New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-16
British Patrols Said to Have
Entered Great Coal
Centre
American Supplies
Seized by Teutons
Relief Commissions Food
Taken; French Ready
TO Strike


city of Lens, the great coal centre OF
Northern France, has fallen before the
British drive.
The night British Official report
speaks only Of progress "east of Llevin'
where our troops are approaching the
outskirts OF Lens" But the CORE
spondent Of "Lloyd's News" with the
British army telegraphs that British
patrols entered the city between and
> o'clock this morning. The Germans
ordered the civil population from the
town on Friday, preparatory 20 their
own departure, and seized three months
provisions accumulated in Lens by the
American Relief Commission.
The German trench system among
the Stag heaps in front of the city has
been virtually pulverized by the blast
fire from General Horne's batteries.
East of the city they have another net
work o. trenches. in which 1t Is be-
Icved they may make temporary stand
before retiring to the supplementary
Hindenburg line between Drocourt and
Quear:
German Counter Stroke Fails
While British guns were ploughing
way 20 turn the northern hinge OF the
Hindenburg line at lens the German
field marshal let loose against the Brit
ism wedge threatening the southern
hinge the most powerful blow ne has
delivered since the beginning OF ms
wide withdrawal. II failed compIeteiy.
Along a six mile front on both sioes
of tbc Ranaume- Cambria highroad he
concentrated the artillery hre OF
great park Of feldpieces and then
eanncbed a succession of heavy infan-
trv attacks. The Germans succeeded IN
nc,.etr;.,;pg Iagnicourt. which is prac-
ticalIv the centre Of the British fight
ing front Haig's men quickly rallied
/ bowever. and drove the enemy out IN
disorder. capturing 900 prisoners al
the same time. The British line 10,
night stands where II did before. and
500 German dead have been counted
in the area just beyond
This general engagement and de
I cisive defeat is noteworthy because -
indicates that the Germans, with a!
1 Tho advantage on their side. are un.
able 70 stem the British tide. NoreWl
; il lust west of Queant, the strong
/ bastion Of the second line OF defehce
/ along which the Germans have mass@d
their heavy and light artillery
Germans Pay Heavy Price
There is a striking contrast between
this action and the performance, OF
the British troops two days ago. "neh
they made their wide gains along the
/ tz-Hargicourt sector. Although eN-
ceedingly well provided with artlllery'
both powerful and mobile. Prince
Rupprecht's first thrust in what th~
Germans call "the war of movement
must be recorded a costly failure.
The Berlin night report makes no
claim OF success. merely stating,
There has been lively fighting north
OF the 3spaume-C Cambria road ne
Gay report confesses a removal Of
the German line north Of the Scarre.
The German thrust failed also ia
check British progress 81 ST Quentin.
where ground was gained east ana
/ north Of Gricourt. forty-five miles
from Lens. With the capture OF Lers
J the French will be IN position once
more TO meet their acute coal short
age. which. to an extent. has inter
fered with the manufacture Of multi
tions. Ii is reported that the Ger
mans made hasty efforts to destroy
the mines by firing charges into the
pits ard flooding the mine galleries,
but. at all events. the German coal
supply from this section will be e.
fectually shut of.
Confusion in German Ranks
Prisoners seized in the lighting
about Lens declare that there was
wild confusion in the town while the
main body OF Germans was retreat
ing. Sqlads dragging guns and stores
were met by squads ordered 70 blow
mn the roads 10 prevent the British
advance beyond The city. II is esti-
mated that the Germans had rs manv
as $50 guns in position in the ruGg ID
country around Levin and Lens, bnt
these have now been removed or
abandoned. with only few machine
guns left in charge o. rear guards.
An interesting indication that the
lighting is 20 extend TO the northward
il contained in to-nights Belgian COM
munique. After violent artillery prep
aration King Albert's troops "swarmed
rs far as the enemy's second line,
which they found unoccupied. Through
out the day the Belgian guniire and
the German reply has been intense
At the point where the French armies
ioin the British the artillery battle
continues unchecked. Eat intervals" ac-
cording 70 the Berlin report. "incress-
ing 10 the greatest violence" The ter
rife duel in the Champagne has now
lasted a week, with no infantry follow
up. So long and furious a bombart-
ment is almost Unprecedented in the
war. The weeks expenditure Of am
munition on both sides has been suf-
fcient TO provide for an entir. war on
the old plan.
French Raids Presage Drive
Almost certainly the continual
French raids and the intense energy
Of the French sirmen foreshadow a
frst-class offensive. Paris reports the
destruction Of twenty FIVE enemy planes
IN the last three days. with raids BY
scouting sQuadrons far behind the
! German lines. over $3.50 Kilograms OF
explosives were dropped.
Map shoUing British gains and
other details Of wor roves on