Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-12
.GERMANY'S FATE
may DEPEND ON
BATTLE OF ARRAS
Berlin Military Expert Says
Decisive Conflict is Now
Waging On the West
ern Front.
BRITISH MAKING GAINS
Battle Seems to Be Develop
ing Into One of Greatest
of the War.
TAKE HEIGHTS BY STORM

London, April 1.-THE operations
along the Arras-Lens line were great
ly impeded by snowstorms. According
to the official report from British
headquarters tonight, the Germans de-
lvered two counter attacks against
the British positions in the neighbor-
hood OF Monchy-Le-Preux, but these
failed.
The statement reads:
Snow has fallen heavily and contin-
uously throughout the day, rendering
observation impossible and greatly
impeding operations of our troops.
This morning two German counter
attacks on Our new positions in the
ncighborhood OF Moncty-Le-Preux
were successfully beaten off. Prison
ers taken in Monchy- -Preux state
that they had orders to hold the vii
lage at all costs.
Farther south bodies OF our troops
succeeded in penetrating a German
position in the neighborhood OF Bullc-
court and secured number of pris-
oners. At midday they were counter
attacked by large forces Of the enemy
and forced back to their own lines.
The enemy attacking troops were eff
fectively engaged by our artillery and
suffered heavy losses.
Our airplanes were active again
yesterday and in spite OF a strong
westerly gale and frequent snow
storms performed valuable work in
cooperation with our infantry. Few
hostile machines were seen. Our, sirs,
planes returned safely" ~
Berlin April ll.-(Via London y
Since early morning today, says the
German official statement, fighting be-
tween the British and German forces
developed on both sides of the Arras-
Cambria road and between Bulls
court and Queant.
Amsterdam, April ll.-(Via Lon
don.)--The military expert of the
Berlin Vossische Zeitung considers
that the battle of Arras will prove the
decisive battle OF the war.
1t was foreseen, he says, that >ihe
enemy would not try to break
through on the Somme. as the basis
for any such attempt had been re-
moved by Won Hindenburg's STRAIT
egic retreat. The Germans, however,
had been guided by the theory that
with the strength in war material pos
sessed by the allies they could not
afford to remain quiet. Consequent
ly everything possible was done by
the Germans to strengthen the Arras
line, and a surprise there was impos-
sible.
The expert adds that it must be
borne in mind that the course the op-
erations have taken was not desired
by the hostile command. ....
The Rheinische Westfalische Zci-
tung predicts brilliant future for
Germany, with the realization after
the war Of the emperor's promise of
wider suffrage for Prussia. 1t says:
The future of Germany is perhaps
being decided on the west front.
Newer and better times for Germany
will be a result of the battle near Ar
ras and scissors. The greater the
victory the greater the new Germany
and the more beautiful the future"
British Capture Heights.
London, April 1.-THE British have
captured the village and heights on
Monchy lie Preux early this morn
ing, according to British official state
ment. The village OF La Bergere was
also captured and satisfactory prog
ress is reported being made on other
parts of the battle front.
Britons Take Trenches.
London, April 1l.-British troops
yesterday advanced north of the vii
lage of Louveral, in the direction of
Cambria, TO the extent of quarter
of mile along front of 1000 yards,
and consolidated this gain during the
night, telegraphs Reuters CORE
sponent from the British army head
quarters in France.
The message Of the correspondent
reads:
North of the village of Louveral
we pushed forward toward Cambria
to the extent Of quarter of mile
along front of 1000 yards and con-