The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-14
Cambrai-St. Quentin Line Bent
Back Fully a Mile and Cam
brai Itself Threatened
WURTTEM3ERCERS SAVE.
LINE FROM CRUMBLINC
With Bavarians. Tenacious
Hold on Small Part of Viruy
Ridge Gives Hindenburr
Chance to Bring Up Reserves
by the International News
Service.l

Service.)
London, April 13. Sir Doug,
las Haig shifted his sledgeham-
mer blows from the Arras-Lens
front to the Cambrai-St. Quen-
tin line today. In a mighty on
rush his infantry forces smash
ed into the Teuton positions
between Hargicourt and Metz
en- Coture, a front of nine miles,
bending that sector of the Hin
denburg line back fully a mile
and capturing four formidably
fortified German positions:
Sart farm, Gauche wood, Gou-
zeaucourt village and the wood
of the same name.
Further to the north their
advance last night and early
today swept away a salient two
miles wide and nearly a mile
deep.
Altogether more than $50 German
guns have been taken by tho British
since the new drive began. Todaysa
advance netted them moro than 200
prisoners.
The French, in a vigorous resump-
ton of the drive on st. Quentin from
the south. carried several lines Of Ger
man trenches between the Sommo and
the st. Quentin railway. taking some
also made further progress south Of
the Disc. to the east Of Coucyla Wills.
Here too, prisoners were made and
machine guns captured.
Surprise Blows Defeated.
Meanwhile the crown princes army
struck two surprise blows on the ver-
dun front. General Nivelle's troops
were fully awake. however. The Gar
man infantry columns were greeted
by hall of shells and were forced -
abandon the attempt before reaching
the French lines.
Berlin officially claims that pre-
ftnItnary successes the British
were balanced by Teuton counter
thrusts. Twice the attacking enemy
was repulsed with heavy loss" said
the German war Office day report. an
sorting further that the British at
lacks southeast of Arras 'failed' ~
Such were the outstanding results
of the day up to early this evening.
More fascinating to the neutral oh
server were the developments that
dictated the sudden shifting Of Sir
Douglas Haig's drive and the possible
consequences of his new successes.
These are the facts told with SURE
prising frankness by q high stan
officer.
vrhoz +Ao pr,stry. ~<<n. s.~>,>N~-A
ing" Easter with an earth-shaktAg
drumfire. launched their new driyo
at dawn on Monday. their purpose
was to break through the Teuton
front between Lens and Arras. Tho
main German bulwark on that line
was Vinv ridge. which, In fact. was
the northern pivotal point OF the
dams. in their now famous rush
against the ridge. carried the crest
and the northern slopes. UnpreQe-
dented disaster faced the Germana.
But while the bulk OF the defenders
in the face Of the Canadian frontal
attack. were routed or captured. one
force refused to yield. the WurtteHs-
bergers and Bavarians held the east-
ern slopes of the redoubtable range.
While everything about them crum-
bled th,y stood steadfast. giving back
blow for blow, battling with the de-
perate fury Of men who knew thq4
upon them depended the fate Of mil.
lions. These Wurttembergeru AnA
Bavarians saved the day for Hindep-
burg. Tonight after Ave days *
punishment" at the hands OF the
tenacious Canadians. they still hel4
their ground. To them Hindeuhur9 4
owes the fact that his limo was net
broken but only bent. Meanwhile ~
Is still rushing powerful forces ~ 4
reserves to the Lens-Arras front tn
Switches His Drive.
It was thisheroic defense Of tAe
eastern slopes OF vimy ridge that
prompted Sir Douglas Haig 20 swttde
the momentum of his Offensive M
the sector further s~uth. A wed&a ~
tween Cambria and st. Quentin. C1zR.
brsi encircled. would mean enfnrco
German withdrawal from the Lon
Arras front--all the vurttembeeH1]
and Bavarians In tho Teuton nf1
could not save it than. s ss
Great Hatalc YeG - Cnnc. sS,S
But toward that impestam4 On NJ
today.s advance. military t11t1ce N
admit rAA on1s - aeorl
ss sss g ~