The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-04-24
MONCHY BATTLE
ONE OF FIERCEST
OF THIS GREAT WAR
Began at Dawn Yesterday,
Lasted All Day and All Night
and Still Continues.

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
! FRANCE, April 20 (vla London).-,
The British troops we're awake and on
the alert all Sunday hight preparing
for their attack to be made at dawn
on Monday. They fought all that day,
all OF last night and were fighting
again to-day. The artillery was keep
Ing up what may be termed a perpet-
ual barrage.
Tho resistance OF the German
armies appears to Increase In accord
oncc with the nearness OF the British
approach to the Hindenburg positions.
This is particularly true along the
present front, whero the threat Is
against tho Drocourt-Queant switch
line. which is depended upon by the
Germans az the connecting link be-
tween their lines north OF st. Quentin
and south OF Lille. This is the switch
toward which the Germans are falling
back slowly but surely as a result OF
the turning OF the top OF the original
Hindenburg line, running from just
southeast Of Arras toward Quoant.
This Is the last and deciding push.
for we soon shall be able to hold out
no longer" read tho diary OF Ger
man officer who was captured yester-
day. 1t Is evidently in this spirit that
the present fighting is going on.
The struggles OF the opposing troops
about Monchy may be seen plainly
from the neighboring hilltops. The
patches OF woods beyond Monchy
have served as shelter for the Ger
mans in tho last ten days, and It was
behind these late yesterday that tho
German commanders rallied their
forces. With reserves brought up
quickly they formed counter attacks
against the newly advanced British
positions where khaki-clad men wero
fighting from shell holes and shallow
bits of trenches previously dug by
the Germans From these woods the
Germans issued in great solid ranks.
As they emerged the British artil-
lery was quick to spot them and shells
began to break in their midst. This
interrupted thcir steady forward
tramp. Tho lines wavered and some
mon were retreating when the impulse
from behind pushed them forward.
They then broke into a run toward
| the British lines. The machine gun
barrage closed upon them and they
| fell by scores. British rifles spoke for
q time and then, us the German waves
| rolled on there was hand -to-hand
| lighting. Tho counter attack lasted
| half mn hour before Il was driven
| Off Within an hour Il new one was
formed, and 30 the day wore on.
While the lighting was raging all
| about MonChy, which remains an
outer sentinel OF tho British advance
ana tho last commanding point be
| tween Arras and the Droucourt line
| the Germans werc shelling that will
lage remorselessly. II was difficult "a
recognize Monchy as the village taken
| By the British twelve days ago. Then
all the houses were standing and
three bed-ridden French civilians
were found still living there. Hap
| PLY they were removed to a hospital
behind the British lines, for Monchy
Is but a jagged collection OF ruins
| The Germans, having II thoroughly
| located, wreacked their vengeance
upon II with every calibre OF their
available artillery. Yesterday the
village was constantly obscured BY
tremendous clouds Of smoke and bricl
dust thrown up by the exploding
shells from the German guns.