South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-16
KaiSer'S Forces Put Up DeS-
perate Fight But Are Be-
ing ROuted-BritiSh
Occupy Levin.
.DIXMUDE is CAPTURED
BY BELGIAN SOLDIERS
London Now ReCkonS Cap
tiveS at 16,000-TrOopS
in Some Places Sink in
Mud Up to Hips.
International News Services


LONDON, April Is. - British
troops that are fighting their way
into the German stronghold OF Lens.
at the northern end OF the linden
burg line. captured great stores OF
guns and ammunition at LEVIN. tbs
war Office announced today.
SO rapid was the British advance
into LEVIN Ga suburb OF Lens on
the western side) that the Germans
did not have an opportunity 10
move back their guns and carry on
the ammunition.
Southeast Of Hargicourt the Brit
ish have captured Nilleret by storm.
Around Lens the lighting has been
furious during the past as hours.
Reinforced. the Germans have bat
tied with the stubbornness OF de-
SPAR 10 hold back the British.
Amidst the Stag heaps and mud and
underneath pillows Of smoke from
the cannon and the burning town
the soldiers have struggled against
each other with maniacal fury.
South of Lens and east OF Arras
there has been a violent engage
ment
Fail TO Break Through.
The Third Bavauan division had
been ordered 20 recapture Mouchv
at all costs. The Germans surged
against the British lines in fercs
counter attacks. but were unable Ia
break through.
Extremely heavy losses were sus-
tanned by the Bavarians and many
Of the prisoners taken by fhe Brit
ish recently have been members Of
the Third Bavarian division.
The Belgians are now cooperating
with the Anglo French armies, IN
the terrific drive on the west front
apd have entered Dixmude. in West
Flanders, rolling the Germans rear
ward beyond their second Ins
trenches.
During the past a hours the
thunder Of battle has rolled unceas-
ingly along the l0O-mile front from
Loos 10 the Aisne river.
Have 10000 Prisoners.
German eaptives are now reckon
ed at $4,000. II is estimated that
the British alone have taken up
wards Of 225 cannon and over 500
machine guns in the fighting which
began I'm front Of Arras last Mon
day
Fighting Of Unprecedented fierce
ness marks the mighty battle. Ac-
cording 70 dispatches from British
headquarters 10 the Times today the
Inducements OF men and guns.
some coming from as far away as
the eastern front with these.
counter assaults were launched
around Lens. Nimy ridge. on both
sides Of the Arras-Cambraf road,
and northwest Of ST Quentin.
Behind the German lines mighty
pillars OF smoke rise upward dav
and night indicating that the Teu-
tons are burning towns and forests
and are blowing up coal mines and
manufacturing plants in preparation
for further retirement.
The Mud Remains.
The weather has cleared but tho
mud remains AZ some points the
British and Canadian soldiers sank
in mud 20 their hips when they ad-
vanced across the open towards thu
slap heap fertilization OF thu
Germans I'm the LOos-Iens sector.
Lens the gateway % the big in
dustriaI belt and the coal and ore
mines OF northern France. lies nine
miles northeast OF Arras IS miles
southwest OF Lille and Il miles
northwest Of the railroad center q
Douai. II was a pivotal position on
the northern end Of the Hindenburg
line Refnf the center OF mills
and furnaces the German utilized
the great Stag heaps I'm the construc-
ton % fortifcations. u was strong
" defended but the liberal use OF
heavy artillery broke down thu
German defenses ~ Levin on the
western side and the British poured