Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-23
Great Battle Raging Along a
Wide Front on Both
Sides of Scarpe.
BRITISH MAKE PROGRESS
IN THE EARLY ATTACKS
Capture Remainder of Trescault and
Occupy Greater Part of
Havrincourt Wood.

ushered in by a prolonged artillery
bombardment, renewed attack i'm
force has been begun by the British on
the German lines in northern France.
The new stroke. marking a resump-
tion, after weeks interval. of the
British offensive begun April 9, was
given its initial impetus today "on
both sides Of the River Scarpe." as the
official statement puts it. The state-
ment, issued at about noon, embodies
a report of satisfactory progress" sent
by Gen. Haig.
The extent of the attack has not yet
been clearly developed. but as 1t is an
nounced to have been launched ION a.
wide 'front.' it probably reaches well
toward the Vimy positions on the north
and beyond the Arras-Cambrai road to
the south. Besides tending still fur
ther to encompass the city of Lens. the
movement is directed toward both
Douai. the important German distribute
ing point to the northeast, and the
Hindenburg line keypoint of Cambrat
to the southeast.
German Defenses Shattered.
Early details of the offensive report
the shattering of the last remaining
defenses of the Hindenburg line north
of the Scarpe. This was accomplished
by the taking of the town of Gavrelle.
on the Arras-Douai road. on the front
between Fampoux and Bailleul. This
capture marked new advance OF about
a mile for the British
South of the Arras-Cambrai road the
line has been Strengthened out by the
capture of the village of Cuemappe.
Already more than 1000 additional
Germans have been taken prisoner.
Meanwhile the French infantry Is be-
ing held in check along the Aisne front
and in the Champagne by Gen. Nfvelle.
while the work of consolidating the
notable gains of the past week is in
progress. The artillery is busy, how
ever, and Paris reports the breaking
up of German attacks at several points.
notably east of Craonne on the French
salient northeast of Mont Haut In the
Champagne, and the Moronvillisrs
ridges in the same sector.
British Renew Struggle.
By Tho Associated Press.
LONDON. April 23. 80 pm.-After q
weeks interlude, during which they had
been busy consolidating the gains of the
FIRST weeks offensive and bringing up
their guns, the British at dawn this
morning began another phase of the
operations against the formidable Ger
man defense on the front in northern
France. Gen. Sir Douglas Haig reports
that the forces under his command at
tackled on a wide front on both sides OF
the River Scarpe, where portion OF
the Hindenburg line forms a barrier de-
Tending Cambria. and that they are maxi
ing satisfactory progress.
Farther south British troops have cap
tured tho remainder of the village OF
Trescault and occupied the greater part
of Havrincourt wood, which formed
two-miIe bulge in their line. From this
point to St. Quentin the line approaches
very closely the Cambrai-St. quentin
road and canal
The correspondents at the front had
nrepared the public for the renewal OF
the more active operations which nave
entered a new phase with each sue
ceedipg Monday The British began
their great offensive on Monday fort
night ago and the French followed this
with their stroke along the Aisne a
week ago. ,,.,
.r,in on the move A success along the
Scarpe not only would threaten the new
German line, but would further out
flank Lens on the south
ea Dhoea of Rattle
pR1TIsH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, April %. via London, 3:4S
mn their new offensive the British
have CAPTURED the town of Gavelle, tho
!. ct mart of the defenses of the Hinden-
burp line north of the Scarpe They
t.ys also taken the village of Cue
,.nne. south of the Scarpe. More than
ooo nrisoners have been taken today.
rhs orst phase of the battle OF Arras.
,,;n, began Easter Monday. ended
ter the British in possession OF
Hnnchy-le-Preux, which. however. re-
,moined distinct salient until todays
fighting was taken up. Moheny. sl
Snr forty miles eastward. During the
~. ton days the Germans delivered at
iaas, a score of counter attacks against
that position. increa aga,ns sing % eunnre' eS
The desperate attempts to recapture
+, show how highly Monchy was re-
rarded as a key position protecting the
Hrocourt switch line. which has not
,.at been fortified as strongly as tho
SSarrnsns would desire. Monchy has
been one of the bloodiest spots the Ger.
,nts adyanced from it in the early dawn
today they had to pick their way over
tbousands of dead men in field gray
uniforms, It was estimated that $500
were killed in one days
counter attacks. SO closely were the
men massed.
Berlin Reports New Battle.
BERLIN. April %. via London.-"Be.
tween Loos and the Arras-Cambrai
railway artillery firing continued Sun.
a." SAYS the official statement issued