The sun., 1917-04-12
SNOW HOLDS UP
ARRAS BATTLE
British Infantry Unable to
Advance, but Repel
Attacks.
TWO VILLAGES TAKEN
Early Morning Dash Of Haig's
Troops Makes Gain on
Vimy Ridge.
TWO VILLAGES TAKEN

S AA~9Ss
LONDON. April 11.--Snow fell all day
on the battlefield Of Arras to-day. blind
Ing aviators and observers and hamper
Ing very seriously tho British advance.
The British infantry scarcely moved for
ward at ALL
Early in the morning. while the snow
fall was light. Haig's troops captured
the village and heights OF Monchy-le
Preux. which marks an advance Of four
miles at this point from the line on Mon
day morning, when the offensive began
Possession of the whole of the ridge
southeast OF Arras Is now assured, for
Monchy is At its easternmost end.
During the night and early morning
Field Marshal Haig was able to report
that his troops were making "satisfac-
tory progress" on practically the whole
'front.' Then came the snow. and the big
offensive was almost smothered. One OF
the worst features OF the situation 10
that the melting OF the snow will turn
the battle ground into a sea Of mud.
Counter Attacks Vain.
A few hours after Monchy lie Preux
had been taken the Germans launch ed
two counter attacks. Twice they ad-
vanced, but both attacks were beat
off. and Monchy was firmly held The
Importance of the position is attested by
orders found on German prisoners that
1t must be held at all costs
To the south a little southeast Of the
limits Of the main drive the British re-
ceived setback. In the morning in
fantry fought their way into 8 German
position near Bullecourt which is very
close to Queant, where an extension OF
the Hindenburg line to the northeast OF
Arras Is supposed to start. At noon
very strong German forces drove out the
British. but were badly cut UP by the
British guns. A little further south, and
southeast OF Queant the British ad-
ranced half mile on front of more
than mile. according to Reuter- des-
patch.
German Pivot Outdanked.
The lanking OF the Hindenburg line
from the north is suggested again to-day
by Reuters correspondent, who has now
almost semi-official standing. In a des-
patch which-
THE splendid success OF our offensive
has created a most interesting situation
and one which is fraught with t-emend-
Gus possibilities The enemy has been
forced back upon the pivot OF his pre-
vious retreat In manner which ere.
ates dangerously sharp salient at this
spot. Indeed, a glance at the map sug-
gests that there is a distinct outfiank-
ing OF the German northern pivot as II
existed before the present fighting"
This does not bear out previous re.
ports from the front that the northern
extremity Of the Hindenburg line had
been prolonged from Queant. which Il
almost ten miles southeast OF Arras. &c
Drocourt. about the Same distance
northeast Of Arras. The nearest the
British have come to this estimated
line Is two miles. and they have at nc
point passed north Of Drocourt.
vimy Gain Important.
The British have won. however, posi-.
tions which practically dominate the
Queant- -Drocourt line. The capture OF
the vimy ridge enables them to look
down into It's northern sector. The
Monchy-le-Preux ridge, now irml!
British. dominates similarly the southerr
sector OF this line almost to Queant.
, In any case, very sharp salient has
been formed in the German line south
! east Of Arras. with It's apex approx.
mately. at Henin-eur- -Cojeul seven milei
northwest OF Queant. The British gains
at Monchy and In the Scarpe Valley tS
| tho north have doubled back the Ger
mans on the northern end Of the Hinden
burg line almost to the breaking point
The next forty-eight hours are re-
garded as likely to be the most cruc!a
on the western front in months, rerhap,
/ In the war They viii tell whether IN.
srowstorrn has defeated the big. care
FULLY planned British drive as the Ger,
mans could not have defeated It. They
| will tell whether the Hindenburg line
actually has been turned. II It has beer
| turned, then the greatest German re
treat since the war began will have
been forced.
Expect French Offensive.
| In that time It Is expected the situa
! tion on the French front will develop
/ Undoubtedly there will be heavy fight
| ing, and II Ia hoped here that the fighting
will be caused by a big French offensive
in cooperation with the British. Berlii
announces to-day that the artillery hre
IS daily increasing from Vailly te
, EnellnS. fdlllS is tue soutliril piNot "
the Hindenburg line, The front fron
Vally to Rheims is roughly twenty-five
miles.
This may indicate that the French ir
! their turn are 10 10 Just what tho Brit.
ish did-strike at the point where the
! new German line Joins the old positions
, Thus Gen. Nivelle would hammer tho
, Germans southern pivot while the Brit
! !sh hammered the northern. How tre
/ ,nendous would be the effect OF such
! strategy II successful may readily bt
realized, for the German lire would bt
cut o: two places. divided into thre,
| sections, which could he rolled up ano
defeated in detail
The German offlcial statement says tn,
! ts-hting at G!venchy-en-Goheiie, Farbui
and Tampoux effected no change in tn,
| situation" The mention of fighting a
these places Ia tacit admission that th'
Vimy ridge Is lost to the invaders.
says British Lost Heavily.
, Yesterday afternoon. the German state
rent declares. the British. after violen
artillery firing, brought forward stron,
forces on both sides OF the Arras-Cam
4, brai road for fresh attacks. but wer
repulsed with heavy losses.
The German official statement issue
tonight says that a thousand Britis
| nrisoners were taken northwest OF 81