The sun., 1917-04-13
Press Beyond Vimy Ridge
Despite Heavy Storm
Around Arras.
TWO TOWNS CAPTURED
Canadians Take Lead in Hard
Fighting-Germans Rush
Reenf0rcements.

man reenforcements have not sufficed
to stop the British attack at Arras.
Along the whole front the British,
though slowed up a little, continued to
forge ahead and to break up every Ger
man counter attack.
At the end Of q day In which the
infantry moved forward through storms
of snow and sleet. driven by a gale. over
ground deep in slush. receiving compara-
lively little aid from blinded artillery
and airmen. these notable results had
been achieved: Tho further slopes of
the Vimy ridge were completely cleared,
the wedge along the Scarpe had been
pushed to a point almost six miles from
the line on Monday and south Of the
river notable progress had been made.
Besides these achievements on the
front Of the original advance of Mon
day. the British even had extended more
than q mile to the north this original
front. Attacking astride the River
Souchex at . point only three miles
southwest Of Lens and north OF the
vimy ridge, the British stormed two
important positions during the morn
ing and through the day worked to such
eood advantage with intrenchinx tools
and sandbsgs that at night Field
strengthened"
Canadians Press Advantage.
themselves with more glory last night
and to-day. Though the German guns
concentrated on the ridge, trying to blow
the Canadians from its summit, these
fine fighters held firm. During the night
their machine guns hurled counter at
tacks down the northern slopes of the
ridge. Then this morning they started
down the eastern slope and did not stop
until 1t had been virtually swept clear
Of the German detachments that still
clung to 1t.
Southeast OF Arras, just little south
west Of the Monchy ridge. the-British
made a thorough job Of securing the
right flank of that position. Two viii
lagos, Wancourt and Heninel. on the
western bank Of the little River Cojeui
we're stormed. and all their adjoining
trenches met the same fate.
Then the infantry crossed the stream
and fought the Germans from the sum-
nit Of Hill 30. half mile beyond its
eastern bank. The hill dominates sew
, eral miles Of the Sensee Valley. and
practically all the ground to and be-
yond the north and south line from
oueant to Drocourt, which Is supposed
to be continuation Of the Hindenburg
line.
Official details of the progress re-
ported in the Scarpe valley, midway be-
tween the Vimy ridge and Hill 90, are
lacking, but the statement is made that
progress was made during the night
south Of the Scarpe and during the day
north Of the stream. Dispatches from
the front say that Pelves and Roeux
have been stormed. and indicate the
early fall Of Plouvain, which Is six miles
east Of the British positions before the
attack began, four days ago. Such
progress in so short a space is unprec-
sdented in trench warfare.
Lull Now Expected.
II is expected. however. that there
will be a lull of the Arras battle within
day or two. for big offensive Of this
kind must halt now and then while artil-
lery is brought up and new observations
are made. Time is now required to get
forward the big guns and to make good
the communications before attempting
smother great stroke" says Reuters cor
respondent at the front In a semi-official
message.
The last twenty-four hours have been
marked by a general increase in the in
'enslty Of the fighting" he continues
me Germans appear to have been re-
!n'orced in the positions upon which the
British assaults have driven them back
and are Offering desperate resistance to
the heavy British pressure" The cor
respondent says the German claim of
1000 prisoners at Bullecourt is ''wild."
Io-days German statement as SUM-
married. here contains many assertions
mat British attacks with cavalry and
smored cars broke down with heavy
iosses' north of Monchy. but admits
mat after frequent assaults Monchy
was lost"
The German statement does not vet
sdmit the loss of Fampoux, in the
scsrpe Valley. mentioning fruitless at
.AcSs there. A night bulletin from Ber-
IN announces that attacks near Souches
Heavy artillery fire between Soissons
.hd Rheims still continues to be mem
uohed ny the German statement, and In
view OF the comments of some German
military writer's. little doubt is enter
,sined here that the Germans expect tho
french soon to start a big offensive on
we southern pivot OF the Hindenburg
hne Just rs the British are attacking its
northern pivot. Bad weather is reported
on the French front to-day
French Make Advance.
Though the French attempted no big
stack to-day they did carry out a sue
eastul thrust on a small front in the
,eslon OF the st. Gobain forest, west Of
aon and near the point where their big
.hehslve Is expected. The French at
oeked on a front Of something over
nhe and pushed back the Germans to
we edge OF the upper Coucy forest after
not night, taking several points OF sup
port and some prisoners. The French
sso restored completely their positions
northwest OF Rheims, which the Germans
Sehted on April and which the French
nav nave been winning back gradually since.
'ne oiflcial statements follow:
a, british Night Statement--South Of
Me ArFas-Cambrai road our troops this
rernoon stormed the villages of
1eninel and Wancourt with their ad-
yo.h'hg defences and crossed the Cojeul
.uVer and occupied the heights on the
eastern bank.
rur'ter progress also was made dur
s ,ae day north of the Scarpe and
sn the east Nimy ridge Our gains
reported this morning north of Vimy
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