The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-04-16
HA|C'S PATROL
IN STREETS Of
THESE CITIES.
Occupation by Allies Seems Only
Question of Hours, Say Re.
ports
ENTENTE HAVE REACHED
MAIN HNDENBURG LINES
Teutons Make Stubborn Resist
ance as British Open Up
Large Gaps in Defense
By Associated Press.)

~ "SoVNAAstSW ACSSS|
The fighting on the western front
has assumed almost the proportion of
almost a general engagement from
the North Sea to the Swiss border.
AS yet the infantry has not been
heavily engaged much to the. north
Of Loos. in the Lens region, or east
Of the Scissors region, within which
confines the battle of Arras and the
struggle for St. Quentin are being
waged. 44
Dramatic Situation.
We're attention not centered on the
dramatic situation about Lens and
st. Quentin, the fall of both being
considered imminent. the great artil-
lery battle in the region between
scissors and Rheims which has been
going on for several days doubtless
would have attracted more notice. As
it is, the potential Importance of this
duel Of the big guns cannot be mini
mized presaging, as it may, offensive
movements of the infantry on a large
scale. .a @G@
Important Operations.
Increasing probability Of the OPEN
ing of important operations between
Soissons and Rheims and in the west
ern Champagne is indicated by the
German official report that infantry
fighting develops this morning over
wide sectors" after heavy artillery
firing and accommodating drives.
Tho sincerity of the fighting accom-
pNnyi1Ig tlse t(aelnan counter. attack
yesterday on d SIX mile rr0ht on both
sides Of the -Cambrai road.
is emphasized by today's German
headquarters statement.
In connection with the Soissons-
Rheims region, the probability OF q
northward push by the French from
the Rheims region to turn the left
flank of the Hindenburg line as tho
British have turned the right at Vimy,
has come to the front, while the artil-
lery battle has been raging. ,w@
London, April 16.-AlthOugh Brit
ish patrols have been in the streets of
Lens and General Haig's men are on
the outskirts of st. Quentin, the fall Of
neither OF these towns as yet. has
been officially announced.
The Germans, it is apparent. have
sent in their reserves. and are making
Il desperate defense to enable their
engineers to complete the destruction
of the mines nd factories at Lens,
which might have been useful to the
Allies.
NEAR MAIN LINE
Despite the fact that all along the
lines between Liens and St. Quentin.
the German resistance has stiffcned,
General Haig reports today the cap
ture Of Villette. which strengthens his
line northwest of st. Quentin and an
nounces further progress northwest of
Lens. Counter attacks which the
Germans have launched at Monchy
and LangencOurt suggest that the
British are approaching dangerously
near to t he new German lines, which,
according to unofficial account the
Germans have not had time to COM
plete before the British offensive was
launched. fE n7fE
NlIJF-< 'AiS -".'-f.
tFrom staff correspondent Of the
Associated PreSS) a
British Headquarters in France, via
London. April 16.-The British con-
tinued today gradually to widen the
second gap in the Hindenburg line
north of st. Quentin, having captured
the position known as the Three Saw
ages, east of Gricourt. st. Quentin
continues to burn. Away to the north
Lens still holds out. The Germans
have several strong positions about
the city. to which they still cling.
WANT TO SAVE CITIES
The British apparently would like
to take Lens without inflicting too
great damage from an extensive bonn
hardment. They always have been
in position o reduce the city to ruins,
but the shells have been directed
against several spots known to be used
for military purposes by the Germans.
Nevertheless the Germans continue to
destroy the city by blowing up build.
ings.
ATTACK FROM ALL SIDES
Further details of yesterdays fight.
ing show the desperate character Of
several German attacks on the new
British positions. The attack which
was essayed from both sides of Queant
and temporarily pierced the British
line at Lagnicourt was extremely bit
ter. 1t began at 4:3O a. m. Sunday
and continued for three hours with
out interruption. British advance
posts were driven hut the support
units joined the issue with the Ger
mans.
HAND TO HAND ENCOUNTERS.
Many hand to hand encounters fol-
lowed. There was also more actually
aimed rife shooting than for many
months. During this fire the Germans
fell in clnmps. They attempted to
seek cover behind bushes and in smAll
pickets. The British fred into these
with good results. Whea the teseGyuD
Continued on PAge TAfeo)
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