Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-17
Details Worked Out for Gen.
eral Attack on the German
Front and Indications Are
Test of War Near
at Hand.
BATTLE ALL ALONG LINE
Germans Making Desperate
Efforts to Hold Out Until
They Destroy Mines
and Factories.
VILLERET IS CAPTURED
General Haig Reports Gain
Which Straightens His Line
Northwest Of St. Quentin.
GUNS AND MEN ARE TAKEN
GUNS AND MEN ARE TAKEN

British Headquarters in France
Via London), April l6-With the
hot flames of war raging along the
entire western front, British and
French alike, it can be stated that
each detail of the offensive plans has
been worked out at prolonged confer
ences between General Nivelle and
Field Marshal Haig aud the war
councils of France and England.
The part to be played by each bel
ligerent has been definitely agreed
upon and schedule has been ar
ranged as for one great cohesive
force. Various tasks have been pre-
cisely allotted along the wide reach
ing battle lines, and the results thus
far attained justify the conclusion the
military test of the war is near at
hand.
British Strike From Arras.
1t was planned that the British
should strike from Arras, while the
French guns Still were roaring their
preparation for infantry hostilities
along a wide front farther to the
south: The successes gained in the
first stages of the British advance
have given the French great conf
dence in the Inauguration of their
own enterprises.
The whole struggle in the western
theater promises to be titanic one.
| The allies are prepared as never be-
fore, both in material and personnel,
and are cooperating with smooth
lpess which comes from complete
understanding and thorough appre-
citation of the work in hand.
The Germans haye more divisions
on the western front than would have
been thought possible year ago.
and however, much Of an "easterner"
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg may
have been in the past, he will have
to devote his entire time and atten-
ton to western events for some
weeks to come.
Take Over $4,000 Captives.
London, April 16.-"Since the
morning OF April g." says the official
report from British headquarters in
France tonight, I'VE have taken over
$4,000 prisoners. The captured ma
terial includes 1874 guns. There is
nothing of special interest to report.
A heavy rain has again fallen through
the afternoon"
Great Attempt to Break Through.
Berlin (Via London), April To-
"On the Aisne," says an official state
ment issued this evening, "a great at
tempt to break through with far
distant object has commenced after
ten days mass fire. A bitter fight is
proceeding on forty kilometerr front
around our foremost positions"
| French Begin Attack. ..
Paris, April 16.-The French began
an attack this morning after several
days artillery preparation between
scissors and Rheims. Several Ger
man lines were carried and more than
10000 Germans were taken prisoner.
The official announcement OF this
success, issued by the war office to-
night describes the fighting as being
of the utmost violence.
Germans Send in Reserves.
London, April l6.-Although Brit
ish patrols have been in the streets
of Lens and General Haig's men are
in the outskirts OF St. Quentin. the fall
of neither of these towns has as yet
been officially announced.
l. The Germans, it is apparent. have
sent in their reserves, and are making
a desperate defense to enable their en-
gineers to complete the destruction of
the mines and factories of Lens which
might be useful to the allies.
Despite the fact that all along the
line between Lens and ST. Quentin the
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