux pnpet