The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-23
BRITISH READY
FOR NEW DRIVE
Terrific Artillery Fire Indi-
Gates Attack Will Be
Made at Lens.

LoNpoN. April co.--Brtish nrepara-
ton for another big blow ut the Iinden-
burg line and Lens IS evidently nearing
a climax, as the French offensive is
dying down Already the British, by
local attacks, have fought their way A.
most into positions whence they can
flank the Germans holding Lens
Toward the western and northwestern
outskirts Of the big French coal city
Field Marshal Haig's troops pushed tor-
ward to-day capturing prisoners and
machine guns. Later in the day they
engaged IN a sharp fight with the Ger
mans southeast of Loos, which Is north
east OF Lens. pushing down a wedge to
the rear OF the city. They gained ground
there, and captured some more prisoners
The artillery fighting has Increased
20 "eXtreme violence III the Arras and
Lens region, Berlin reports. and British
troops were observed on the move be-
hind their lines. British av!ators are
active again. tho weather having i'm
proved. They brought down eleven Ger
man machines to-day, losing four. in n
day Of much lighting.
SIX Counter Attacks Fail.
A favorable omen for the coming Brit
ish attack was the continuance Of in
effectual German counter attacks. Won
to-day. and all were vain. The British
repused three German advances near
Lens. showing clearly that the Germans
are finding themselves dangerously
pnched by the British progress.
on the French fror, the Germans
made desperate efforts to break Gen.
Nivelles hold on the Champagne heights
east of Rheims. The German effort was
concentrated upon the rnassif OF Moron
v!lliers, especially on Mont Haul The
| Germans almost succeeded IN recaptur-
| ing the mount but after the French re-
serves had got into action the situat ation
was restored.
| In the days fighting the British
| made greater progress than the French,
largely because the latter have now at
tained all their first objectives Be.
sides their success near Lens and Loos
| the British made another thrust toward
Cambria They advanced beyond Hav-
rincourt wood, some seven miles south
east Of Cambria. and stormed the south
ern portion of the village of Trescault,
In the same region. On the north bank
OF the Scarpe the ground gained east
OF Fampoux was consolidated
French Keep Up Advance.
N!velle's troops continued to advau,a
south Of Laon in the region north o,
| Sancy and Jouy. which the German
were forced TO abandon almost witho,I,
fight owing to superior French tao
tics Near Hurtebiss farm there was
grenade fghting, which, with the Ger,
man counter attacks. sums up the ac.
tvity on the French front
The German statement to-day men,
tions increased activity on the norther,
part OF the front In Flanders. where
the artillery duel increased. The Bel
gian announcement mentions heavy
fighting near Steenstraete. German air
channel port. apparently at the sam,
time Calais was bombarded, and al
Entente airship has been brought dowr
Off Nieuport on the Belgian coast.
All this activity rev!ves rumors tina
the Germans contemplated an offensiv,
In Belgium, aimed at Calais and Dun
kirk.
| brings Down Five Machines.
Lieut. Baron Won Rlchthofen. th
foremost German aviator, is winnin,
more honors OF six Entente airplane
shot down yesterday. Berlin announces
this aviator's squadron brought dowi
five. The official statements follow:
British Night Statement - Our
|
Th IL